LIFE DURING WARTIME, the new film from the festival favorite director Todd Solondz (WELCOME TO DOLLHOUSE, PALINDROMES), will be shown this autumn in the Helsinki International Film Festival. The film is a sequel to the 1998 arthouse success, HAPPINESS.

LIFE DURING WARTIME follows the familiar characters a couple of years after the events of HAPPINESS. However, Solondz has made things a bit more interesting by changing all the old actors to new ones. The lives of the people haven't turned any easier. Neurosis, loneliness and pining for love still haunt their mundane lives. Solondz keeps things tragicomical, cruel and warm at the same time.

The film won Solondz a Best director award at last year's Venice Film Festival.