Tove (Original Soundtrack)

In her biopic ‘Tove’, director Zaida Bergroth captures the unpredictable love life of libertine children’s author Tove Jansson, creator of the cult children’s books ‘The Moomins’. Initially a side project, she was catapulted to fame after her lover insisted upon bringing the characters to life in the theatre.  Set in bohemian Helsinki after World War II the sensuously textured film, shot on 16mm, concentrates on a formative decade in Tove’s life (from the mid-1940s to mid-’50s) and explores her turbulent search for identity, desire and freedom

After its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival last year, ‘Tove’ was this year’s Finnish selection to the Oscars and has been nominated for 10 JUSSI Awards, including one for Best Music.

The captivating and textural score, created by accoladed Swedish composer and artist Matti Bye, melds exquisitely with the natural acting style, 16mm analogue film that this was shot on as well as mono sound mix. During the initial writing, Bye set out on a journey to attempt to illustrate Janson´s inner world in sound.   “I wanted the melodic and sonic language to try and get as close to this sense of her inner decision-making process and psyche as possible.”

“For me Tove Janson herself is an immensely inspiring artist of creativity and boundless imagination, and I love the courage of director Zaida Bergroth to choose the most unconventional film music I ever made, textural and minimal music that takes winding paths into the irrational, self-contradictory human psyche of Tove.”

The score , which also features Finnish composer & artist  Laura Naukkarinen (Lau Nau) as well as Matti´s band Mambo Noir Trio, integrates electronics and field recordings into a central role of the sound picture.  The result is an illustrative and authentic score that leads the viewer into the mind of the protagonist and sets the scene.  Hauntingly timeless, not only does this score meld with the period in which the film is set, but it lifts the story forward into a contemporary realm allowing the extremely relevant thematics to be brought forward into present day.

We at OONA Recordings are proud to present the mesmerizing soundtrack to this beautiful film as a singular and stand-alone experience.