Finnish movies, (C) Rex, file updated Jul 12 2005 'The Village Shoemakers' Nummisuutarit (Sockenskomakarne) ** Finland 1923 B/W 83min Comedy cast: Axel Slangus (Esko), Heidi Korhonen (Jaana), Konrad Tallroth credits: dir. Erkki Karu (also prod. and edit.) music Jean Sibelius, Selim Palmgren, Toivo Kuula and Oskar Merikanto, shot by Kurt Jäger, story by Aleksis Kivi One of the very first Finnish movies is silent as films of 20's were. It's about life in a village, marrying and how complicated that can be. Of course this film is not the first Finnish movie (the first Finnish film work was made in 1907 and the first full lenght movie was - correct, if I'm wrong - Venusta etsimässä eli erään nuoren miehen ihmeelliset seikkailut = 'In Search of Venus, Or the Fantastic Adventures of a Young Man', 1919), but it's an excellent sample of our early movies. TRIVIA: Aleksis Kivi's Nummisuutarit ('The Village Shoemakers') has been filmed three times (1923, 1938 and 1957). --- The Young Pilot Nuori luotsi (Den unge lotsen) *1/2 Finland 1928 B/W 79min Drama cast: Joel Rinne, Lilian Järnefelt credits: dir. Erkki Karu (also script and prod.) Well, this is a very very old film. It's silent, but it's still one of Joel Rinne's first films, so... The same story was shot as early as 1913 under the very same title by Kaarle Halme for Lyyra Filmi. --- 'Have I Entered a Harem?' Olenko minä tullut haaremiin? (Har jag kommit till ett harem!) *1/2 Finland 1932 B/W 92min Comedy cast: Birgit Kronström, Joel Rinne, Paavo Jännes credits: dir. Waldemar Wohlström (also script from a play by Agapetus) A comedy about guys who hire young ladies as their maids. Some funny twists. --- 'Our Boys at Sea' Meidän poikamme merellä (Våra gossar till sjöss) ** Finland 1933 B/W 111min Musical cast: Georg Malmsten, Kati Aspelin, Aku Käyhkö, Vili Vesterinen credits: music by Georg Malmsten, dir. and script Erkki Karu Stupid story, but hey, the songs are always the best thing in musicals. When a song is ended there is bad acting and romantical things, but not too long - thank God. In this film there is many famous (or not so well known any more) Finnish performers from the music era. Then Georg Malmsten was almost the biggest name in those business. He was the Finnish Chevalier according to critc Peter von Bagh. --- 'The Steward of Siltala'/ The Foreman of Siltala Farm Siltalan pehtoori (Inspektorn på Siltala) *** Finland 1934 B/W 87min Drama cast: Jalmari Rinne (Pehtoori =The Steward), Hanna Taini, Uuno Laakso, Matti Lehtelä credits: dir. Risto Orko The Finnish cinema industry was in big troubles, so it needed something very good and soon. "What it could be?" "Shall we do something romantical?" "A little drama?" "A sad drinking story?" "And some villains in it? Problems with the inheritance? This sounds good, let's put all this together!" It's always a brilliant idea to mix everything. äRemade in 1953 under the same title (dir. Valentin Vaala, prod. Risto Orko, actors: Erkki Viljos, Helena Vinkka). TRIVIA: Jalmari Rinne was brother of actor Joel Rinne. TRIVIA#2: This was the first Finnish movie which got over a one million watchers (in Finland). --- 'Everybody's Love' Kaikki rakastavat (Alla älska) * Finland 1935 B/W 80min Romance cast: Ansa Ikonen, Tauno Palo, Jalmari Rinne credits: dir., script, edit. Valentin Vaala Oh, the summer is hot and it's nice to stay under those big and green trees... A clumsy love story between four young people. When they are trying to find their true love Uuno Laakso steals the show. TRIVIA: This was the very first film where Ansa Ikonen and Tauno Palo were together. These Finnish sweethearts were together in 13 films. --- 'Surrogate wife' Vaimoke (Så tuktas en man) ** Finland B/W 1936 89min Comedy cast: Ansa Ikonen, Tauno Palo, Uuno Laakso, Kunto Karapää credits: dir., edited by Valentin Vaala, music Harry Bergström A man bet that he'll marry some girl and so he does. After all those ceremonies the man gets his money, but the girl is unhappy, of course: she's just a kind of a wife, not a loved one. But who will be the winner in this tricky game? Like all this time's movies also this have some really boring singing sections. Ansa's voice was thought admirable years ago, but nowadays it's horrible to hear. Maybe the cause is in old recording system, maybe it's just Ansa's fault. Based on Hilja Valtonen's book. --- 'Surrogate husband' Mieheke (Så tuktas en kvinna) *** Finland 1936 B/W 80min Comedy cast: Tuulikki Paananen, Regina Linnanheimo, Tauno Palo, Uuno Laakso credits: dir., edited by, script Valentin Vaala, music Harry Bergström Two woman are in love with a same young business man. The one girl is an famous actress and the other is also a very good looking wife candidate. Sweet songs and tolerable acting works. Based on Hilja Valtonen's book. --- VMV6 (Tulljagaren VMV6) **1/2 Finland 1936 B/W 110min Adventure, drama cast: Joel Rinne, Regina Linnanheimo, Uuno Laakso credits: dir. Risto Orko, based on Mika Waltari's story Dark sea. Criminals and action. The Finnish Coastguard are doing their job well and save pretty women. --- 'The Assessor's Woman Troubles' Asessorin naishuolet (Assessorns kärleksbekymmer) Finland 1937 B/W 90min ** Comedy cast: Aku korhonen (Affe), Yrjö Tuominen, Ester Toivonen, Siiri Angerkoski credits: dir. T.J. Särkkä and Yrjö Norta (also edit. and sound), music Olavi Karu Old Affe finds his maid dead and starts to look new one. Lots of funny twists. äRemade in 1958 by Lasse Pöysti. In the new version Hannes Häyrinen played the title role. --- 'The Log Drifters' Tukkijoella (Stockflötarna) *1/2 Finland 1937 B/W 109min Drama, musical cast: Kyösti Erämaa, Kirsti Hurme, Liisa Fredman, Eero Roine Kalle Viherpuu, Urho Valkama credits: dir. Kalle Kaarna People thought that this film had disappeared but it was found after many years from USA. The story about good Finnish timber-floaters, love, two guys (the bad and the good one) with same name and evil suitor who tries to steal everybody's money and other property... It has been told many times before and after this movie. The cast plays like they would be in a theatre, not in a movie set. Guys have more make-up than girls (who are still prettier than them) and jokes are long and almost impossible to bring into today. Quite boring... This "piece of art" is nothing else but silly memory from the past. --- 'A Stranger Came Into The House' Vieras mies tuli taloon (En främling kom till gården) ** Finland 1938 B/W 101min Drama cast: Kaarlo Angerkoski, Kaisu Leppänen credits: dir. Wilho Ilmari, prod. T.J. Särkkä, based on a novel by Mika Waltari A very dark, but powerful film. It tells a tale of a stranger who came to a lonely country house. There was then only a man and his wife and of course this man gets suspicious. He thinks that the stranger is in love with his wife and then we can se some real anger... Over-acted. --- Lapatossu Finland 1937 B/W 83min *** Comedy cast: Aku Korhonen (Lapatossu), Kaarlo Kartio (Vinski), Siiri Angerkoski credits: dir. T.J. Särkkä, Yrjö Norta Lapatossu (straight translation: shoulder-blade-slipper or just "a lazy man") does everything to avoid every kind jobs. He is not a stupid man - as his friend Vinski - and so he can very easily and loveably be lazy. Lapatossu is a very sweet film and actually funny which old comedies usually are not. The time has been very gentle to this piece of art. TRIVIA: There is more than one Lapatossu movie. There could even be more of them, but Kaarlo Kartio died 1941 and so the serie ended. Sad. --- 'Hulda Of Juurakko' Juurakon Hulda (Hulda från Juurakko) Finland 1937 B/W 82min *** Drama, comedy cast: Irma Seikkula (Hulda), Tauno Palo credits: dir. Valentin Vaala (also script and edit.), music Harry Bregström A young country girl comes to town. It come to pass that she'll be soon a house-maid to one handsome minster. The minister has certain opinions, but soon he'll find out that the country girl isn't just a stupid country girl. It feels like something is missing although the actors are good. --- 'The Women Of Niskavuori farm' Niskavuoren naiset (Kvinnorna på Niskavuori) Finland 1938 B/W 84min **1/2 Drama cast: Sirkka Sari, Olga Tainio, Tauno Palo, Ossi Elstelä credits: dir. Valentin Vaala, A old family drama. There's also sequels. Brrrr. --- A Yager's Bride/'The Jäger's bride' Jääkärin morsian (Jägarens brud) Finland 1938 B/W 97min **** Drama cast: Tauno Palo, Tuulikki Paananen, Kullervo Kalske, Ossi Elstelä credits: dir. Risto Orko A historical drama and love story. TRIVIA: This film contains the biggest Finnish movie scene. There's 3000 men and 2000 horses. TRIVIA#2: Tauno Palo acted also in the first version of this movie (1931) but in different role. --- 'Out to borrow matches' Tulitikkuja lainaamassa (Låna tändstickor) Finland 1938 B/W 72min ***1/2 Comedy cast: Aku Korhonen, Uuno Laakso, Joel Rinne, Siiri Angerkoski, Kaarlo Angerkoski credits: dir. T. J. Särkkä, Yrjö Norta, based on a novel by Maiju Lassila Two country men go to borrow matches and suddenly they are doing a trip far away from home to town. Matches will be forgotten, but hey: the town is really funny place. They try to catch a pig, get married and all strange stuff. This is how people lived 19th century? The cast is great. The best (?) Finnish comedians together! --- 'The Barchelors' Ward' Poikamiesten holhokki (Ungkarlsklubbens skyddsling) Finland 1938 B/W 84 min 1/2 Comedy cast: Helena Kara, Kullervo Kalske, Tauno Majuri, Ossi Elstelä, Ville Salminen credits: dir. Orvo Saarikivi, music, Harry Bergström, staging Ville Salminen Okay, the title tells everything. Horrible. Overacted. --- "Because of a Mark"/A Day as an Heiress Markan tähden (För en mark) Finland 1938 B/W 79min * Comedy, musical cast: Birgit Kronström, Uuno Laakso, Irma Seikkula, Kullervo Kalske, Salli Karuna credits: dir. Risto Orko, music Harry Bergström, based on a play by Hilja Valtonen Poor man's musical with stupid jokes. Watchable, but not twice. --- "A Man From Sysmä" Sysmäläinen (Mannen från Sysmä) Finland 1938 B/W 93min **1/2 Adventure cast: Olavi Reimas (A man from Sysmä), Sirkka Sari, Uuno Laakso credits: dir. Valentin Vaala, staging Ville Salminen, Kosti Aaltonen, based on a novel by Jalmari Finne A hilarious poor man's adventure (but a good one) of a stupid but handsome man form Sysmä and his love. Time: 1600-1700. The staging is well done and actors very good. Yet there is one bad thing. Although the lady of the film (Sirkka Sari) can cheat the man from Sysmä by saying that she is a man too, the audience can see what she really is. Sari is defenetly not Hilary Swank. --- Activists Aktivistit (Aktivisterna) Finland 1939 B/W 110min **** Drama, war cast: Tauno Majuri, Helena Kara, Uuno Laakso, Ville Salminen, Kullervo Kalske credits: dir. Risto Orko (also script with Ilmari Unho) This is a great drama and war movie. It's also historical. There's good Finnish men looking handsome in their suits and doing best for their land. There's evil Russians too. One very mean Russian is Ville Salminen's officer. --- ä"Coat and Waistcoat Off" Takki ja liivit pois