The Squirrel

The Squirrel (2026)



Orava

6.3 2026 93 min Finland

Director: Markus Lehmusruusu

Cast: Miro Lopperi, Mimosa Willamo, Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Roderick Kabanga, Pirjo Heikkilä

Comedy
In a world where real nature has faded into memory and every aspect of human happiness is managed with obsessive precision, Pasi—a solitary yet gentle creator of robotic animals—stumbles upon the last surviving squirrel on Earth. When he crosses paths with Emilia, a rigid enforcer of society’s wellness regulations, Pasi makes the risky choice to break the rules and protect the tiny creature. But reality takes an ironic turn: the squirrel sinks into despair, and Pasi unexpectedly finds himself falling in love.

More About This Film

The Squirrel is a Finnish science-fiction comedy set in a future where humans have eliminated nature and replaced animals with synthetic companions. Pasi, a designer of artificial pets, discovers a real living squirrel and decides to protect it despite living in a society where such an animal should no longer exist.

His attempt to care for the squirrel becomes entangled with Emilia, a hygiene inspector whose investigation leads to an unexpected emotional connection. Markus Lehmusruusu uses the strange premise to explore comfort, control, loneliness and humanity's desire to eliminate unpredictability.

  • The original Finnish title is Orava.
  • Written and directed by Markus Lehmusruusu.
  • Miro Lopperi and Mimosa Willamo play Pasi and Emilia.
  • The film used real squirrels rather than creating the animal entirely digitally.
  • Finland selected The Squirrel as its candidate for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Where to Watch

The Squirrel has a festival and European release profile, with broader digital distribution developing by territory.