Days of Wonder
A cinematic journey into the hidden world of a reclusive Finnish artist, bringing his lost genius to light.
Not every filmmaker inherits a film already in the making. When Finnish director Karin Pennanen’s uncle Markku died after decades of isolation, she entered his house for the first time in 34 years and uncovered a world no one had seen: an immense archive of paintings, compositions, writings, audio diaries, videotapes, and even notes on how a film should be constructed. Out of this hidden legacy, a dialogue across death begins to take shape.
Once a beloved playmate of her childhood, Markku had withdrawn into solitude, devoting his life to inner freedom and creativity rather than the expectations of society. Now his voice returns – sometimes playful, sometimes wounded, always searching – guiding Karin through his life’s work and opening space for an unusual collaboration between the living and the dead.
“Days of Wonder” is both an intimate family portrait and a cinematic resurrection. It transforms a story of loss into an act of wonder, inviting us to rethink what it means to live authentically, and to encounter Markku not only as a hidden Finnish genius, but as a companion in the universal quest for meaning.
Marianna Kaat
Karin Pennanen (1977) is a film director and screenwriter who works in both fiction and documentary. She holds an MA in Film and Scenography from the University of Art and Design Helsinki (now Aalto University), and went on to study at Nordland College of Art and Film in Norway. She graduated in 2009 and has since been working as a freelance director living in Helsinki. Her short films, such as “Metamorphosis of the Rorbu”(2010) have been screened on international film festivals around the world winning several awards. She has also directed several music videos.
Filmography:
Days of Wonder (2025, doc)