The Moomins, with their hippo-like silhouettes, are beloved cartoon characters familiar to readers around the globe. But less is known about their creator, the bisexual, Swedish-speaking, Finnish visual artist and author Tove Jansson and her surprisingly unconventional life. Alma Pöysti gives a mesmerising performance as Tove in this sensuously textured film that concentrates on a formative decade in her life from the mid-40s to the mid-50s.
The film explores evolving definitions of art through her tense relationship with her father but the deeper focus is on Tove as a person and the fascinating milieu in which she lives. You’re left with an admiration for a charming, spirited woman who, thankfully, didn’t listen to her father.