Finland 1939 B/W 76min ** Comedy cast: Aku Korhonen (professor Vartio), Sirkka Sipilä (Ilona Vartio), Kaarlo Angerkoski credits: dir. Jorma Nortimo (also script) A comedy about an old professor whose daugter wants to be an actress. He, of course, doesn't buy the idea but then he gets involved with the theatre world himself... Aku Korhonen saves quite a lot in this stiff and oldish farce. --- 'The Rich Girl' Rikas tyttö (En rik flicka) Finland 1939 B/W 80min * Comedy cast: Sirkka Sari, Olavi Reimas, Lea Joutseno, Hannes Häyrinen, Irma Seikkula credits: dir. + edit. Valentin Vaala, music Harry Bergström A high society living style... But money does not always bring happiness. TRIVIA: After the making of this movie the actress Sirkka Sari died accidentally in a party (Aulanko, 7-30-1939). She fell down from a place that she had thought to be a balcony --- 'Red Pants' Punahousut (Rödbyxor) Finland 1939 B/W 91min * Drama, comedy cast: Helena Kara (Irja Mähönen), Kullervo Kalske (Kyrö), Tuulikki Paananen (Elli), Paavo Jännes, Elsa Turakainen, Reino Valkama, Ville Salminen credits: dir. Ilmari Unho, music Harry Bergström, staging Ville Salminen, prod. Risto Orko, script Ilmari Unho with Valfrid Ahonen and Aarne Orri Dragoons in their fine red pants are arrived to the town. Ladies are charmed by this good-looking bunch of men. There's love, some so-called funny characters and - well, that was pretty much all this film has. The best part of this movie is Ville Salminen's Japanese style staging. --- 'Lapatossu and Vinski at the Olympics' Lapatossu ja Vinski olympiakuumeessa (Lapatossu och Vinski i olympiafeber) Finland 1939 B/W 55min **1/2 Comedy cast: Aku Korhonen (Lapatossu), Kaarlo Kartio (Vinski) credits: dir. Yrjö Norta (also sound and edit.) A Sequel to film "Lapatossu". See Vinski winning the running race! TRIVIA: The third and last Lapatossu movie was called as Tavaratalo Lapatossu & Vinski (Varuhuset Lapatossu & Vinski = 'The Department Store Lapatossu and Vinski'). It was directed by T.J. Särkkä on 1940. That was Kaarlo Kartio's last movie, he died on same year. --- 'The Last Quest' Viimeinen vieras (En oväntad gäst) Finland 1941 B/W 95 min ** Crime cast: Hugo Hytönen (Puosu), Ville Salminen (Antti Rajapalo), Hannes Häyrinen (Harni), Reino Valkama (Aapeli), Irma Seikkula (Ane Arvila), Paavo Jännes credits: dir. Ville Salminen and Arvi Tuomi, staging Ville Salminen, music Harry Bergström A murder. Inspector Puosu investigates this difficult case while journalist Harni does his own investigations. More murders and the tracks lead to the leader of Rajapalo Oy, Antti Rajapalo. Who is really behind that all and who is pretty Ms. Ane Arvila's mysterious friend? Not a very popular film but quite good "film noir" anyway. Ville Salminen has a slightly nicer role as usual. --- "The Beautiful Regina of Kaivopuisto" Kaivopuiston kaunis Regina (Brunnsparkens vackra Regina) Finland 1941 B/W 110 min Oy Suomen Filmiteollisuus ** Romance cast: Regina Linnanheimo (Regina Berg), Tauno Palo (Engelbert von Leijoncrona), Ester Toivonen, Siiri Angerkoski, Yrjö Tuominen, Rauha Rentola credits: dir. T.J. Särkkä (also script and prod.) A beloved movie about an orphan girl Regina who lives in a poor home, in 1850's Helsinki. The story is a variation from Cinderella. The cast has lovely outfits. The story is quite sugared but people loved it during the war years. --- "The Barchelor Daddy" Poikamiespappa (Ungkarlspappan) Finland 1941 B/W 82 min * Comedy cast: Sirkka Sipilä, Leo Lähteenmäki, Joel Rinne, Siiri Angerkoski credits: dir. Orvo Saarikivi A silly Hollywood like comedy about a guy who is entitled to inheritance if he gets married and has baby in a week. Overacted, slow and stupid story. Wasting of good actors and time. --- The Vagabond's Waltz Kulkurin valssi (Vagabond-valsen) Finland 1941 B/W 96min **1/2 Adventure, musical cast: Tauno Palo (The vagabond), Regina Linnanheimo credits: dir. T. J. Särkkä, music George de Godzinsky A vagabond falls in love on his travels. Mr. Palo does again his hero figure alive. TRIVIA: A story tells that this film's story was made in a train where T. J. Särkkä met writer Mika Waltari. Mr. Särkkä said that he had all songs for the film but no story. Mr. Waltari was very keen to do something to this in the absence of anything better and so mr. Särkkä got a story to his film. --- "My Son The Hall Consul General" Poikani pääkonsuli (Min son generalkonsuln) Finland 1940 B/W 100 min ** Comedy cast: Helena Kara, Uuno Laakso, Tauno Majuri, Lea Joutseno, Hannes Häyrinen credits: dir. Ilmari Unho Poor girl wins a trip to Sweden, meets her love and tells some lies about herself. Unfortunately also the hall consul general wants to marry her. The plot is patchy and the ending is easy to see from the first moment. Also casting is a bit odd. Nobody can't believe that Hannes Häyrinen is still a school boy... Or then he must be really stupid one because he was 26 when this came out. --- 'SF parade' SF-paraati (SF-paraden) Finland 1940 B/W 81min **** Musical cast: Tauno Palo, Ansa Ikonen, Aku Korhonen, Joel Rinne credits: dir. Yrjö Norta, music Georg Malmst‚n One big song machine. Everybody are smiling and singing and dancing. In real life there was war going on between Finland and Russia. --- 'The Tenant Farmer's Girl' Suotorpan tyttö (Tösen från stormyrtorpet) Finland 1940 B/W 66min ** Drama cast: Regina Linnanheimo (Helga), Tauno Palo (Mauri), Ester Toivonen, Aku Korhonen, Joel Rinne credits: dir. (& prod.) T.J. Särkkä, staging Ossi Elstelä, based on a story by Selma Lagerlöf A story about honesty. Poor Helga has to leave her job because she has a baby. The rich father of the baby tells to the judge that he's no father of that child and he doesn't have to pay anything to Helga. It looks like everyone in the small village are going to turn their back to Helga and her child until splendid Mauri comes to her way. Old-fashioned acting, lots of sentimental stuff and big (Finnish) stars. Luckily this movie is not very long. Another good thing: Regina Linnanheimo is quite good in the main role. --- 'Dressed Like Adam and a Little Like Eve, Too' Aatamin puvussa - ja vähän Eevankin (I Adams kläder - och lite i Evas) Finland 1940 B/W 77min ** Comedy cast: Sirkka Sipilä (Alli), Tauno Palo (Himanen), Leo Lähteenmäki, Jalmari Rinne, Yrjö Tuominen credits: dir. Ossi Elstelä, based on a story by Agapetus Two guys lost their boat and clothes while they're visiting on an island. Oldish comedy. TRIVIA: Actor Kaarlo Angerkoski was going to play Mr. Himanen but he died in the middle of the shooting and Tauno Palo got the role. --- 'Poretta, or the emperor's new points' Poretta [eli keisarin uudet pisteet] (Poretta, eller Kejsarens nya poäng) Finland 1941 B/W 94 min * Musical cast: Birgit Kronström, Uuno Laakso, Eine Laine credits: dir. Ilmari Unho, music George de Godzinsky Fancy. Lots of joy. Poor musical. Boring for the today's audience. --- "Heir Of Tottisalmi" Tottisalmen perillinen (Arvatagaren till Tottisalmi) Finland 1940 B/W 69min *** Drama cast: Tuulikki Schreck, Raino Hämäläinen, Reino Valkama, Paavo Jännes credits: dir. Orvo Saarikivi, music Harry Bergström Thrilling drama where a little boy founds new relatives by a chance. Good enertainment. --- "Ryhmy and Romppainen" Ryhmy ja Romppainen (Ryhmy och Romppainen) Finland 1941 B/W 79min ** Comedy, war cast: Reino Valkama (Romppainen), Oiva Luhtala (Ryhmy), Kirsti Hurme (Vengrovska), Ville Salminen credits: dir. Risto Orko, based on novels by Armas J. Pulla In reality 40's in Finland were very hard times. Wars and stuff like that. Ryhmy and Romppainen were a happy couple. They were soldiers and in the middle of the war, but they had a very good time together. This is a pure farce. There's also sequels: Jees ja just ('Yes and Right Away!', 1943), Jees, olympialaiset, sanoi Ryhmy ('"Give us the Olympics", Said Ryhmy'). TRIVIA: The parody writer Armas J. Pulla's surname is in English "a baked roll". It's his original name! --- "Suominen Family" Suomisen perhe (Familjen Suominen) Finland 1941 B/W 104min ***** Drama cast: Maire Suvanto (Pipsa), Eine Laine (the grandmother), Lasse Pöysti (Olli), Yrjö tuominen (Father), Sirkka Sipilä (Sister Elina), Elsa Turakainen (Mother), Siiri Angerkoski, Maire Suvanto (Pipsa) credits: dir. T. J. Särkkä (also script with Tuttu Paristo) When the war was going on people wanted sweet films of happines. Suominens were like Andy Hardy's family. The Finnish Andy Hardy was Olli. Actor Lasse Pöysti grew up with this role and got very popular. Sequels: Suomisen Ollin tempaus ('Olli Suominen's Stunt' [Suominens Olli på farliga vägar] 1942), Suomisen taiteilijat ('The Little Artists of the Suominen Household', 1943), Suomisen Olli rakastuu ('Olli Falls In Love', 1944), Suomisen Olli yllättää ('Olli Pulls a Surprise', 1945), Taas tapaamme Suomisen perheen ('The Suominen Family Is Here Again', 1959). TRIVIA: Tuttu Paristo wrote Suominen family serie to radio before this movie. The original idea was taken from Swedish radio by Markus "Markus-setä" Rautio. The Swedish serie told about a family called Björk. --- Sylvi *** Finland 1944 B/W 89 min Drama cast: Helena Kara (Sylvi), Siiri Angerkoski, Edvin Laine, Elsa Turakainen, Leif Wager credits: dir. T. J. Särkkä, based on Minna Canth's play An orphan girl gets marriend with an older man. She is just a child and doesn't love him. Soon she'll grow up and finds her love but her husband will not let her to go. The casing is quite good. Mr. Laine does his grumpy old man routine as young Sylvi's husband and Leif Wager is just right into the role of Sylvi's new love. Only mistake is Sylvi. Helena Kara was almost 30 when she played this part and that's defenately too old. Nobody can believe that she still plays with dolls. TRIVIA: The music for the film was made by Nils-Erik Fougstedt who also composed music for Katariina ja Munkkiniemen kreivi. --- 'The Bride Springs a Surprise' Morsian yllättää (Brud efterlyses) Finland 1941 B/W 65 min ** Comedy cast: Lea Joutseno, Tauno Majuri, Olavi Reimas, Eine Laine credits: dir. Valentin Vaala (also edit.), music Harry Bergström A happy little comedy. An overacted collection of romantical twists. --- Puck **1/2 Finland 1942 B/W 92min Comedy cast: Helena Kara (Puck), Tauno Palo, Elsa Rantalainen credits: dir. Hannu Leminen Hannu Leminen directed gladly his wife Helena Kara. But he should have payed more attention to her too theatrical acting (most annoying thing in this movie). If that was the only thing to make this film to be a comedy - no good. A young woman meets an artist lady and gives her an inspiration. The artist lady starts to call this woman as Puck because she remains her of Shakespeare's character. Tauno Palo is a pianist who falls in love with Puck but nobody knows that this happy young woman has a terrible secret to hide. TRIVIA: Leif Wager's first (Finnish) film role was in Puck. --- 'Over The Border' Yli rajan (Över gränsen) Finland 1942 B/W ?min **1/2 War cast: Joel Rinne (Mikko Vanhala), Irma Seikkula (Eliisa Raaska), Wilho Ilmari (Her father) credits: dir. Wilho