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The Farewell (15*) + introduction by Mekella Broomberg

Queer 80s

,Cinema 2
A woman looks on as another woman cries in front of her.

A gay woman struggles to cope in the repressive home of her bourgeois father on the eve of WWII in Helsinki in Tuija-Maija Niskanen’s haunting period drama. 

In this beautiful, poignant Swedish-language drama by Finnish director Tuija-Maija Niskanen, a gay woman, Valerie (Pirkko Nurmi) struggles to cope in the repressive home of her haute bourgeois father on the eve of WWII in Helsinki. We witness key moments in her childhood and life as a young adult with her cruel father and passive mother, as she determines to follow her heart. 

Niskanen’s film is infused with the spirit of Ingmar Bergman’s period dramas and features many of his regular collaborators, including actors Gunnar Björnstrand and Stina Ekblad (the latter, who plays Valerie’s lover, starred as the androgynous figure of Ismael in Fanny and Alexander the following year). Sweden and Finland paved the way to greater LGBTQ+ equality in the 1980s – the repressive society depicted in The Farewell shows just how far they had come.

Tagged with: Cinema Pride 2024 Queer 80s

Sweden-Finland 1982 dir Tuija-Maija Niskanen 90 min, in Swedish with English subtitles

Mekella Broomberg

Mekella Broomberg is a Creative Producer, maker of festivals and Humanist Celebrant. She has written, performed and produced in the worlds of literature, puppetry, circus and film. She currently curates the public programme of the Royal Society of Literature.

Explore the rest of Queer 80s

There are plenty of great films screening as part of Queer 80s throughout June.

Cinema 2

Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you across the road to the venue. 

Address
Beech Street
London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.