IN LIGHT, JOUKO LEHTOLA

“Only art is eternal. Everything else disappears.” Jouko Lehtola

When my friend and fellow student, photographer Jouko Lehtola, was given the news that he was suffering from a serious cancer at the age of 45, I encouraged myself after a while to ask if I could make a documentary film about his battle. I got permission and so I started working without knowing where everything would lead, whether time would run out at some point or whether there would be a positive turn in events.

Dokumenttielikuva VALOSSA JOUKO LEHTOLA luotaa syvälle Jouko Lehtolan sisäiseen maailmaan hänen yksityisten päiväkirjojensa kautta. Niissä Lehtola pohti avoimesti lapsettomuuttaan, ikääntymistään, taidetta, vaikeaa sairauttaan sekä kuoleman kohtaamista. Lehtola oli taiteilija, joka valokuvan kautta tallensi aikansa nuorisokulttuurin valo- ja varjopuolia sekä otti kantaa yhteiskunnallisiin asioihin. Hän niitti mainetta myös lehti- ja rock-kuvaajana, eikä kaihtanut yritysten mainoskuvauksiakaan. Hänen elämänsä päättyi 47-vuotiaana.

The documentary film “IN LIGHT, JOUKO LEHTOLA” travels deep into Jouko Lehtola’s private life through his personal diaries. In them, Lehtola openly considered his infertility, aging, art, his serious illness and the facing of death. Lehtola was an artist who, through photography, captured the light and shadows of the youth culture of his time and took a stand on social issues. He also made a reputation as a magazine and rock photographer and did not shy away from corporate advertising photography either. His life ended at the age of 47.

“The viewer of the documentary feels the touch of wisdom, as if reading Dostoevsky’s Idiot.” Simopekka Virkkula, Aamulehti

Screenplay and direction: Riitta Riihonen (now Rask)
Producer: Långfilm Proructions / Mats Långbacka
Cinematographer: Jan Nyman
Editor: Tuomo Leino
Music: Jiri Kuronen

Non-stop performance in Kiasma, at Jouko Lehtola’s memorial exhibition in 2002, total 6 months.

 

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