Hard to Break
Krista Moisio & Anna-Maija Heinonen / Finland / 2024 / World Premiere / 81 min
Two young Finns are fuelled by their (self-)destructive love for each other as their parallel lives on social media become further and further removed from reality.
Atte and Jonsu both grew up in a child care institutions and have found an anchor in each other’s rootless lives. They love each other as only teenagers can, with all the ups and downs that come with it. But the temptation to just let it all go is strong, and social media is a virtual universe you can escape into to become someone else – and maybe even become famous. The price is high no matter which way Jonsu and Atte choose to go. Atte has created a parallel life as the Instagram character Pullis, who doesn’t give a fuck. He drinks, smokes and fights when someone gets in his way. But Jonsu’s patience with him is not infinite. She’s a tough and confident young woman with her own dreams and friends to back her up. ‘Hard to Break’ is a modern coming of age-film about navigating the contradictions that life is full of, not least when you feel a little more alone than everyone else.