Ilmari Mikko and Eliisa are in love, but the border is between them. There's war going on and Mikko wants to save Eliisa. Eliisa's father must also bring over the border, but it's hard. Eliisa's father is crippled. Powerful drama, but so gloomy that it makes one sick. TRIVIA: This film got a prize in Venice. It was the first time when a Finnish film got a prize. --- 'The Dead Man Falls In Love' Kuollut mies rakastuu (Dör man blir kär) Finland 1942 B/W 91min *** Adventure, mystery cast: Joel Rinne (The Dead Man/Mr. Sarmo), Hilkka Helinä, Reino Valkama credits: dir. Ilmari Unho The elegant Colonel Sarmo is part of the Finnish film noir films. He and his simple looking friend get into a strange case and through all adversities they just tell smart jokes although mr. Sarmo almost become really dead. Beware James Bond, this is cool stuff! --- 'Safety Valve'/"Love's ABC" Varaventtiili (Kärlekens ABC) Finland 1942 B/W 100min **1/2 Comedy cast: Lea Joutseno, Tapio Nurkka, Irma Seikkula, Olavi Reimas, Emmi Jurkka credits: dir. Valentin Vaala (also edit.), based on a novel by Hilja Valtonen, music Harry Bergström It's not easy to be a young and pretty teacher. Man troubles, happy moments, cuckoo-eyes. I have never readed the book, but it has been told to be good. It's translated in English, so try it! --- ä'Magistrate Martta' Tuomari Martta (Domaren Martha) Finland 1943 B/W 91min **½ Drama cast: Helena Kara (Martta Karsta), Uuno Laakso (Kalle Karsta) credits: dir. Hannu Leminen (also staging and edit.) Martta is reading law. Although some men are against to her career plans, she's going to continue. The main question of the film is, can woman have children and career at the same time? A very dry drama. --- "Katariina And The Count Of Munkkiniemi" Katariina ja Munkkiniemen kreivi (Katariina och greven av Munksnäs) Finland 1943 B/W 105min ***1/2 Drama, romance cast: Leif Wager (The Count), Regina Linnanheimo (Katariina) credits: dir. Ossi Elstelä, music Nils-Eric Fougstedt If there is a film which is more romatical than this, it's pure honey and syrup. The time is 1800 something and a beauty (Katariina or "Catherine") falls in love with a handsome count. The count is also in love and sings sugarly a sweetish song Romanssi ("The Romance") to her. A sample of film's lyrics (by Palle): "Only ya over everything I loo-oo-ove, when I'll look in to your eee-yyy-eees" (Sua vain yli kaiken mä raaa-kaaastan, kun silmiisi katsoa saaaaaaan.) This Palle guy usually wrote comical songs... The nice and happy future must be omitted because the plague and other horrible things happends. But the longing stays and after many years Katariina and her love will meet again. A big and wet kiss. TRIVIA: the wonderful costumes of the movie were bought for another movie (Katariina Maununtytär) but the war cancelled that production. TRIVIA#2: Regina Linnanheimo is not singing in this movie. The singing voice of Katariina is Greta Fougstedts. --- 'Magistrate Martta' Tuomari Martta (Domaren Martha) Finland 1943 B/W 91min **½ Drama cast: Helena Kara (Martta Karsta), Uuno Laakso (Kalle Karsta), Elsa Rantalainen, Aku Korhonen, Thure Bahne, Jalmari Rinne, Kyllikki Väre credits: dir. Hannu Leminen (also staging and edit.) Martta is reading law. Although some men are against to her career plans, she's going to continue. The main question of the film is, can woman have children and career at the same time? A very dry drama. --- 'With Serious Intent' Tositarkoituksella Finland 1943 B/W 79min **1/2 Comedy, musical cast: Lea Joutseno, Tapio Nurkka, Olavi Reimas, Tauno Majuri credits: dir. Valentin Vaala They swing on a field. Help! A handsome and rich guy wants to marry a country girl. City girls try to catch him acting like "real" counry gals. Oh, no... --- 'Miss Hothead' Neiti tuittupää (Fröken Brushuvud) Finland 1943 B/W 80min * Comedy, musical cast: Lea Joutseno, Tapio Nurkka, Eine Laine, Tauno Majuri credits: dir. Valentin Vaala (also edit.), based on a novel by Hilja Valtonen, music Harry Bergström Pianist Anna Tipuli Pusu would like to study music as her friend Erkki Erä. Their ways separate because Anna's parents don't like her idea. Romantical twists, cheap laughs. --- 'White Roses' Valkoiset ruusut (Vita rosor) Finland 1943 B/W 102min ** Drama cast: Tauno Palo, Helena Kara, Aku Korhonen credits: dir. Hannu Leminen (also edit. and staging) A young girl falls in love with a handsome jet-set man. The Man does not even see her. She does everything for him and when she is a bit older she at last get this man... But only for a moment. The man has no real love to give. Strenuous to watch. The lady of the film looks too old to be a young and silly girl. --- 'Lord and Master' Herra ja ylhäisyys (Herre och excellens) Finland 1944 B/W 113min **1/2 Adventure cast: Tauno Palo (T. J. A. Heikkilä), Jorma Nortimo, Ville Salminen, Regina Linnanheimo, Reino Valkama credits: dir. Jorma Nortimo This is maybe Tauno Palo's best movie. He was Finland's Clark Gable and in this movie he shows all his common tricks. He's a happy hero. He is a honest Finnish man but also a master and noble man. He rides in Mexico with his adjutant into a dangerous case and put all things right like some Indiana Jones with a sombrero hat. TRIVIA: the shooting locations were all in Finland. (Vihti: Nummela, Pori: Yyteri). --- 'The Woman Is the Trump' Nainen on valttia (Kvinnan är trumf) Finland 1944 B/W 96 min ** Comedy cast: Ansa Ikonen (Kirsti Kalpa), Uuno Laakso (Kalle), Aku Korhonen, Unto Salminen credits: dir. Ansa Ikonen, script Mika Waltari, staging Ossi Elstelä, music Heikki Aaltoila A famous operetta singer Ms. Kalpa gets sick and tired to her busy life and disappears. When polices try to catch her, she hides into an apartment where three guys, an old professor, a moody composer and their servant, live happily together. They have promised to each other to not let women in their life but Ms. Kalpa looks so sad and lonely... As a modern comedy this could be very kinky movie. But it is not modern. It's Ansa Ikonen's only work as director. We can hear her singing, see her dancing, her her singing, see her smiling, hear her singing... What becomes to acting, this is not as bad movie as it could be. But instead of Ikonen it could have been better with Lea Joutseno in the main role. She had that certain lightness that this movie needs. Aku korhonen, Uuno Laakso and Unto Salminen are ok, as many times before and after this movie. --- 'The dead man loses his temper' Kuollut mies vihastuu (Död man blir vred) Finland 1944 B/W 95min *** Adventure, mystery cast: Joel Rinne (The Dead Man/Mr. Sarmo), Reino Valkama, Regina Linnanheimo, Eine Laine, Ville Salminen credits: dir. Ilmari Unho, staging Ville Salminen, music George de Godzinsky Film noir, it's something. The dead man goes after bad boys (their leader is Ville Salminen's loveable and charismatic villain who has a foreign name) and undress elegantly with his eyes the beauty of the film, who is also a villain. This film looks really good, although it's just a sequel to "The Dead Man Falls In Love". --- "The Dynamite Girl" Dynamiittityttö (Dynamitflickan) Finland 1944 B/W 73min ** Comedy cast: Lea Joutseno, Tapio Nurkka, Tarmo Manni credits: dir. Valentin Vaala (also script with miss Joutseno), music George de Godzinsky This time miss Joutseno turns into a robber figure... Although this robber isn't a robber at all. --- Crime and Gold Nokea ja kultaa (Sot och guld) Finland 1945 B/W 88 min **½ Drama cast: Ansa Ikonen (Sirkka), Edvin Laine (Jalmari), Veli-Matti (Risto), Uuno Laakso credits: dir. Edvin Laine, script Olavi Veistäjä, prod. T.J. Särkkä, music Heikki Aaltoila A story about good-hearted but poor people, who try to survive together. Risto is a little boy who escapes from a violent home. Soon he meets an old drunkard Jalmari and they'll become friends. Jalmari leaves the bottle and tries to live sober, so Risto could stay at his place. But life is never that easy. This is surprisingly good movie. It doesn't try to underline good and bad things too much and it leaves something to think about. Also the shots (cinematographed by Felix Forsman) look very European and nice (-> sort of neorealism). However, the movie sounds very old. TRIVIA: This was both Veli-Matti Kaitala's and Pikku Ritva's (AKA Ritva Mirjami Åberg) first movie. --- 'The Green Chamber of Linnais' Linnaisten vihreä kamari/Linnaisten kartanon vihreä kamari Finland 1945 B/W 91min **** Drama, mystery cast: Rauli Tuomi, Reino Valkama, Kaija Rahola, Regina Linnanheimo credits: dir. Valentin Vaala, staging Roy The time is about 1800. Everybody in the manor lives happily. Two daughters are shearching their love and try to find somebody noble enough for marrying. Somebody with a good name. A handsome architect comes to the manor to do his business and soon there is love in the air. But the manor has secrets which has something to do with certain surnames and one of these surnames is mr. architects surname. The dreams of marrying a doughter of the manor are goon because of this. Or is it? Whose surname is really Littau and whose not? Is there really a ghost in the green chamber? Who will marry that odd noble man whose home burnt? And who is that old woman? Sweetly spooky movie. Reminds of good old days. Actor Rauli Tuomi (the architect) is just right in his role and the others survive very well. --- "I'm Not A Countess"/"A Countess For A Night" En ole kreivitär (Grevinna för en nätt) Finland 1945 B/W 77min *1/2 Adventure cast: Helena Kara, Olavi Reimas, Thure Bahne, Ville Salminen credits: dir. Hannu Leminen, (also edit. and staging), music Nils-Eric Fougstedt, script Roy Two same looking women get mixed and soon countess is not a countess. Robbery will be happend, we'll see foolish men in love and wonderful old clothes. What a joy? --- "The 13th Knock" 13. koputus (13. varslet) Finland 1945 B/W 80min 1/2 Adventure cast: Joel Rinne, Tauno Palo, Reino Valkama, Hilkka Helinä credits: dir. Ilmari Unho, music George de Godzinsky, staging Roy and Erkki Siitonen Two big stars and a bad script (by Simo Penttilä). All is so in mess that the actors too are doing their best to be as worse as they can. They do that very well... --- 'The Witzard Of The White Carnation' Valkoisen neilikan velho (Vita nejlikans herre) Finland 1945 B/W 82 min ***1/2 Adventure, mystery cast: Joel Rinne (The Witz), Reino Valkama, Hilkka Helinä, Eine Laine, Tauno Majuri credits: dir. Ilmari Unho, music George de Godzinsky This is really good job, although the magical tricks of "the witzard" are not very credible. "The witzard" is not only a magician but also a dentist. He gets involved in a mystery case and meets a clumsy robber who'll be his helper. The heroes are the same as in "The Dead Man" serie (Kuollut mies-sarjassa), mr. Rinne and mr. Valkama (the robber in this film). Funny jokes. --- 'Girl of the Week' Viikon tyttö (Flickan för veckan) Finland 1946 B/W 88min **1/2 Comedy cast: Lea Joutseno, Emma Väänänen, Tauno Palo credits: dir. Valentin Vaala A common girl wins a contest "Girl For A Week". She doesn't