SISU: FAMILY, LOVE AND PERSERVERANCE FROM FINLAND TO AMERICA / Louisiana Premiere

Filmmaker Marko Albrecht began this documentary in 2011 to honor the legacy of his late mother Päivi, his Finnish-American family and the Finnish mindset SISU, which is the courage, strength and perseverance to conquer tragedy and rise above any and all adversity. Just after starting SISU in 2011, Päivi's surviving brother Heikki informed the family he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and told he had 6 months to live. SISU is a documentary that profiles family as they conquer tragedy with love, faith, and courage.

From 2012-2015, Marko travelled from New Jersey to Finland documenting Heikkis’ fight against cancer and his family's life, capturing intimate, tragic, joyful moments - including the birth of his cousin’s son, his Uncle Heikkis’ marriage, and his children's first summer visits to Finland.  Over those trips, Marko interviewed his family about their thoughts on SISU, life, death, FInland, and their connection to nature through their ancestral land and summer cottage.

This is a non-profit film and all donations to it go to youth and family in need of SISU.

Filmmaker Marko Albrecht will attend the film screening.