Lex Julia, a new psychological suspense drama from Finnish writer-director Laura Hyppönen, will make its world premiere Nov. 13 in the Baltic Film Competition at Estonia’s 30th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

The feature, which examines trauma, memory and the pursuit of truth, is also booked for Argentina’s 41st Mar del Plata International Film Festival during the same month. A Finnish theatrical release through StoryHill is set for January.

Rea Lest, whose credits include The Manslayer, The Virgin, The Shadow and November, stars alongside Christian Hillborg of The Last Kingdom, Fleabag and Young Royals, and Jessica Grabowsky, whose work includes Tom of Finland, Where Once We Walked, Icebreaker and Raptures.

An Island Reunion With a Disturbing Past

The story follows Julia, a music producer in her early 30s, as she travels to an island villa for what initially appears to be a peaceful weekend with her new friend Anna. That calm disappears when Anna’s husband, JP, arrives and Julia recognizes him from her past.

The reunion reopens old wounds and creates an increasingly volatile three-way dynamic as hidden truths emerge. Central questions begin to hang over the characters: Was the earlier encounter a one-night stand or rape? Is Julia a victim, or a coward?

Hyppönen, whose previous films include Charlie and Live East Die Young, describes Lex Julia as “a post-#MeToo story about a rape survivor who unexpectedly encounters the man from her past years after their previous encounter.”

“Set in the pressure-cooker environment of an isolated island, the film explores the conflicting experiences of the victim, the alleged perpetrator and his wife,” she said.

The filmmaker said the narrative was inspired by a personal experience that took years to transform into a character-led suspense story. Rather than following the expected course of the rape-revenge genre, Hyppönen keeps the possibility of violence present while allowing the characters to respond to the mounting tension in unexpected ways.

For Hyppönen, the film’s questions extend beyond what occurred between Julia and JP. She said it also considers whether deeply embedded and often unconscious attitudes toward sexual violence can change, as well as who carries the shame, responsibility and consequences. The title itself refers to ancient Roman legislation concerning sexual violence.

A Four-Country Production

Lex Julia is a co-production involving Finland, Poland, Estonia and Sweden. Greenlit Productions made the film with co-producers Orka Film, Alexandra Film, GötaFilm and Breidablick Film.

The producing team consists of Merja Ritola, Essi Haukkamaa-Judge, Marianne Ostrat, Marta Krzeptowska, Magdalena Zimecka, Gila Bergqvist Ulfung, Paul Blomgren and Daniel Lägersten. Baltic Crime is handling international sales.

Malte Rosenfeld, whose credits include Close and The Full Monty, served as cinematographer. Agata Cierniak, known for Never Gonna Snow Again and Infinite Storm, edited the film.

Ritola said the team recognized from the project’s beginning that the story addressed “the intricate nature of trauma and the challenging pursuit of truth amidst fractured memories.” She praised Hyppönen for creating an emotionally layered experience that resists simple answers while retaining the tension of a suspense drama.

Baltic Crime CEO Maarit Mäeveer also highlighted the mystery surrounding the central trio. She said the film combines an international cast and emotional storyline with suspense that leaves audiences questioning what the three characters share from the past.

Mäeveer linked the film’s subject matter to a growing need for open conversations about abusive behavior, manipulation and gendered violence, calling its themes increasingly urgent in the current cultural environment.

ShowBiz Take

Lex Julia is positioning its central confrontation as more than a simple question of revenge. By placing a survivor, an alleged perpetrator and his wife together in an isolated setting, the film creates a structure in which competing memories and interpretations cannot easily be avoided.

That refusal to promise a straightforward conclusion is what makes the project notable. Hyppönen is using the mechanics of suspense—the remote location, concealed history and constant possibility of violence—to explore how trauma affects memory, accountability and personal relationships.

What Happens Next?

Following its Nov. 13 world premiere at Tallinn Black Nights, Lex Julia is scheduled to continue its festival run at Mar del Plata later in the same month. Its next confirmed release step is a theatrical opening in Finland through StoryHill in January, while Baltic Crime oversees international sales.