Mafia is a video essay that reveals the multifaceted life and inner dynamics of my large Conservative Laestadian family. A curious gaze at an alluring world, born out of the experience of otherness, has turned to an examination of myself. Time passes, individuals grow and the family grows. World views, roles and dynamics change. Almost unnoticed, I have been documenting these changes on my smartphone. The work is based on the constant presence of the phone, highlighting its intimate and everyday nature. Without it, the work would not exist. For the viewer, the film opens up a view of a religious community and extended family, offering a description from within the community alongside external interpretations. The title of the work comes from the name of my family's WhatsApp group.

Lydia Toivanen (b. 1987, Kerava, Finland) is a Helsinki-based visual artist who works with photography, video, and spatiality. Her work has explored, among other things, the inner dynamics of her large family in relation to individual growth and the spiritual heritage of the home. Toivanen also collaborates in multidisciplinary collectives and productions.