Finnish Film Catalogue Films Riding with Death
  • historical ,
  • human rights/social issues ,
  • Documentary films, over 30 min
2025 | 70 min

Riding with Death

Lentävä kuolema

Details

The tuberculosis sanatoriums were heaven and hell. Riding With Death takes us into the world of Finland's “Magic Mountain”: it reveals the secrets of sanatoriums and offers a surprising journey to the borderlands of life and death. Lifelong love stories were born, as well as friendships, survival stories, and carefree sex. The film revisits the age when tuberculosis shaped the modern world and reminds us why we cannot afford to let history repeat itself. Riding with Death uses never-before-seen archival footage that explores the depths of isolation and its effects on the human psyche, something we can all relate after the recent pandemics.

DIRECTORS: Nina Forsman, Sakari Suuronen
SCRIPT: Nina Forsman, Sakari Suuronen
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jarkko T. Laine, Theofanis Kavvadas
SOUND: François Yazbeck
EDITING: Jussi Sandhu, Nina Forsman, Sakari Suuronen
MUSIC: Miki Brunou
PRODUCER: Markku Tuurna
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Filmimaa

Directors

Nina Forsman

Nina Forsman (b. 1987) is film director and editor from Helsinki. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Documentary Film from Aalto University (2023) and she has graduated as editor from Tampere University of Applied Sciences (2011).  Her recent films as a director are Reflecting Ice (28 min, 2019) and De Gallo Qui Ovavit (15min, 2024). Reflecting Ice toured festivals around the world and was nominated for the Best Cinematography at the prestigious Camerimage Festival in Poland. De Gallo Qui Ovavit had its international premiere in Visions Du Réel as part of the International Competition for Medium-Length and Short Films.

Sakari Suuronen

Sakari Suuronen (b. 1982) has an MA in Directing Documentary from The National Film and Television School, UK (2015). He has directed, edited and written several short films and short documentaries. His first feature documentary film was Koho – Future from Forssa (46 min, 2021). The film was presented in DocPoint 2022 and broadcast by Yle.

Contact

Suvi Railo

Advisor / International Promotion and Cultural Export of Documentary Films

• festival distribution strategy for documentary films
• travel, project and material and marketing support for documentary films

+358 9 6220 3021