change, but everybody else start to think that she is a different girl after the competition. Includes deeper thinking of life. --- "Loviisa" Loviisa Niskavuoren nuori emäntä (Loviisa unga värdinnan på Niskavuori) Finland 1946 B/W 91min *** Drama cast: Tauno Palo (Juhani of Niskavuori), Reino Valkama, Emma Väänänen (Loviisa), Kirsti Hurme (Malviina) credits: dir. Valentin Vaala, based on a play by Hella Wuolijoki Juhani is in love with Malviina (ough! What a terrible name...) but he will still marry Loviisa. Loviisa just watches sadly how her husband dances in their wedding with Malviina and later speaks to Malviina sweet words of love. But Loviisa will rise. Strong women and passionful love in country side. This film is a part of Niskavuori serie. --- 'Maaret - Daughter of the Fells' Maaret, tunturin tyttö (Maaret, fjällens dotter) Finland 1947 B/W 82min * Drama cast: Eila Pehkonen (Maaret), Olavi Reimas, Hilkka Helinä credits: dir. Valentin Vaala (also script and edit.) Passion in Lappland (that snowy northern part of Finland). The story tries to be very much but like balloon shrinks it will too. --- "Särkelä Himself" Särkelä itte Finland 1947 B/W 85min *** Comedy cast: Uuno Laaksonen (Särkelä), Aku Korhonen, Siiri Angerkoski, Hillevi Lagerstam credits: dir. Orvo Saarikivi, based on a play by Ilmari Turja Mr. Särkelä has always done everything himself. And now he is the big boss. He thinks that there's no better than work after work and so on. Nobody likes him (except his family) and he likes only his family. And then one day his daughter wants to marry a guy. No way! Daughter belongs to me! Old, but funny film. Aku Korhonen makes good role as a humble old man who just waits his money... --- People in The Summer Night Ihmiset suviyössä (Människor i sommarnatten) Finland 1948 B/W 66min ***1/2 Drama cast: Martti Katajisto (Nokia), Eila Pehkonen, Tarmo Manni credits: dir. Valentin Vaala, based on a novel by F. E. Sillanpää äIt's a peaceful summer night in country. Deer eyed boy, Nokia, and other people are living their normal life. The movie tells many stories but soon comes one stronger story over the others. A fight (well, we know that the young blood can be very 'stormy') and then: a murder. How little can be done before everything changes... This is a very profound film although it may not look like that at first. TRIVIA: F. E. Sillanpää was a Nobel winner writer. TRIVIA#2: Martti Katajisto, Kaisu Leppänen, Eero Roine, Valentin Vaala and Lea Joutseno won Jussi prizes from this movie (Mr. Vaala and Ms. Joutseno for their script). --- "Play For Me, Helena" Soita minulle, Helena (Spela för mig, Helena) Finland 1948 B/W 91min ** Drama, romance cast: Helena Kara, Erkki Viljos credits: dir. Hannu Leminen A quite typical love story. A woman is going to marry a man, whose mother doesn't like her. Then, suddenly, this woman's old love comes back after many years and she has to decide who she will marry. Nicely shot country landscapes but not much else. There's also a sequels (...Ja Helena soittaa [1951], Näkemiin Helena [1955] and Pää pystyyn Helena [1957] which all based on - more or less - Aino Räsänen's books. She wrote 12 Helena novels). TRIVIA: the script for the movie was written by its director and Ilmari Unho, who worked for another company and that's why he wrote under nickname. --- 'Song of the City Outskirts' Laitakaupungin laulu (Sången från gränden) Finland 1948 B/W 73min * Crime cast: Tauno Palo, Ella Eronen, Ansa Ikonen, Aku Korhonen, Tarmo Manni credits: dir. Edvin Laine, music Heikki Aaltoila The title screams: this is a musical! But... This is more film noir and comedy than a musical . It's a story of poor people who try to help each other to survive in the cold world. Although the cast is good and everybody are acting like they are not there where they are (in a Finnish film studio), the reality shines through the staging. Looks old, sounds old, smells old. TRIVIA: Both Aku Korhonen and Elna Hellman won Jussi prize (Finnish Oscar) from this film. TRIVIA#2: Juudit was Ella Eronen's last film role. --- 'Kilroy Was Here' Kilroy sen teki (Kilroy var här) Finland 1948 B/W 90 min * Comedy, romance cast: Lea Joutseno, Joel Rinne, Reino Valkama, Salli Karuna credits: dir. Ilmari Unho, music George de Godzinsky, written by Lea Joutseno and Ilmari Unho, based on a novel by Hilja Valtonen Poor, a comedy of one joke. Man loves a girl, the girl pretends that she doesn't love him and in the end they go together. Still, I liked to watch Joel Rinne (although he wasn't comedian). --- "The Singing Heart" Laulava sydän (Hjärtats sång) Finland 1948 B/W 71min **1/2 Drama cast: Tauno Palo, Eila Peitsalo, Mirjami Kuosmanen, Ville Salminen, Little Annika credits: dir. Edvin Laine, music Toivo Kärki äA man and his little daughter lives together. The Man is busy. He has a good voice and soon he finds himself from a radio station, singing sweet songs (Yeah, there was a time, when all music in the radio was performed "live"). Stardom is a hard thing. He starts to eat pills and one day his little daughter eats those too, gets sick and death comes to their door... The main problem of this movie is somekind of a distance. Tauno Palo looks and sounds good although he wasn't young anymore in late 40's. --- 'Hormones on the Loose' Hormoonit valloillaan (Hormonerna rasa) Finland 1948 B/W 73min **1/2 Comedy cast: Joel Rinne, Hilkka Helinä, Reino Valkama, Rauha Rentola credits: dir. Orvo Saarikivi, music George de Godzinsky, written by Armas J. Pulla and Orvo Saarikivi This is a nice comedy, although it's rather old. There is a new medicine and a two middle aged couples test it. They turn into children (mentally) and start to make things what they have not been doing - because they were adults. Especially Joel Rinne is hilarious, Reino Valkama does his comedy routines --- "Ugly Elsa" Ruma Elsa (Fula Elsa) Finland 1949 B/W 70min **1/2 Comedy cast: Eeva-Kaarina Volanen (Elsa), Kullervo Kalske, Lasse Pöysti, Rauha Rentola credits: dir. Edvin Laine Well, fatherless Elsa dresses up like a boy and smokes and talks like bad boys. But her sister is pretty and nice. What to do with Elsa? Overacted, but funny. Still, it's old. TRIVIA: Edvin Laine directed also the original theatre version of this play. Some of the actors in the film were same as on the stage. TRIVIA#2: Eeva-Kaarina Volanen won Jussi prize (Finnish Oscar) for her part. --- 'Aaltonen's Missus Takes Charge' Aaltoska orkaniseeraa (Aaltoska i sitt ässe) Finland 1949 B/W 77 min * Comedy, musical cast: Elna Hellman (Aaltoska), Veli-Matti (Jukka), Hannes Häyrinen (Lipponen), Kalle Viherpuu (Aaltonen) credits: dir. Edvin Laine, music Heikki Aaltoila, prod. T.J. Särkkä The time after WWII was not easy for Finns. Many people had to move to new locations, usually even to stangers' homes. This movie tells about two kids who have to do so. It's also a crime story but in a funny way. A clumsy reporter Lipponen is searching crimes with crazy wife of the janitor Aaltonen. This is a quite useless movie. There's singing, funny moments with kids and a lot of over-acting but with all that it looks like a mess. And Elna Hellman... It's Hell to watch her in this one. TRIVIA: This was the very last movie which T.J. Särkkä made with his child star Veli-Matti. --- Behind The Street Mirror Katupeilin takana (Då mormor var ung En idyll från forna tiden) Finland 1949 B/W 88min *** Romance, comedy cast: Eeva-Kaarina Volanen, Uuno Laakso, Matti Ranin credits: dir. Toivo Särkkä (Glory Leppänen) A romantical costume drama which tells about young and lovely Vappu Biörcke who has many nice suitors. Ms. Volanen is lovely in her role as is young Matti Ranin in his. They use old-fashioned language which has parts of Swedish tongue. Actor Rauli Tuomi was cast in Matti Ranin's role but he killed himself before the filming. TRIVIA: This play was running in a theatre and it was directed by Glory Leppänen. Mister Särkkä filmed it with same actors and almost with the same staging as in the theatre. Therefore there has always been a strife of that who really directed this cute little movie. --- Sleeping Beauty Prinsessa Ruusunen (Prinsessan Törnrosa) Finland 1949 B/W 99min **1/2 Fantasy cast: Tuula Usva (Sleeping Beauty), Martti Katajisto (the prince), Mirjam Novero (the queen), Uuno Montonen (the cook), Eeva-Kaarina Volanen credits: dir. Edvin Laine We all know this old story. There is a happy royal family. A princess is just born. Her godfairies are arrived - all but not bad one, who didn't get an invitation - and given her fine presents (beauty, fine character...). Then arrives that one angry fairy and says that there is a curse on, because she didn't get the invitation. When the princess starts to spin, she will hurt herself and fall in sleep with the whole castle. They will never awake after that. Well, as we know one good fairy change the curse a bit. After a 100 year's sleep a prince can wake them up, if he kisses the princess. Okay, Tuula Usva was a pretty girl and won the Miss Finland contest, but she wasn't an actress. The film is still fine. All star cast (cameos after cameos). äTRIVIA: The actress of the queen was the director's wife and the actor of the king was his brother in reality. TRIVIA#2: Actress Siiri Angerkoski's daughter Sirkka in the second lady-in-waiting and Kalle Peronkoski's daughter Eeva-Liisa is one of the little girls in the movie. --- 'Serenading Lieutenant' Serenadiluutnantti (Serenadlöjtnanten) Finland 1949 B/W 75min 1/2 Musical cast: Henry Theel, Siiri Angerkoski, Ossi Elstelä credits: dir. Ossi Elstelä This is bad. Henry Theel was a first rate singer, but not an actor. He was the Finnish Mario Lanza. Women loved him like women loved Rudolph Valentino. Well, poor Henry is not only bad actor in this strange farce. The director himself tries to play a recruit. That's because he and Mr. Theel's character have got into wrong bus and that brings them to an army camp where nobody realises that they are not real reacruits... The director was 50 years old when they shot this and it shows. I wonder why nobody in the film's army didn't realise that... --- 'The Adventures of Kalle-Kustaa Korkki' Kalle-Kustaa Korkin seikkailut (Kalle-Kustaa Korkkis äventyr) Finland 1949 B/W 108min **1/2 Comedy, crime cast: Joel Rinne (Kalle Kustaa Korkki), Reino Valkama (Pekka Lipponen), Ville Salminen, Hilkka Helinä credits: dir. Ilmari Unho, music Harry Bergström Kalle Kustaa Korkki is an old fashioned version of an international man of mystery. Once again loveable Ville Salminen is the bad guy and Reino Valkama is the helper of Joel Rinne's character. Story changes a bit, names changes also, but the faces are the same as in the Dead Man serie. TRIVIA: There was a radio play of Kalle Kustaa Korkki and Pekka Lipponen before this film. It was written by Outsider. Joel Rinne played also a role in that. --- 'Maija Finds the Right Tune' Maija löytää sävelen (Maja och fru musica) Finland 1950 B/W 95min **½ Drama cast: Leena Häkinen (Maija Lehtinen), Martti Katajisto (Erkki Orasto), Rakel Laakso (Elna Orasto), Arvo