Logline: Featherless is a documentary film about the difficulty of letting go. It follows the final working weeks of a 71-year-old ballet master before his retirement and contemplates the individual's significance within the community.

FEATHERLESS (WORKING TITLE)

Featherless is a 55-minute documentary film that delves into the human difficulty of letting go of one's role. It explores our sense of purpose when we are no longer able to perform all the tasks we are accustomed to in our work.

The documentary examines this scenario from the perspective of four dancers. For dancers, whose work is physically demanding, their identity is deeply intertwined with their ability to perform. Letting go of this identity is a constant presence, as a single wrong move can prematurely end a career that is already short-lived.

The protagonist of the documentary is 71-year-old ballet master Jarmo Rastas. Beloved by dance audiences and internationally renowned in his field, Rastas was accepted into the Finnish National Ballet at the age of 16. Rising from corps de ballet dancer to soloist, Rastas first retired at the age of 44. A few months later, he was offered work as a coach and teacher. Currently serving as a ballet master, Rastas is responsible for the dance company's morning classes, which aim to warm up and prepare the dancers for the day, helping to prevent injuries.

This role as a ballet master has extended the time before he ultimately has to leave his career at the National Ballet. Now, during his final contract period, he faces this reality as a new generation of dancers strives to achieve their dreams.

This thematic documentary examines the concept of letting go through multiple perspectives. Through dance, the story becomes a tangible and visually compelling narrative, juxtaposing Rastas’s long career with three other dancers of different ages. This way, a private experience is transformed into a broader narrative. The documentary reflects on the feelings associated with retirement in general and calls into question how narrowly our society views individuals.