Sisu – the Death of Tom Sukanen – 2009

• Based on the true story of Tom Sukanen, a Finnish shipwright and Canadian immigrant who was institutionalized in 1943 after spending a decade building a steamship on his prairie homestead, 1200 miles inland. Following the Great Depression and the loss of his family, this genius inventor, engineer and artist embarked on a dream, either divinely inspired or desperately mad, of sailing from the middle of the Canadian wheatlands home to Finland.

• 90 Minutes, 2009
  World Premiere: Montreal World Film Festival, 2010
• Other Screenings:
  09/2014 – Bay Street Film Festival Retrospective, Thunder Bay, ON
  03/2013 – Talking Fresh: Writing Canada, SK Writer’s Guild/SK Filmpool, Regina SK
  09/2012 – Culture Days, T-Rex Discovery Centre, Eastend, Saskatchewan
  03/2011 – International Festival of Animated Objects, Calgary, AB
  02/2010 – Calgary Finlandia Club Director’s Screening, Calgary AB
  04/2010 – FinnForum, Thunder Bay ON
  04/2010 – Poetry and Film, Saskatchewan Filmpool, Regina, SK
  05/2010 – Director’s screening, Swift Current SK
  07/2010 – Finn Grand Fest, Sault Ste Marie ON
  10/2010 – Bay Street Film Festival, Thunder Bay, ON (Audience Choice Award)
  10/2010 – Petaluma International Film Festival, Petaluma CA            
  03/2011 – International Festival of Animated Objects, Calgary AB09/2009 – World Premiere Montreal World Film Festival, Montreal QB
  2009 – 10 – Sask. Communications Network (nation-wide broadcast, Fall Lineup)

Written & Directed by: Chrystene Ells

Starring: Don Wood, Brian Dueck, Megan Fries, Lori Abbott, Jonathan Bragagnolo, Mark David Claxton

Cinematographer: Andrew J. Schlussel

Score: David Lawlor
Producers: Chrystene Ells & Chantel Sim
Executive Producer: Jarrett Rusnak
Executive Producers: Frank Mceachern & Outi Mceachern
Line Producer: Dauminique Napier
Visual Effects Supervisor: Brian Andrews
Supervising Sound Editor: Rusty Dunn
Art Director: Kristine Dowler
Costume Designer: Candace Bank
Assistant Director: Raul Viceral
Editor: Chrystene Ells

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