THE SQUIRREL

In a futuristic, aseptic Finland where all forms of interaction and emotion are forbidden, Pasi, an engineer at Syn Bio working on a robotic dog, stumbles upon a strange creature at his way home. His personal AI assistant immediately alerts the sanitary department, and an agent is dispatched to investigate, only to find nothing. Later that night, Pasi returns to the spot and discovers a small injured squirrel. That might not seem unusual—if animals hadn't completely vanished from their world.

Curious, Pasi brings the squirrel to work to have it scanned before taking it home, initially treating it like a biohazard. But contact with the tiny furry creature awakens something he has never experienced before: emotions. As his bond with the squirrel deepens, Pasi's entire world is turned upside down.

THE SQUIRREL is Markus Lehmusruusu's second feature, and it's impossible not to be charmed by it. Pasi begins the story as a bored robotics engineer developing a mechanical substitute for a beloved pet—one designed to provide companionship without provoking any emotional attachment. Yet the more time he spends with the squirrel, the more curious he becomes and the more attached he grows. But squirrels have needs too, and Pasi eventually realizes that returning his tiny friend to where it belongs is the right thing to do—even if it means challenging everything he has been taught since birth.

The film's production design is fantastic. Its chilly aesthetic and deadpan humor inevitably evoke Aki Kaurismäki, yet beneath the cold exterior lies a surprisingly warm story about resisting conformity and stepping beyond one's comfort zone. More than anything, THE SQUIRREL reminds us that life is richer when shared with animals. (ANNICK MAHNERT)

*Paired with the short FIGHT FOR THE FANTASY dir. Marissa Goldman

This absurdist romantic comedy teaches us that, thankfully, some awkward weirdos just match each other's insufferable freak.