Sodankylä Forever (2010): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2010, Sodankylä Forever is a documentary film directed by Peter von Bagh, running about 273 minutes. “Masters of Cinema Under the Midnight Sun” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. The Midnight Sun Film Festival is held every June in the Finnish village of Sodankylä beyond the arctic circle — where the sun never sets. Founded by Aki and Mika Kaurismäki along with Anssi Mänttäri and Peter von Bagh in 1985, the festival has played host to an international who’s who of directors and each day begins with a two-hour discussion. To mark the festival’s silver anniversary, festival director Peter von Bagh edited together highlights from these dialogues to create an epic four-part choral history of cinema drawn from the anecdotes, insights, and wisdom of his all-star cast: Coppola, Fuller, Forman, Chabrol, Corman, Demy, Kieslowski, Kiarostami, Varda, Oliveira, Erice, Rouch, Gilliam, Jancso — and 64 more. Ranging across innumerable topics (war, censorship, movie stars, formative influences, America, neorealism) these voices, many now passed away, engage in a personal dialogue across the years that’s by turns charming, profound, hilarious and moving.

Who’s in it. Sodankylä Forever stars Peter von Bagh as Self, Robert Parrish as Self, Roy Ward Baker as Self and Víctor Erice as Self, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Sodankylä Forever page.

If you liked it. Fans of Sodankylä Forever tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.