Behind the instantly recognisable designs, unique shapes, and vibrant colours of Finnish fashion brand Marimekko, is an artist with an equally colourful personality and lifestyle. Maija Isola has created more than five hundred designs for the brand, shaping the interior design trends in Finnish homes in the ‘50s and ‘60s and democratising design. Her designs still adorn homes and clothing not only in the Scandinavian countries, but all over the world.  The mythological curtain of Marimekko, decorated with a classic geometric floral pattern, is being pulled back.

With this film, Leena Kilpeläinen continues to create portraits of various artists, a project she started in 2014 with a film about the highly-praised film director Alexander Sokurov. In her second feature-length documentary, the director deliberately creates a multi-layered visual narrative, combining archival footage and animated sequences with footage from today. The variety of these different elements, like the famous brand’s graphic must-have pieces, create an idyllic and decorative picture of childhood, and post-war life and growth.