Pöysti is simply enchanting in Tove, as she captures Jansson’s mysterious and playful nature, and brings to life the spirit of such an iconic and talented artist.

| May 15, 2023

The film’s grown-up take on Jansson’s bohemianism marks it out from the recent trove of Disney pics that mushily deify children’s book authors, although you can’t help but wish there was more about the Moomins themselves.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 6, 2022

While thoughtful and moving, Tove fails to achieve the wistful optimism and, at times, melancholic truth Janssons spirit, most famously in the form of her Moomins, offers to the world.

| Feb 21, 2022

Tove, Finland's official Oscar entry, captures the drama and charm of Tove Jansson, who captures our hearts.

| Jan 10, 2022

There is a doleful air permeating every aspect of the film, from visuals to sentiment to sound, until even the droll moments are a momentary flicker.

| Jan 10, 2022

Alma Poysti's turn as Tove captures all of the artist's exuberance and angst and her captivating performance is supported by a superb ensemble.

| Jan 10, 2022

It is heartening to see that writing books loved by children is beginning to be recognized as significant, meaningful, and a genuine artistic achievement in films like Tove, with a complex, layered performance by Alma Poysti.

| Jan 10, 2022

Tying Tove's rich and complex life together is the amazing actual footage that runs just before the credits of the real Janssen laughing and dancing with abandon. The clip shows how accurately Tove has captured its subject in all her dimensions.

| Jan 10, 2022

Tove's spirit and inner light may occasionally be dampened, but she's never down for long, and she always comes up dancing.

| Jan 10, 2022

Zaida Bergroth's film spends most of its time charting Jansson's turbulent love life and devotes too little to her various artistic endeavours, giving us little clue of how she dreamt up the Moomintrolls or what drove her to create so much else.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 20, 2021

This avoids the usual pitfalls, as it is more about capturing her spirit rather than the creative process and it's beautifully made, beautifully performed, and if you didn't love Tove already you will now. She was always just so blazingly herself.

| Jul 29, 2021

There's nothing wrong with the film as far as it goes, but unfortunately it doesn't go quite far enough.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 19, 2021

Alma Pöysti is luminous as Jansson, bringing to life her playful, pleasure-seeking artist's spirit.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 12, 2021

Tove may have only niche appeal, but Zaida Bergroth's film is a low-key biopic with frank sexuality, strong performances and detailed costume design.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 12, 2021

A solid if slight look at the quicksilver, complex character behind one of children's literature's most beloved creations.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 10, 2021

Beautifully shot...fantastic, and it literally dances through the character's ups and downs in life...a wonderful adventure that must be explored in all its twists and turns.

| Jul 9, 2021

The world is full of squishy, big-hearted characters for children to adore and admire.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 1, 2021

Tove doesn't completely break the biopic mold, and there's no reason that it should, but it's refreshing to find a portrait of an artist who may have had her doubts and fears, but the concept of "torture" never enters into it.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 25, 2021

While the visual depiction of her artistry leaves something to be desired, Tove paints a decent portrait of an artist who so often shied away from the spotlight.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 24, 2021

By the end, thanks to Pöysti's performance, even the meaning of the Moomintroll stories make more sense. She illuminates every aspect of Tove's artistic, idiosyncratic, endearing soul.

| Jun 11, 2021