Trashday
Protecting the world we live in
Directed by Petrus Koskinen
Directed by Finnish filmmaker Petrus Koskinen, Trashday explores the impact of littering - not only on the environment but for future generations. This short documentary follows Eino, a father who began collecting trash to ease his environmental concerns, as Koskinen delves into the emotional and generational implications of climate change.
Known for his immersive storytelling across documentaries, commercials and music videos, Koskinen communicates how actions matter, capturing the act of picking up trash as a simple yet powerful statement. If we fail to act now, we will burden the younger generations.
Trashday highlights how discarded trash reflects not only a disregard for the environment, but also the danger of our consumption habits. What do you hope viewers take away regarding society’s relationship with waste after watching the documentary?
I hope viewers take away at least the habit of not throwing trash into nature. Everything else is a bonus.
The cinematography beautifully captures both the natural environment and the pervasive presence of trash. How did you and Tuukka Kovasiipi work together to visually communicate the contrast between nature's beauty and the intrusion of human waste?
With nature we aimed for autumn - that was a convenient way to get a nice and warm color palette for those shots. Cold tones used in the waste worked effectively as a contrast to the prior.
Could you elaborate on the audiovisual choices you made when representing certain types of trash and the intended impact on the viewer?
There’s so many sounds in the film that it’s hard to pick some of them to elaborate. Let’s just put it this way - some of them are meant to be understood on a conscious level and some are meant to affect you subconsciously. We definitely enjoyed working on the sound design with Akseli Soini.
Without actively discussing them, the video in the film often focuses on Eino’s sons, encouraging the audience to contemplate their future, as well as that of their entire generation. Can you share more about how Eino’s and your own concerns for future generations influenced the narrative and tone of Trashday?
In the beginning I didn't think about it. There was just something so simple and fundamental about the act of picking other people's trash which attracted me to make this documentary. After getting to know Eino, I realized what motivates him and it became very clear that we needed to involve his kids somehow in the film which was totally fine with him and his partner Tintti… That’s the thing with the environmental issues anyway - the older generations will be alright (I guess?) but the future generations will have to clean up the mess eventually. Not cool.
“There was just something so simple and fundamental about the act of picking other people’s trash which attracted me to make this documentary. ”
Eino mentions that two trash collectors can talk for hours about “trash experiences”. What is an amusing one that Eino mentioned to you, but didn’t quite make it into the documentary?
Hmmmm.. There’s nothing specific that pops into my mind but I was positively surprised how many people collect trash. Not only in Finland but all over the world and many of them are connected to each other through social media. I think that’s very very awesome!
Trashday conveys a hopeful message that things can still be turned around. Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the wider impact of the film? How do you hope it will inspire others, not just in terms of trash collection, but in fostering a deeper respect for our environment and the planet as a whole?
I hope it will make people more conscious of the environmental issues that trash causes when thrown into nature. I also want to show that your actions matter. If you throw a candy wrapper to nature it will stay there - unless picked up. If you pick it up it's gone, simsalabim, and maybe you inspire somebody else to do the same. Trash should be a subject that is easy to understand which could work as a bridge to deeper respect for our planet and environment. That would be absolutely beautiful if this kind of reaction happens in our viewers.
Directed, written and edited by Petrus Koskinen
Starring Teemu ”Eino” Oinio
Cinematography by Tuukka Kovasiipi
Original score composed by Benjami Koskinen
Sound design by Akseli Soini / El Camino Helsinki
Grade by Juhani Vuorisalo / Grade One
Graphic design by Jari Salo
Trailer editor Rickard Stolpe
Sound effect editing by Sakari Karjalainen and Heli Linnus
Helping hand and drone pilot Anton Stennabb