“Sukkahousut,” which translates into “Pantyhose,” is a Finnish short film that explores a couple’s toxic relationship.
This Oscar-shortlisted project was directed by Fabian Munsterhjelm, and it did well in the international film festival circuit, scoring various nods and awards along the way.
The movie stars Satu Tuuli Karhu as Jonna and Samppa Batal as Matti. The screenwriters were Samppa Batal and Munsterhjelm.
It starts off with the female protagonist, Jonna, discovering a hole in her pantyhose, and things escalate from there, as she is trying to fix it (all while her man keeps ordering ride services). The couple is headed to a major GALA event that day, and he fears that they are going to be late.
Once the woman is ready, then the husband suffers a wardrobe malfunction (lint on his suit) as he has a meltdown (from rolling on the carpet), so the tension between them is palpable as he is trying to get his suit presentable again.
This short shows us that looks can be deceiving, and that things in any relationship aren’t always what they seem (especially since they are taking selfies of themselves as a happy couple before and after their disagreements).
“Sukkahousut” is one of the 15 short films that made the shortlist for the Academy Awards’ “Best Live Action Short Film” category, which originally had over 200 submissions this year.
The official 2026 Academy Award nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22nd, where we will see if “Sukkahousut” made the final five nominees.
Actor Edward Bayer, who attended a FYC (For Your Consideration) Oscar Q&A screening of this short in Manhattan, remarked, “You really never know what is going on at home. I think that’s something we should all remember moving forward.”
The Verdict
Overall, “Sukkahousut” is a witty, clever, and relatable Finnish short film that has realistic scenarios attached to it. There is a rawness and a tension to it.
“Sukkahousut” is entertaining and worth checking out; moreover, it garners four out of five stars.