Lehesmaa (Evald Orasto), Eine Laine (Ester Orasto) credits: dir. Matti Kassila, prod. T.J. Särkkä, music Ahti Sonninen A head of the musical family Orasto finds a poor young lady Maija crying on the street. She tells lies about her past and Mr. Orasto takes her into his home. He gives her work to do and a little by little she becomes as friends with the Orastos. The younger mister Orasto falls in love with Maija and composes a musical piece to her. The story is somewhat too sweet but the actors do quite nice work although some of the smaller parts are over-acted. Anyhow, this is not a special movie. --- "The Dance Over the Graves" Tanssi yli hautojen (Dansen över gravarna) Finland 1950 B/W 98min **1/2 Drama cast: Leif Wager, Eila Peitsalo, Arvo Lehesmaa, Siiri Angerkoski credits: dir. T. J. Särkkä It's 1809 and members of the Diet are coming together in Porvoo. Alexander the first has came from Russia to let people know that he's still the ruler of Finland etc. Some people are against this and so a sweet young lady will be sent to manipulate Alexander. But she falls in love with him... Leif Wager plays Alexander - who talks better Finnish than the real Alexander the first ever did. Eila Peitsalo is the young beauty who falls in love with him. The whole film is so sweet that it's hard to not vomit when you're watching it. It's pathetic one hour and 38 minutes. TRIVIA: A scandal queen Tabe Slioor can be seen here in a small role as a famous lady who has big breasts. --- 'Ten Lads From Härmä'/ 'Ten Men from Härmä' Härmästä poikia kymmenen (Österbottniskt blod) Finland 1950 B/W 86min ** Drama, adventure cast: Tauno Palo, Kauko Helovirta credits: dir. Ilmari Unho In the eastern and northern parts of Finland was years ago hot blooded men who did terrible things and gave much work to the local sherrif's officer. This film tells about them. They sing and give and evil look if somebody says that they should not take alcohol so much and break everything. Tauno Palo does his best to keep the show going on. --- 'Beautiful Vera, or a ballad of Lake Saimaa' Kaunis Veera eli ballaadi Saimaalta (Veera - zigenerskan) Finland 1950 B/W 79min *1/2 Musical cast: Olavi Virta, Elsa Turakainen, Kalle Viherpuu, Uuno Laakso, Assi Nortia, Hannes Häyrinen, voices of the Kipparikvartetti: Kauko Käyhkö, Auvo Nuotio, Teijo Joutsela credits: dir. Ville Salminen People ran into movie theatres when this movie was released. Kipparikvartetti singer group did their debut in this film, although it's just a light story of a steamboat Prinsessa Armada and its crew. Well, there is a love story too, but it sinks into the songs. TRIVIA: Although the shooting of the film got a long time, it was really shooted in a few days, because it was raining almost all time. A big part of film material was also ruined in film laborator and that had to shoot again with bored (and drunken) cast. In the middle of the shooting one of the cast returned to his home because the weather was rainy and of course the rain stopped right away. When he came back it was raining again... --- ä'Maija Finds the Right Tune' Maija löytää sävelen (Maja och fru musica) Finland 1950 B/W 95min **½ Drama cast: Leena Häkinen (Maija Lehtinen), Martti Katajisto credits: dir. Matti Kassila, prod. T.J. Särkkä A head of the musical family Orasto finds a poor young lady Maija crying on the street. She tells lies about her past and Mr. Orasto takes her into his home. He gives her work to do and a little by little she becomes as friends with the Orastos. The younger mister Orasto falls in love with Maija and composes a musical piece to her. The story is somewhat too sweet but the actors do quite nice work although some of the smaller parts are over-acted. Anyhow, this is not a special movie. --- 'Katarina the Beautiful Widow' Katarina kaunis leski (Katarina den vackra änkan) Finland 1950 B/W 79min ** Romance cast: Eeva-Kaarina Volanen (Katarina Thorwöst), Martti Katajisto (Carl-Magnus Schildt), Rauha Rentola, Jalmari Rinne credits: dir. & prod. & script T. J. Särkkä A rich, young and beutiful widow falls in love with a young swordsman. There's also other men, poor upper class people, who are interested into Katarina. They try to do everything to win her heart. Oldish costume drama. Eeva-Kaarina Volanen is beautiful as usually and the milieu is nice. Jalmari Rinne as poor but highly respected Mr. Cajalen is the funny guy in this movie. He is overacting but perhaps somebody likes that. TRIVIA: The original play (which was written by Serp) was a big success in the late 40's. In the stage version actress Ansa Ikonen played Katarina. --- "The Poor Singer" Köyhä laulaja (Fattig sångare) Finland 1950 B/W 73min * Musical cast: Henry Theel, Aku Korhonen, Siiri Angerkoski credits: dir. Ville Salminen (also staging) äHenry Theel is singing again (just because his first big movie was such a big success - this movie was Serenadiluutnantti). This time he is a poor singer who'll suddenly get job and start to tempt customers to a restaurant with his singing. Poor Henry sings very well, but his acting... --- Darling, I Hate You Vihaan sinua, rakas (Älskling, jag hatar dej) Finland 1951 B/W 74 min Suomen Filmiteollisuus ** Drama, comedy cast: Edvin Laine (Esa Karnala), Ansa Ikonen (Leena Karnala), Lasse Pöysti (Tauno), Leena Häkinen (Kirsti Lumio) credits: dir. Edvin Laine, DOP Osmo Harkimo, music Heikki Aaltoila Mrs. Karnala is a tired house wife who travels to the country side to get some rest. In the meanwhile her husband falls in love with his new secretary and soon there's a big scandal in the family. An old, occasionally a bit funny comedy about a subject that wasn't so light in 1950's. Edvin Laine stars as chauvinistic husband and Ansa Ikonen makes one of her nicest performances as his poor wife. Lasse Pösti is the sidekick as their son. This is not a masterpiece, but worth of watching on a rainy day. --- 'Stolen Love' Ylijäämänainen (Stulen kärlek) Finland 1951 B/W 77min **½ Drama, romance cast: Asta Backman (Laura Kari), Tauno Palo (Lennart Qvist) credits: dir. Roland af Hällström, DOP Esko Töyri A melodramatic story about a lady who loses her love in the war. This time the guy doesn't die, he just marries somebody else. After a few years he comes back to meet his old love, who is still unmarried - mainly because so many men have died in the war. The old-fashioned way to tell the story makes it slow and heavy. Luckily Asta Backman's performace in the main role seems to still be kind of fresh. Even Tauno Palo doesn't "shine" as much as she does. --- 'At the Rovaniemi Market Fair' Rovaniemen markkinoilla (Marknad i Rovaniemi) Finland 1951 B/W 79min 1/2 Musical cast: Jorma Ikävalko, Reino Helismaa, Esa Pakarinen, Marja Korhonen credits: dir. Jorma Nortimo, script Reino Helismaa Three guys go to search gold. When they find out that there's no gold they go to the market fair. Happy country songs and things like that. People loved it, critics didn't. TRIVIA: this was Reino Helismaa's first script which was shot. --- 'The Scarf' Tytön huivi (Flickorna kring Affu) Finland 1951 B/W 66min *** Musical cast: Sakari Halonen (Affu Tanner), Eija Inkeri (Milda), Assi Nortia (Marketta) credits: dir. Ville Salminen, music J. Alfred Tanner Amazinly swell musical from 1950's. This movie has the same happiness and lightness as there was in 1930's Hollywood musicals, except this one doesn't take place on a city or business world. There's not much of the plot. Young Affu Tanner wants to find a girl and his mother gives him a scarf, which he can give to "the right lady". Affu rides through the forests and fields, searching his love and keeps on singing. The film has many songs, most of them are still nice to listen, they're pretty joyfull. Mr. Halonen plays Affu Tanner with a hearty smile. His cheerful way to do his job makes the movie watchable, no matter how oldish it would look otherwise. --- "A Summer Night's Waltz" Kesäillan valssi (I sommarkvällen) Finland 1951 B/W 97 min **1/2 Drama, romance cast: Leif Wager, Uuno Laakso, Eeva-Kaarina Volanen credits: dir. Hannu Leminen A young girl falls in love with her music teacher in late 1800. Some lovely songs and loveable scenes shot on country side. But the old-fashioned acting style may work like the warm milk: you'll fall asleep. --- Come Back, Gabriel Gabriel, tule takaisin (Gabriel, kom tillbaka) Finland 1951 B/W 80min ***** Drama, romance cast: Tarmo Manni (Gabriel), Emma Väänänen, Salli Karuna credits: dir. Valentin Vaala, staging Roy, music George de Godzinsky, based on a play by Mika Waltari Gabriel is a casanova. He is a smooth swindler. He speaks words of love and cheats old women to give him all their money. And still Gabriel is their darling. Yes, he is evil, but he speaks so amiable, that he must be every woman's honey. He must love also the watcher. By God, Tarmo Manni WAS Gabriel. This heartless comedy (as Mika Waltari called it) is really art. The whole cast does their best and it's shame that mister Manni didn't win the Finnish Oscar "Jussi" from his role. But maybe he was too good to got that statuette. Emma Väänänen and Salli Karuna won prizes for their performances anyway. TRIVIA: According to A RUMOUR, both actor Tarmo Manni and director Valentin Vaala were gay. --- 'The Old Man and the Youngster' Isäpappa ja keltanokka (Farsgubben och gulnäbben) Finland 1950 B/W 70min **1/2 Comedy cast: Lasse Pöysti, Matti Ranin, Joel Rinne, Siiri Angerkoski, Eila Peitsalo credits: dir. Edvin Laine A grumpy old man lives in his bedroom with his fishes, growls to his kids (teens) and roars to everybody else. There's no domestic servant who would like stay in that house for long. What to do? Well, kids start to search a nice woman who would like to marry their father. Old-fashioned, but nice little comedy. Joel Rinne is good as usual, as is the other cast too. The script should have been better. --- "Roope The Robber/'Rob The Robber' Rosvo-Roope (Piraten älskaren) Finland 1949 B/W 99min ***1/2 Adventure cast: Tauno Palo (Roope the Robber) credits: dir. Hannu Leminen The biggest Finnish star. Excellent costumes. Fantastic milieu. The year is 1700 something. It's time of the legendary Roope (or Rob) the Robber, who got all women and won every fight with his magnificent sword. The movie starts from old tavern, where one "nobody" sings a ballad of the great robber. "If you pour me a drink, I will tell you a tale..." Maybe the best of all old Finnish adventures. äTRIVIA: According to Suomen kansallis Filmografia 1948-1952 the shots of Roope's ship were taken from Michael Curts movie called Captain Blood (Kapteeni Blood, 1935). These shots were borrowed without permission. --- 'The Radio Commits a Burglary' Radio tekee murron (Radion gör inbrott) Finland 1951 B/W 91 min *** Crime, comedy cast: Hannes Häyrinen, Ritva Arvelo credits: dir. Matti Kassila äMatti Kassila had that something. Well, Mr. Häyrinen is excellent as reporter Toivo Teräsvuori, but what makes this film special is that the story has happened really (äreporter Usko Santavuori did a robbery in his radio program in