Who am I Smiling for?
Mari, a young woman facing last stage cancer, is fighting fiercely over the custody rights of her children, trying to prove that in spite of her condition, she is still a fully capable mother. In the middle of all this, her 12-years-old son Oliver is trying, against all odds, to stay cheerful and brave, supporting his mother in every way. In her sensitive and wise way Mari is preparing Oliver for her demise, giving him guidance for life and consolation, promising to be in touch even after her death. When the day becomes, Oliver keeps sharing his life with his mother.
Who Am I Smiling For?, a documentary by Eeva Mägi, tells a story about the strength of motherly love and fight for her children literally to her last breath. It’s a film about the coming of age of a boy amidst deep and irreversible changes, while trying to find his own way to mourn and understand the world.
Age recommendation: 14+
Eeva Mägi (b. 1987) is an Estonian writer and director working in fiction and documentary film. Her short films Lembri Uudu (2017) and The Weight of All the Beauty (2019) gained international recognition, with the latter longlisted for the Oscars. Her debut feature, Mo Mamma (2023), and her second feature, Mo Papa (2024), both received a Special Jury Mention at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF). In 2026, she was selected for Berlinale Talents, and her fourth feature project, Mo Tori, is currently in development at TorinoScriptLab. Mägi initiated the Mo Movement through her Mo films—a film movement that challenges convention and articulates a distinct cinematic language.
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