Under Construction (Markus Toivo) Finland |

Under Construction
Markus Toivo
Finland. 2023. 60 min

Markku built a house for his family with his own hands. He worked hard from dusk till dawn so that his seven children would have a roof over their heads. However, the challenge proved to be too much, and eventually Markku burned out. He ended up leaving his family as he disappeared abroad.

Now, 30 years later, he lives in the same house as a recluse. The rest of the family has moved out a long time ago. His relationship with his children is broken. In his old age, he is still trying to finish what he started – he has to finish the house – but who is for?

The filmmaker travels to his childhood home to face his father, whom he never got to properly know. Together they build an iron gate in front of an unfinished house while searching for a lost connection to each other.

MARKUS TOIVO

Filmmaker from Finland who has studied cinema in Helsinki and Tallinn, and recently graduated from ECAM in Madrid, majoring in film direction. He works both in documentaries and fiction. In his opinion, often one inspires the other. Markus is interested in telling intimate stories that explore the struggle and coexistence of beauty and ugliness. The documentary Wanha Markku (Under Construction) is Markus’ first feature length film.