Helsinki, Finland, years ago and he also had problems with police in this case). Matti Kassila succeed to give the film a touch which makes it still very enjoyable. TRIVIA: This was Aarne Tarkas' first movie script. Mr. Tarkas (who is better known as director) can be seen in the beginning of the film as stuntman for Mr. Häyrinen (the parachutist scene). --- 'A Night in Rio' Rion yö (Det hände i Rio) Finland 1951 B/W 72min 1/2 Adventure cast: Tapio Rautavaara, Lasse Pöysti, Leif Wager, Reino Valkama, Assi Nortia credits: dir. (& staging) Ville Salminen, music Harry Bergström Three sailors go to Rio and sing. They all fall in love with the same woman who is in big trouble. Horrible acting, bad script. --- "The Man of a Hundred Swords" Sadan miekan mies (De hundra värjornas man) Finland 1951 B/W 88min **1/2 Adventure cast: Kalervo Nissilä, Marja Korhonen, Toini Vartiainen, Uljas Kandolin credits: dir. Ilmari Unho, staging Roy The name tells everything. It's not bad but Kalervo Nissilä is like a smiling superman in his role. Do you like Errol Flynn as Robin Hood? If you do, this is a film for you. --- "Heta From Niskavuori" Niskavuoren Heta (Heta från Niskavuori) Finland 1952 B/W 95min **** Drama cast: Rauni Luoma (Heta), Kaarlo Halttunen (Akusti Harjula), Mirjam Novero (Hilja their servant), Eino Kaipainen, Leo Lähteenmäki (Santeri from Lammentausta), Martti Katajisto (Jaakko), Kullervo Kalske (Juhani Niskavuori), Emma Väänänen (Loviisa Niskavuori) credits: dir. Edvin Laine, prod. T.J. Särkkä, script Hella Wuolijoki and Paula Talaskivi One of the funniest (?) parts of the Niskavuori series; the film has some really funny characters in a natural way. It's 1898 and Juhani's sister Heta is going to marry a poor servant, Akusti. Why? Well, what for she is feeling ill in the middle of the ceremony? Of course, she is pregnant. Heta is a powerful lady who will not get scared her new husband's way of living. She's going to be the head of the house no matter of what and if she wants something, she will also get it. Luckily Akusti is a nice man who will love Heta and all their children - also those who aren't really theirs. It takes a long time before Heta realises how good man she has married. This movie won three Finnish Oscars (Jussi prizes), one from directing (Edvin Laine), one from best actress (Rauni Luoma) and one from best actor (Kaarlo Halttunen). In this case the prizes went to right people. Also the script is well written. --- "The White Reindeer" Valkoinen peura (Den vita renen) Finland 1952 B/W 66min ****1/2 Drama, fantasy cast: Mirjami Kuosmanen (Pirita), Kalervo Nissilä (Pirita's husband), Åke Lindman, Jouni Tapiola, Arvo Lehesmaa credits: dir. Erik Blomberg, music Einar Englund This movie has won prizes around the world. Critics praise its expressionism and beauty. There's no doubt about it, it is a very good film but today it doesn't look quite so big anymore. It's the effects, you know. Although they look still very impressive the whole movie is very oldish. It's about a young woman in Lappland, whose evil powers arise suddenly. She turns into white reindeer who kills men in mystical ways. The acting in the movie is O.K., since there's not much of talking. The biggest power of the movie is in the pictures. There's plenty of powerful shots of the reindeer lady Pirita (Kuosmanen) and views of Lappland. TRIVIA: The film won three Jussi awards (Finnish Oscars) and also a special award in Cannes. In 1954 it won a prize in Karlovy Vary and in 1956 another in Hollywood (both director of photography awards). TRIVIA#2: Blomberg collected a lot of information about shamanism in [the Middle Ages] Lappland for the script. It's been told that some shamans drank dead people's blood in those days. TRIVIA#3: The idea for the script was Ms. Kuosmanens. --- "Finnish Girls in Stockholm" Suomalaistyttöjä Tukholmassa (Finska flickor i Stockholm/ Stockholm lockar) Finland 1952 B/W 95min *1/2 Drama cast: Toini Vartiainen, Åke Lindman, William Markus, Elvi Saarnio credits: dir. Roland af Hällström Three girls go from Finland to big and strange world (= Sweden). Everybody falls in love, one loses her money, other her glory etc. An educative movie for every young girl? Good effort, but horrible film. Overacted. --- 'The Dead Man Walks Again' Kuollut mies kummittelee (Död man går igen) Finland 1952 B/W 82min *** Crime cast: Joel Rinne, Reino Valkama, Hilkka Helinä credits: dir. Jorma Nortimo (also script) He is here again, this time Mr. Sarmo helps the consul of Bindorra, whose life is getting short. Not the best part of serie, but still watchable. This was the last part. --- 'He Came Through The Window' Hän tuli ikkunasta (Han kom genom fönstret) Finland 1952 B/W 98 min * Romance, comedy cast: Tauno Palo, Helena Kara credits: dir. Hannu Leminen As the title says, he comes through the window. Where he comes to? Of course, to he lady's bedroom. Well, they have met before (it was all so sudden) and so on. Boring, overacted romantic comedy. TRIVIA: This was Helena Kara's last movie. --- 'Ferryboat Romance' On lautalla pienoinen kahvila (Flottarkärlek) Finland 1952 B/W 84min * Musical cast: William Markus, Siiri Angerkoski, Kalle Viherpuu, Tuija Halonen credits: dir. Thure Bahne, music Harry Bergström Based on two songs (one by Harry Bergström and Tatu Pekkarinen and the other by Erkki Salama). There's very little depth in this movie. It tells about lovely Sanni who escapes from a guy to the ferryboat and gets a job there. Then, of course, there will be a romance and since this is a musical, a lot of singing too (mainly by Kipparikvartetti). Sounds pretty boring and that it also is. TRIVIA: The production title for the movie was Savotan Sanni. TRIVIA#2: This was Kalle Viherpuu's last movie role. He died before the movie was released. --- 'The Girl's Very Own Recruit' Kaikkien naisten monni (Flickornas egen rekryt) Finland 1952 B/W 80min * Comedy cast: Lasse Pöysti, Toini Vartiainen, Reino Valkama credits: dir. Lasse Pöysti (also script) äMonni is a old Finnish slang word and it means recruit. Nieminen is the name of the recruit. He's clumsy and he can't read (ha-ha-ha? - Nah.) but so cute that every girl falls in love with him. This kind of old plot makes you only yawn. TRIVIA: Jutta Armela has been also known as Jutta Zilliacus, member of the diet. --- "The Sailor Quartet" Kipparikvartetti (Skepparkvartetten) Finland 1952 B/W 78min * Musical cast: Kauko Käyhkö, Liisa Tuomi, Olavi Virta, Auvo Nuotio, Teijo Joutsela, Eero Roine credits: dir. Ville Salminen (also staging), script Reino Helismaa, music Harry Bergström Good songs, but pretty mindless story about musicmen who try to make living with their music. It seems like the names of the characters are the witty part of the whole thing: they are "funny" versions of the performers real names (for example Olavi Virta [virta means stream] is here Olli Joki [joki means river]). --- "The Witch Gomes Back To Life" Noita palaa elämään (Häxan går igen) Finland 1952 B/W 74min ** Horror cast: Mirja Mane, Sakari Jurkka, Helge Herala, Aku Korhonen credits: dir. Roland af Hällström, play by Mika Waltari They killed the evil beauty. They though that she had supernatural powers. Yes, she has those, because she won't stay in the grave. After 300 years archaelogists find her body and horrible things will happen. Very dark film in every way. Mirja Mane looks fine without clothes but that's still pretty poor reason to watch the film. TRIVIA: Mirja Mane is the very same person as Mirjam Manelius. --- 'Esa "Flies" to Kuopio' Lentävä kalakukko (Esa "flyger" till Kuopio) Finland 1953 B/W 68min **1/2 Musical cast: Esa Pakarinen, Masa Niemi credits: dir. Ville Salminen In the original name, kalakukko ("fish cockerel") is a straight translation of a name of one Finnish food: a bread, fish and bacon baked in it. Here it means a train. Possibly, because the train is full of everything "interesting"... Esa Pakarinen is a conductor who sings with the passengers. He was a very original person. One can not describe him. A tall, thin singing troll would be closest image of him. If you want know more, you'll better see the movie. --- 'Adventure in Morocco' Rantasalmen sulttaani (Äventyr i Marocko) Finland 1953 B/W 77min 1/2 Comedy cast: Esa Pakarinen, Kauko Käyhkö, Assi Nortia, Oke Tuuri credits: dir. Eddie Stenberg, music Toivo Kärki Ville Lipponen travels to Morocco. There he's going to inherit something that has been kept in secret. Oh, my God! This is really terrible movie. Has the set decorator (Aarre Koivisto) done everything fast with couple of paper rolls and rivets? Has the director been away all of time? And what are the actors been drinking? If you ever get this movie in your hands, please throw it away! --- 'Pete 'Woodhead'/ 'Pete Blockhead' Pekka Puupää (Kalle Träskalle) Finland 1953 B/W 71min * Comedy cast: Esa Pakarinen (Pekka or Pete), Masa Niemi ("The Shorty"/ Pätkä), Siiri Angerkoski, Tapio Rautavaara, Åke Lindman, Thure Bahne credits: dir. Ville Salminen (also staging), music Toivo Kärki, script Reino Helismaa Based on the comic book under the very same name. Pekka or Pete is a tall stupid man. Shorty (Pätkä) is his short and fat friend. He also is not very bright. Well, isn't that nice? Two stupid guys doing things. That's something new? Kids have always loved these films. I must say, that I loved especially Shorty when I was a kid. The song writer Reino Helismaa has done good work for kids, although it was not always his idea that made people laugh: many times his scripts were so full of holes that the director had to complete them. . Pekka got many new adventures after this. One of many is 'Pete Blockhead Takes a Vacation' [Pekka Puupää kesälaitumilla, (Kalle Träskalles pensionat) 1953]. TRIVIA: The player of the shorty's role killed himself when this comedy serie was still very popular (1960). His last message was a little poem: "It's good to be, when my head is empty like zero" (On niin hyvä olla, kun pää on tyhjä nolla). Sad. He was such a good man. --- 'The Nude on the Run' Alaston malli karkuteillä (Naket äventyr) Finland 1953 B/W 77min * Comedy cast: Raili Mäki, Sakari Jurkka, Rauni Luoma, Reino Valkama credits: dir. Ville Salminen (also staging), music George de Godzinsky Again the name tells everything. This is so stupid film that its humour may work only if you're very tired. It is a comedy about painter who tries to make living with his work but ends up as murderer (because somebody thought that his plastic model was a real human) and poor maniac. --- 'We're Coming Back' Me tulemme taas (Vi kommer igen/Vi kommer med våren) Finland 1953 B/W 76min 1/2 Comedy, musical cast: Tuija Halonen, Tapio Rautavaara, Siiri Angerkoski, Aku Korhonen, Anneli Sauli credits: dir. Armand Lohikoski, script Reino Helismaa, music Toivo Kärki äThe lumber-jacks are comin again! Hooray, folklore! There's a forbidden romance, a new romance and a romance between two elder people. This may have been a very light comedy but it hasn't aged well. TRIVIA: Actor Tapio Rautavaara was in real danger in one of the scenes