Cast of the Mère Folle shoot in Finland

The cast of Mère Folle is a mix of professional and non-professional actors. In each location we are helped by a casting director.

Marja Skaffari as Sissi

Roaming around the grounds of the half-way house, Sissi is also in treatment with Marjatta. She acts out her fantasy of being related to her namesake, the Empress of Austria. The psychoanalytic sessions are heart-wrenching, and sometimes funny.

Marjo Vuorela as Marjatta

Visiting inspector of the half-way house on the island of Seili, Marjatta is a busy psychoanalyst in Nokia. Here, she took up the case of Sissi, Françoise's first patient and a resounding failure. www.marjovuorela.fi

Kristina Bill as Gelsomina

Witty and up-beat at times, especially when she can tell her story, when the television is on this figure seems addicted to violence – the violence that traumatized her.

Mia Hannula as Aurora

Formerly she was a student of science, and believes she was brilliant. Something went wrong, which she blames on elusive colleagues. After a period of hospitalization on Françoise’s ward in Paris, she is now on her way out, in the half-way house.

Mervi Appel as Morgue

Severely depressed since the death of her son, Morgue echoes the woman in black in Paris. The image of her is quite depressing to the viewer as well. Will she ever smile again?

Helinä Hukkataival as Hanna

The task of director at the half-way house on Seili is not easy. All those patients who came there full of hope of a return to the world are still struggling with their various problems, and Hanna can do little more than look on.

Henk van der Liet as Nietzsche

Out of nowhere, the philosopher pops up when the director of the half-way house is pondering her and her colleagues’ responsibility and guilt.

Sirpa Joenniemi as Head Nurse

When the psychoanalyst cannot find her patient Sissi, she can always rely on the Head Nurse who knows the hospital inside out. Her affectionate irony about Sissi also shows that she also knows the patients very well.

Mona Ratalahti as Clown

When Sissi leaves her analyst’s office, one day there is a clown standing at the door. This modern version of the mediaeval fool fascinates her, as her personality seems as versatile as Sissi’s own.

Johannes Myyrä as Director of Sissi’s hospital

Inspired by a drawing by one of the patients, the director talks about the need to unlock doors as a metaphor for treatment.

Soile Iivonen as Anmari

Sissi’s roommate mediates between the analyst and the patient when Sissi refuses to come to the session.

Annikki Järvinen as Sissi’s Mother

Sissi’s mother comes in every once in a while tin inquire about the state of her daughter. She cannot deal with the complicity and passivity that have aggravated her daughter’s case.

Olli Heinola as Jaakko

In the half-way house, Jaakko is the recipient of Morgue’s affection, as well as the sleeping witness of Gelsomina’s fascination with violence. He is himself beyond caring, which is why he sleeps off his days.