Stormskerry Maja
International film poster
Swedish: Stormskärs Maja Finnish: Myrskyluodon Maija
Directed by	Tiina Lymi
Written by	Tiina Lymi
Based on	Stormskärs-Maja book series by Anni Blomqvist
Produced by	Hanna Virolainen Jukka Helle Markus Selin
Starring	Amanda Jansson Linus Troedsson
Cinematography	Rauno Ronkainen
Edited by	Joona Louhivuori
Music by	Lauri Porra
Production company	Solar Films
Distributed by	Nordisk Film
Release date	19 January 2024 (2024-01-19) (Finland)
Running time	163 minutes
Country	Finland
Languages	Swedish, English
Budget	€3.8 million[1]

Stormskerry Maja (Swedish: Stormskärs Maja; Finnish: Myrskyluodon Maija) is a 2024 Swedish-language Finnish historical drama film directed by Tiina Lymi.^[2] Based on the five-volume book series by Anni Blomqvist,^[3] the film, set in the Åland archipelago, tells the story of Maja, who with her husband Janne faces life's challenges and adversities on a remote island in the 19th century.^[4] Amanda Jansson and Linus Troedsson [sv] star in the main roles.^[2][3][5][6]

The film premiered in Finland on 19 January 2024. The film has been selected for the Gothenburg (GFF) and Rotterdam (IFFR) film festivals.^[7][8] The film was nominated for nine awards at the 79th Jussi Awards, where it won seven awards, including Best Film and Best Director.^[9]

Maja attends a funeral with her family, after which Janne and his father Erker visit. Janne, the third son, will not inherit a house or barn. Distracted by playful shadow shapes, Maja is scolded to attend to the guests. The visitors bring news of a shipwreck. Later, Maja’s sister Anna asks her opinion of Janne, and the two race to milk cows.

In the middle of the night, Maja is awakened by her mother, a midwife, to assist with a difficult childbirth. The mother dies, leaving Maja devastated. At a midsummer celebration, Maja becomes upset after an accidental embrace with Magnus and runs to the water’s edge, praying to the sea mother to reveal an image of her future husband. A young man finds her and encourages her to look into the water with him, though she insists she does not believe in such visions.

Maja returns home to find her father discussing her marriage. Though her father suggests Anna as a more sensible choice, Janne insists on marrying Maja. He places a ring on her finger, prompting her to run away; her father apologises, and Janne reassures her. Maja learns from Anna that Janne plans to take her to a barren skerry. She reluctantly prepares for the journey. At a frozen lake, she again implores the Sea Mother to reveal her husband, and the ice cracks, seemingly in response.

Erker and Janne visit Maja’s homestead with gifts, but she remains disinterested in the marriage. She accompanies Janne to secure a loan from Saka, a wealthy man. Janne says he will work hard and build a life for them. Though anxious, Maja goes through with the ceremony, and they awkwardly consummate the marriage. The following morning, Janne explains the potential for a self-sufficient life at Stormskerry. They laugh and kiss before setting sail. At Stormskerry, Janne nails a protective cross above the door at Maja’s request, and the couple enjoys the freedom of their new home. Maja teaches him about the spirits and creatures of the waters.

The couple’s families visit to help build their barn. Maja grows fond of Janne and worries while he is at sea. She discovers she is pregnant, and the couple daydreams about filling the skerry with children. At a market, Maja sells spun yarn but cannot sign her name, prompting her to learn literacy with Janne’s encouragement. When news of a shipwreck reaches them, Janne goes to help. Maja goes into labour and gives birth to Maria. Over time, they have two more children: August and Mikael. Maja continues her lessons in writing, also teaching her children.

As the Åland War unfolds, Janne is pressured to take sides, though he insists he is Ålandic rather than Finnish, Swedish, or Russian. British ships arrive, and Maja urges Janne to hide while she confronts the quartering soldiers. When the men threaten their cow, Maja appeals to the sympathetic Lieutenant John Wilson, who intervenes. Maja tends to the wounded, gaining their help with winter chores. The British return wounded, and Maja comforts Wilson. The soldiers depart; Wilson leaves gifts for the children. Maja dons trousers and teaches the children to fish.

Maja’s family visits again, urging her to return home, but she refuses, certain because of her dreams that Janne will come back. Tragedy strikes when Mikael drowns while keeping watch for Janne’s return. Maja recovers his body, and Janne returns before they hold a funeral on the shore. Time passes, and the couple baptises their new son Gabriel. A larger boat is built to improve their livelihood, yet Maja remains haunted by dreams of Mikael. She becomes pregnant again.

Janne dies at sea while fishing with August and Maja’s father. Maja gives birth to Johanna and chooses to remain on Stormskerry. She signs her name to secure a loan independently after Saka’s wife speaks up for her. In later years, Maja is an elderly woman living on Stormskerry with her grown children, cherishing her memories of Janne.

• List of Finnish films of the 2020s

• Stormskerry Maja at IMDb
• Stormskerry Maja at Rotten Tomatoes