when his leg was stuck in the middle of the logs. --- 'The Girl from Moon Bridge' Tyttö kuunsillalta (Flickan från månbron) Finland 1953 B/W 97min *** Romance, drama cast: Ansa Ikonen (Pepi/Linda Varala), Joel Rinne (Erik Ramberg), Kerstin Nylander, Vilho Siivola credits: dir. Matti Kassila (also script based on the radio play by Juhani Tervapää) 26 years has past when Pepi, who is now a wealthy lady, calls to her old good friend Erik. He is very wealthy too and just like Pepi, he has married somebody else. Pepi loves still Erik but she won't say who she really is. He misses Pepi and wants to find out who and where she is etc. Pretty simple plot. Both Ms. Ikonen and Mr. Rinne gives fine performances. In some scenes they may seem too old but it doesn't matter very much since the film is quite well done otherwise. The oldish split screen effect is nicely used here to make the phone calls between the main couple a little more quot;colourfulquot;. This Kassila's film has aged as beautifully as Ansa Ikonen in it. --- "Misters' Eeva" Herrojen Eeva (Eva gör skandal) Finland 1954 B/W 73min **½ Comedy cast: Liisa Tuomi (Eeva Taavanen), Erkki Viljos, Uuno Laakso credits: dir. Yrjö Kostermaa, prod. Risto Orko Eeva is a fatherless young woman, who lives with her mother. People say that Eeva's mother has a new man every day. Also Eeva herself is consired very attractive but she seems to be somewhat wiser than her mother. Men can't win Eeva in their game of love. First of all: if the chick is as noisy and greedy for alcohol as Eeva is, it's very hard to believe that men really want even have "that one thing" with her. But that's what the director and Liisa Tuomi (who plays Eeva) wants us to believe anyway. The acting in the film is very oldish but there's been also worse stuff than this, so it's merely okay this time. The film is nicely shot, in fact everything around the actors looks fine although there must have been only a quite little money to put it all together. Too bad that the story is not exactly funny (or at least it doesn't feel like that anymore) and Liisa Tuomi is trying to be like some stupid clown half of the movie. --- 'Hilma's Name Day' Hilman päivät (Hilmadagen) Finland 1954 B/W 77 min *** Comedy cast: Tauno Palo (Yrjö), Aino Mantsas, Edvin Laine, Matti Ranin (Heikki), credits: dir. (& script) Matti Kassila, prod. T.J.Särkkä It's Kalervo's wife who is having her name day. The village has just got a new resident. He's young judge Heikki. Two ladies fall in love with him but who will got who and is it Vekkula that is burning? This movie tells lightfully about fate. 'Hilma's Name Day' is a small comedy about common people. It doesn't try to be a masterpiece and that's perhaps its best part. TRIVIA: The producer T.J. Särkkä can be spotted in the Hilma's name day party scene. He stands in a doorway with a coffee cup. --- 'Blue Week' Sininen viikko (Den blå veckan) Finland 1954 B/W 70min **** Drama cast: Matti Oravisto, Gunvor Sandkvist, Toivo Mäkelä, Leo Jokela credits: dir. Matti Kassila It's a nice and warm summer day, everybody are going to spend their weekend dancing and having fun in an island. Usko drinks too much and deciedes to stay longer. Just when he thought that he would be alone there, he'll see a beautiful young woman. It's going to be a blue (positive meaning, happy) week for him and her. At first it's only fun but the woman is married with an old man, so can it last forever? Although the dialogue is once again old fashioned, this time it doesn't really matter much. The cast is all fine, especially Toivo Mäkelä as the old man. Another good thing in this movie: the music. It's lively and very well made. Also the shots are beautiful, almost dreamy. No wonder that this film won awards. --- Opri Opri Finland 1954 B/W 79 min *** Drama cast: Rakel Laakso (Opri), Elna Hellman, Elsa Turakainen credits: dir. Edvin Laine äThis is a story of old people. Opri is an old woman whose dreams look like omens to her. She lives far from her original home that she had to left behind because of the war. In her new home she feels unwanted. This is a cause of her dreams and age. Although the plot may sound sad, the story is so lively told and full of funny characters that nobody will find it depressing. The cast is marvellous. All three, Rakel Laakso, Elsa Turakainen and Ossi Kostia, won Jussi prize (Finnish Oscar) for their performances. This is one of the masterpieces of Edvin Laine. --- Leena Finland 1954 B/W 77min *** Comedy, romance cast: Heidi Krohn (Leena), Matti Oravisto (Lauri Huurros), Eija Karipää, Mia Backman, Paavo Jännes, Arvo Lehesmaa, Aku Korhonen, Heikki Savolainen, Leo Jokela, Sakari Jurkka, Tyyne Haarla credits: dir. Sakari Jurkka, script and staging Roy, music George de Godzinsky, edit. and prod. Veikko Itkonen An orphan girl Leena tries to steal goods and gets gaught. Reporter Lauri Huurros saves the girl. He says that she did it for the newspaper and she is actually his fiancée. Later they fall in love but Leena's old robber friends find her and start to blackmail her. Nice twists and happy athmosphere. This was the very first Irina Krohn movie ever. She was still studying acting at the school when she start to act in movies. Because she was succesful, she left her studies. Although the movie is old, her talent is clear to see. Thanks for the (quite) witty script and professional workers behind and infront of the camera, the movie is still pretty entertaining. TRIVIA: The Russian title of the movie means an arrogant girl. The movie was shown in 1956 Russia. TRIVIA#2: The producer Veikko Itkonen can be seen in two cameo roles in this movie: as a man in the department store and as captain in the airplane. --- 'Aarne of Niskavuori' Niskavuoren Aarne (Aarne från Niskavuori/ Aarne på Storgården) Finland 1954 B/W 86min **½ Drama cast: Tauno Palo (Aarne Niskavuori), Elsa Turakainen (Loviisa, old Mrs. Niskavuori), Rauni Ikäheimo (Ilona Niskavuori), Hillevi Lagerstam (Martta), Åke Lindman credits: dir. Edvin Laine, prod. T.J. Särkkä, script Hella Wuolijoki and Pentti Unho, music Heikki Aaltoila A part of the Niskavuori serie. The big and powerful family drama. This part tells about Aarne and his women. He lives in the city and is married with nice and quiet Ilona and his ex-wife Martta rules the Niskavuori house with the old Mrs. Niskavuori. Since Martta can't live like a nunn, a new scandal is approaching the mighty Niskavuori. This was Edvin Laine's second Niskavuori movie. It's like old-fashioned The Bold and Beatiful. If you're interested in juicy scandals and you also like country side romances, this movie is for you. --- 'Hei, Trala-lala-lalaa' Hei, rillumarei Finland 1954 B/W 78min * Comedy, musical cast: Esa Pakarinen, Siiri Angerkoski credits: dir. Armand Lohikoski, script Reino Helismaa, music Toivo Kärki An easy and light comedy about a simple golddigger who goes to the town and gets into trouble. Esa Pakarinen plays his accordion and sings with his dry voice oldish humour songs. If you want to see great acting, intelligent plot and hear wise dialog, this movie is not for you. --- 'Up on the Highest Bough' Mä oksalla ylimmällä (Jag gungar i högsta grenen) Finland 1954 B/W 88min *½ Romance, musical cast: Maaria Eira (Maria Sawina), Martti Katajisto (Gabriel Linsén) credits: dir. Jack Witikka (also script with Valentin Chorell), prod. T.J. Särkkä A rose pink story about a young composer Mr. Linsén who falls in love with a beautiful and famous singer Maria Sawina in 1864. Ms. Sawina wants more than a poor composer - what a misery. The characters have actually lived once but in real life Mr. Linsén and Ms. Sawina were never "young lovers". The film is visually nice to watch. Its costumes are lovely. But the acting is theatrical and - although Maaria Eira sings beatifully - Maria Sawina's singing can be hear so many times that it starts to sound boring. --- 'Two Old Lumberjacks' Kaksi vanhaa tukkijätkää (Två glada stockflötare) Finland 1954 B/W 82 min ** Comedy, musical cast: Ossi Elstelä, Anneli Sauli, Olavi Virta credits: dir. Ossi Elstelä, script Reino Helismaa, music Toivo Kärki äIf we look back in Finnish film history, there's many films of lumberjacks and farces. This is one of many. Again, there's a romance. A doctor recommends to a cityman a peaceful half-year as lumberjack on the countryside. Cityman goes there, tells everybody that he's somebody else and helps a friend to find his girl. A very simple film in every way. Nothing special in it but maybe somebody wants still to pay some interest into the shots that represent old Finnish lumberjack culture. --- 'Father's New and Ex' Isän vanha ja uusi (Pappas gamla och nya) Finland 1955 B/W 90min *1/2 Comedy, romance cast: Ansa Ikonen, Tauno Palo credits: dir. Matti Kassila Mr. Pekanpää is a wealthy man. Everything looks fine, he has even a new young wife nowadays. But he misses his ex. The Finnish sweethearts (Tauno & Ansa) were a bit old when they made this film. Still the audience loved them as they loved the story that was so fresh and cool in 1955. It doesn't look like that anymore. --- 'The Unkonwn Soldier' Tuntematon sotilas (Okänd soldat) Finland 1955 B/W 170 min ***** War cast: Jussi Jurkka, Reino Toivanen, Leo Riuttu, Veikko Sinisalo, Tarmo Manni, Taneli Rinne, Kaarlo Halttunen, Åke Lindman... credits: dir. Edvin Laine, based on a novel by Väinö Linna This is art. The story tells about the war between tiny Finland and big Russia over 60 years ago. It's pain, sorrow, love, hate, divinity... It's real. I have no words for this film. It's more than great. TRIVIA: The director Edvin Laine was one of them who never was in war with other brave men. This film was his way to be in that war. Actor Tarmo Manni said once that if Edvin Laine could have been one of those men he might have not done this film. --- 'Conscript Hero' Sankarialokas (Hjälterekryten) Finland 1955 B/W 80min **½ Comedy cast: Lasse Pöysti, Leo Jokela, Tuulikki Suomela, Jussi Jurkka credits: dir. Aarne Tarkas A young writer lives in his dreams and falls in love with a soldier's daughter. Soon the writer finds himself from army doing his best to show that he too is a real man. Mr. Pöysti acts like an yo-yo, but it's good. Leo Jokela does a hilarious role as a helpful gypsy. --- Pastor Jussilainen Pastori Jussilainen (Pastor Jussilainen) Finland 1955 B/W 88 min **½ Comedy cast: Edvin Laine (Elias Gabriel Jussilainen), Rauha Rentola (Eveliina Jussilainen), Tyyne Haarla, Kirsti Ortola credits: dir. (& script) Matti Kassila, prod. T.J.Särkkä Mr. Jussilainen - he's a chauvinist and priest of small Finnish village. His wife is kind and nervous. Her mother is coming to a visit and Mr. Jussilainen won't even like to have new carpets on their floor. He is against everything new and nice... But will it last forever? Mr. Jussilainen is so disgusting person that you have to hate him before the first scene ends. Edvin Laine uses all his power to make this character unloveable and when the film has ended, it's difficult to know whether you actually liked the character or not. The movie starts