Saku Soukka

Rebellion for Future (Kapina elämän puolesta)

How do you stay resilient when your ability to make a difference feels so limited? How do you hold on to hope when the world around you is being destroyed – irreversibly, relentlessly?

Rebellion for Future (Kapina elämän puolesta) offers an intimate look into the inner workings of Elokapina, the Finnish branch of the international Extinction Rebellion movement. The documentary explores the role of climate activism in Finland in the 2020s – a time when Elokapina’s methods dominate headlines and spark controversy, while the core message and urgent warning about the planet’s future are often overlooked.

In his debut feature, director Saku Soukka shines a light on the individuals behind the movement. Most of them would rather not find themselves in constant conflict with the authorities or society at large – but they see no alternative. Protesters face verbal abuse, threats, and even physical violence. Police actions often raise serious ethical questions, as peaceful demonstrators are dragged off the streets. While climate activism is increasingly criminalized, the planet continues to burn.

The personal cost is high: fines, time spent in jail cells, and mounting legal consequences. And yet, even amidst these heavy themes, the film pulses with a sense of vitality and hope – a quiet insistence that change is still possible, if enough people are willing to stand together and act.

Though the documentary doesn’t shy away from portraying injustice and despair, it is woven through with a deep current of humanity and optimism. The sense of community, care, and solidarity among Elokapina’s members comes through powerfully. Maybe hope isn’t lost – not yet. At the very least, these activists haven’t given up.

Rebellion for Future premiered at September 2025 to a standing ovation that lasted several minutes – an emotional testament to the power of its message.

Trailer