Karjalaine iäni (The Karelian Voice) explores the realities of being a young Karelian person in Finland today. The Karelians are a cultural and, in some cases, linguistic minority traditionally residing in eastern Finland and western Russia. Karelians and speakers of the Karelian language have in Finland for as long as Finns, but their culture and language have received no legal recognition. Both the culture and the language are endangered, and the Karelian community, including young people, are continuously working to revitalize the Karelian language and raise awareness of the Karelian culture.
The film series comprises of five short movies that depict five stages of finding one’s Karelian identity: homecoming (kotihmyöštymini), searching (ečindä), pain (kibu), community (yhtehistö) and pride (ylbevys). The original idea for the film war born when members of the organization Karjalaiset Nuoret Šuomešša - Karjalazet Nuoret Suomes (Karelian Youth in Finland) got together and wanted to create something, from youth to youth.