Hot Milk

Wed 10.9. 17:30–19:45
2025, United Kingdom
Rebecca Lenkiewich
1 h 32 min
Themes: daughter-mother relationship, queer, Spain
Language: English
No subtitles
Age limit: over 18s only

By popular demand and encouraged by sold-out screenings – a surprise extra screening on Wednesday in Sirkus Suosalo's tent!

Hot Milk, perhaps the hottest film in the competition series at the Berlin Film Festival, will be screened as the only showing in Finland and its Nordic premiere at the Karhupuisto Film Festival on Wednesday, September 10th, at 17:30.

Tickets on sale now, be quick!

Emma Mackey, star of Sex Education, shines in the lead role of Rebecca Lenkiewich's directorial debut, based on favorite author Deborah Levy's novel Hot Milk (Finnish translation 2023).

The film, which sensually and intoxicatingly reflects erotic awakening, longing, and frustrations in a starkly beautiful Spain, also features a stellar performance by 67-year-old Fiona Shaw, whose portrayal The Guardian raved about as a "fierce fly in a boiling erotic broth." Film magazine Variety interpreted the result as a mother-daughter psychodrama.

The film's title perhaps refers to the abnormal quality of overheated mother's milk – a metaphor for the mother-daughter relationship. The film fits the Sunburn Cinema phenomenon, where British films are scorching on the stage of Southern European psychological breakdowns.

After Hot Milk, there's still time for the grand outdoor screening of La grande bellezza, which will be shown on the Karhupuisto stage.

Watch the trailer here!