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Mon parfait inconnu, de Johanna Pyykkö
Cinema
Work

5 min

"Mon parfait inconnu" by the Finnish-Swedish director Johanna Pyykkö

In "Mon parfait inconnu," competing at the 2024 Angers Premiers Plans Festival, Johanna Pyykkö follows the unsettling love story between a young woman, a victim of society, and a mysterious man. Balancing sensitivity and realism, the filmmaker delivers a surprising debut feature film that creates a dreamy atmosphere, where characters navigate a mix of fantasies and false hopes. Winner of the Aide aux cinémas du monde, co-managed by the Institut français and the CNC, "Mon parfait inconnu" will be released in cinemas in France starting July 24. 

© Pyramide Films
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A Finnish-Swedish Discovery 

Based in Oslo, Norway, Johanna Pyykkö is a Finnish-Swedish director and screenwriter. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and Filmmaking from the Norwegian Film School and has also obtained a screenwriting diploma from the Alma Script Academy in Sweden. Throughout her career, she has directed more than ten short films, which have been regularly selected for festivals worldwide. Her latest short film, "The Manila Lover," was presented at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival as part of the Critics' Week. It has won numerous international awards, including the Amanda Award, the Norwegian equivalent of the Oscars, for Best Short Film in 2020. "Mon parfait inconnu" is her first feature film. 

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A Fantasized Reality

In "Mon parfait inconnu," Johanna Pyykkö portrays Ebba, a solitary 18-year-old woman who works at the Oslo port. One night, she discovers an unconscious man with a head injury and quickly realizes he has amnesia. Enchanted, she decides to make him believe they are lovers and begins recounting memories of their supposed past life together. As the lie unfolds, she gradually discovers that her new partner harbors dark secrets. 

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A Disturbing Female Character

For her first feature film, director Johanna Pyykkö highlights the complexity of human nature in the face of hopes and lies. She focuses on a troubled teenage character who feels out of place, trapped in a society whose norms she refuses to embrace. In her very first role, Camilla Godø Krohn brings a lot of sensitivity to a heroine torn between reality and fantasies. Johanna Pyykkö thus establishes herself as an observer of the world with a sharp, subtle, and dreamy cinematic style. 

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Support from Aide aux Cinémas du Monde 

Competing at the 2024 Angers Premiers Plans Festival, "Mon parfait inconnu" will be released in French theaters on July 24, 2024. It is supported by the Aide aux Cinémas du Monde, a selective aid co-managed by the Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée (CNC) and the Institut Français. This support allows feature film projects, whether fiction, animation, or creative documentaries, to be accompanied during their initial theatrical release.