Supavit, Bell Ringer: A Finnish Story is a short documentary that is a part of the Reel Earth Collection.
The Reel Earth Collection is is a commissioned and co-produced group of 128 international films, 8 to 16 minutes in length. Each is character-focused, and designed to offer insight into a given culture and place by witnessing the emotional landscape of one or two characters.
Directed by Hanna Nordenswan
Produced by Compass Light Productions
"In the small village, Kimonkylä, about an hour outside of Helsinki, lives a young man named Supavit. Born in Thailand, and adopted by a Finnish family when he was a baby, Supavit has had trouble fitting in as a Southeast Asian kid in an otherwise homogenous country. His often difficult childhood inspired Supavit to find a place he could call home. Among the gentle, beautiful melodies of his church bells, he’s created a space where he can feel at ease. People notice Supavit and they are forced to reconcile their views of their village’s identity and also of themselves. At the same time, Supavit is learning to value and claim the parts of Finnish culture that he loves. Through Supavit’s many identities and interests, his story explores what it means to be “Finnish” in the pursuit of a life that is anything but traditional."