Northern Lights

Lesya is a struggling performance artist, a Belarusian wannabe Marina Abramović. She unexpectedly finds her voice through politically charged performances amid the brutal anti-dictatorship protests in 2020. During a particularly radical show, riot police raid a gallery. Her gallerist and lover Yan is arrested, and Lesya is forced into exile.

In Finland, Lesya is celebrated, but the fame she always wanted is now tied to the label of “political exile.” Trapped in a role she didn’t choose, Lesya is torn between artistic authenticity and fame built on the exploitation of her trauma. Yearning to belong in the new world, she struggles with survivor’s guilt and jealousy of Yan, who gains recognition by using her legacy back home. 

Lesya’s frustration culminates during the Helsinki Biennale. She tries to reclaim her voice through deception, but the plan backfires. In a desperate attempt to salvage her life in Finland, Lesya joins a remote art residency in Lapland, where she finally reunites with Yan. Their joint performance becomes a transformative experience that leads to a breaking point for Lesya. By facing her deepest fears, she finally earns peace, true connection and a future.