with an unusual opening: every actor and also persons from the director to the composer are introduced to the audience in a special way. The movie is shot like it would been shot on stage. The effect is actually suitable for this story. Aarre Koivisto's staging looks great. --- The Doll Merchant Nukkekauppias ja kaunis Lilith (Dockhandlaren och den vackra Lilith) Finland 1955 B/W 89min **** Fantasy cast: Martti Katajisto (the doll merchant), Hillevi Lagerstam (Lilith), Tauno Palo credits: dir. Jack Witikka (also script with Walentin Chorell), music Simon Parmet There's not many Finnish films like this. When this was made, the time wasn't right for "strange" movies. People wanted more romances that happen in barns, in the middle of hayheaps and silly fellows singing on the fields. But this movie shows a dictator (great Tauno Palo) who puts a doll merchant in the jail and destroys all his puppets. Well, the film has a good ending anyway. At the time it was only too artistic for the audience. It has many visually wonderful details (for example odd shadows which made buildings "smile" or the ball scene in the end). A must see! --- ä'Silja - The Maid' Silja - nuorena nukkunut (Silja) Finland 1956 B/W 91min ***½ Drama cast: Heidi Krohn (Silja), Jussi Jurkka (Armas), Aku Korhonen, Pentti siimes credits: dir. Jack Witikka, script Juha Nevalainen (based on a novel by F.E. Sillanpää) It's late 1910's. Silja is an young servant girl, an orphan who finds a job and home from the Nukari family. Men fall in love with her but she loves only one of them. Unfortunately she never can have him. Heidi Krohn is so fresh and real as Silja that it makes one to forget how pathetic the plot is. Mr. Witikka's directing is smooth and gentle. The story ends in a way that leaves an opportunity for Silja and the audience to be happy. The first version of the same story is Teuvo Tulio's Nuorena Nukkunut from 1937. --- 'Harvest Month' Elokuu (Skördemånad) Finland 1956 B/W 92min **1/2 cast: Toivo Mäkelä (Viktor Sundvall), Rauni Luoma credits: dir. Matti Kassila, based on a story by F. E. Sillanpää An old drunken man dies a bit by bit mentally, hurts his family and in finally he dies also physically. It's a strange decision to tell the story as a long flashback. Cast does its best and the story is not weak, but it just has too big 'tail'. However, in 1957 the film won many prizes (for example from directing, shooting and music). The film was also shown in Cannes but that version was cut differently. --- 'A Certain Groom' Muuan sulhasmies (Luffarbaronen) Finland 1956 B/W 105min *** Comedy cast: Joel Rinne (Baron Mauriz Leonard Wilhelm Grafvenhjelm), Hannes Häyrinen (Ville, his friend), Sylvi Salonen (Svea Jonsson) credits: dir. Hannu Leminen, music Harry Bergström When I first time saw this film, I had really good laughs. It's old, but sometimes you need old fashioned jokes. A poor, but still aristocratic baron Mauriz Leo... Well, Baron "Moppe", gets himself in a mess when he tells (after a few drinks) that he'll marry rich miss Jonsson. When his head is clear again, he doesn't remember what he said, but his friends tell him that he has proposed to miss Jonsson. Well, that's not quite true, but baron is a man of honour and so he goes to visit at miss Jonsson's home. Pretty soon this poor fellow is married and then the fun begins. He hates his new life. So he'll escape. Joel Rinne and Hannes Häyrinen are both great. They support each other in their roles very well. And, not only these two men do charismatic performances, but also the leading lady Sylvi Salonen. Her Ms Jonsson can be really scary. --- 'Niskavuori Fights' Niskavuori taistelee (Niskavuoris kamp) Finland 1957 B/W 96min *** Drama cast: Elsa Turakainen (old Mrs. Niskavuori), Mirjam Novero (Ilona), Tauno Palo (Juhani Mattila and Juhani Niskavuori), Martti Katajisto (Paavo Niskavuori), Hillevi Lagerstam (Martta), Joel Rinne (Doc. Santala) credits: dir. Edvin Laine, prod. T.J. Särkkä, music Heikki Aaltoila The movie starts from early 40's. War is going on and Mr. Mattila saves a baby in the middle of bombing. Pretty soon after that he has to escape to the country side. There he meets the ladies of Niskavuori. They ask him to help them on the fields of Niskavuori because all their workers are in the war. He agrees but he has a secret. This part of the Niskavuori serie is clearly more modern by its dialog, acting and technic as the earlier parts. Although the film tells about depressive things, it's surprisingly lively. The cast is OK, but seeing Tauno Palo in two different roles makes me ask: "Was this guy really the only one who could play these roles?" It's confusing and it gets even more confusing because he has also been Aarne Niskavuori (earlier in this serie). TRIVIA: Aarne Laine (as Jokinen in this movie) was the director's brother. --- 'My Beloved Thief' Rakas varkaani (Du kära tjuv) Finland 1957 B/W 71min ** Comedy cast: Pentti Siimes, Elina Pohjanpää, Kullervo Kalske, Heikki Savolainen credits: dir. William Markus Dosent Leopold knows a lot about thieves. He does a research for them. He is good in his job but in every day life he is clumsy and pretty much a disaster. He doesn't even notice when he meets a real thief. This is a love story and a comedy. Although Mr. Siimes acts funny and "the female thief" Pohjanpää tries her best the conclusion is not the greatest. Poor script, I'll say. TRIVIA: Pentti Siimes was married with Elina Pohjanpää. --- '1918' 1918 - mies ja hänen omatuntonsa (1918) Finland 1957 B/W 96min *** Drama cast: Åke Lindman, Anneli Sauli, Helge Herala, Ture Ara credits: dir. T. J. Särkkä The first part of this film looks funny although it must have not been the intention. But it gets better. If you forget its old dialogue, it looks alike a master piece. Åke Lindman is more than good in the leading role. 1918 tells a story of priest who is loosing his faith. He ends up to a prison camp where the life is hard and his mission there is to save souls. TRIVIA: Ilmari Unho wanted it be a secret that he was written the script with T.J. Särkkä. That's because Mr. Unho was working for antother movie company (Suomi-Filmi). --- 'The Stranger' Vieras mies (Främlingen) Finland 1957 B/W 105min ** Drama cast: Aku Korhonen, Rauni Ikäheimo, Kaarlo Halttunen, Esko Vettenranta credits: dir. Hannu Leminen Gloomy. A stranger comes into a lonely house and soon there's suspicious looks. The master of the house is often too drunken to think clearly and that causes many ugly situations between him, his wife and the stranger. This is may be too gloomy movie for some. Because of its subject it's heavy but also the oldish way to tell certain things can make it somewhat difficult to watch. TRIVIA: This was not only Hannu Leminen's but also old Aku Korhonen's last movie. Mr. Korhonen won a Jussi prize for his role in this movie. --- "Little Ilona And Her Lambkin" Pikku Ilona ja hänen karitsansa (Lilla Ilona och hennes lamm) Finland 1957 B/W 88min ** Drama cast: Riitta Hämäläinen, Siiri Angerkoski, Elsa Turakainen, Pentti Siimes, Oke Tuuri credits: dir. Jorma Nortimo, script Mika Waltari, music Heikki Aaltoila äLittle Ilona is a poor girl who loses her mother in the war. She and her lambkin has to survive alone in the big world. A pathetic story but this is actually a children's movie, so what can you expect? TRIVIA: The filming of this movie started as early as 1941. Maire Suvanto (Pipsa from the Suomisen perhe movie serie) was cast as Ilona but later all plans changed because the war started in Finland. TRIVIA#2: This was director Jorma Nortimo's last movie. He died in 1958. --- 'Wild Generation' Kuriton sukupolvi (Nutidsungdom) Finland 1957 B/W 89 min *** Drama cast: Tauno Palo, Leo Jokela, Matti Ranin, Jussi Jurkka, Irma Seikkula, Maikki Länsiö credits: dir. Matti Kassila, script Mika Waltari with Juha Nevalainen and Ritva Arvelo), music Heikki Aaltoila äOld fashioned, but very real. The parents just have to move out when the teens begin their party. Old professor (Tauno Palo) tries to do his job in his corner but his kids act like the owners of his own house. One day he wants to change this. There's also more. A love affair between the professor and one of these teens. Crisis after crisis. TRIVIA: This is a remake. The first version was made in 1937 by Wilho Ilmari (dir.), Uuno Laakso (the professor), Ansa Ikonen and Oke Tuuri. --- 'Another Girl Lost' Taas tyttö kadoksissa (Åter en flicka försvunnen) Finland 1957 B/W 68min 1/2 Comedy cast: Leni Katajakoski, Leo Jokela, Pia Hattara credits: dir. Ville Salminen (also staging and script with Kaarlo Nuorvala), music Harry Bergström Boring, stupid and bad. This movie has a so twisted plot - if it has one at all - that it gives a headache. A lady who looks and talks like Marilyn Monroe, steals a bike. Another lady disappears and suddenly somebody finds illegal cars in somebody's garage. Leo Jokela is a reporter who has some funny lines. Or more likely: he speaks them out funnily. --- 'Mr. Minister of War' Herra sotaministeri (Herr krigsministern) Finland 1957 B/W 90min ** Comedy cast: Pentti Siimes, Heidi Krohn, Tarmo Manni, Elina Salo credits: dir. Aarne Tarkas (also script with Pentti Unho), music Harry Bergström An ordinary fellow got suddenly the war minister's job. There's no harm in it, as long as the country is not in war! Hilarious, but too slow and many jokes are too long. Pentti Siimes is funny in the role of the ordinary fellow. Tarmo Manni looks very militant in his big boots. Beside that, there's nothing much. --- 'Scapegoat' Syntipukki (Syndabocken) Finland 1957 B/W 91min *** Comedy cast: Lasse Pöysti (the scapegoat), Hannes Häyrinen, Leo Jokela, Hilkka Helinä, Marjatta Kallio credits: dir. Matti Kassila, music Heikki Aaltoila, based on a play by Agapetus (script by Matti Kassila, Hannes Häyrinen and Ritva Arvelo) A remake from an old play. A stupid young man goes to the town and asks for a job. He finds one in a supermarket, one in which he is perfect. They need a scapecoat because there happens so many mistakes and little accidents. Oldish acting, somewhat dull plot. If you'll find these things enjoyable, this is a must-see for you. The same story was also filmed in 1935 with Kaarlo Kartio as the scapecoat. --- "The Young Miller" Nuori mylläri (Den unga mjölnaren) Finland 1958 colour 90min *½ Musical, romance, comedy cast: Martti Kuningas (The miller), Teija Sopanen (Hilkka), Senni Nieminen, Matti Lehtelä, Elvi Saarnio credits: dir. Valentin Vaala, music Harry Bergström, based on a story by Maiju Lassila A light comedy about a young man who moves back to a village where his father was once a miller. Because the old miller had no wife and he was sorry for his son he left him a big inheritance. His son just doesn't know this. The colours of the film are rich as the life on the country side years ago. The film is full of funny characters, pretty girls etc. but years haven't been good for it. It seems so very old today. Filmed in Sovcolor. TRIVIA: Teija Sopanen was a popular face in Finnish televison world. She has won over ten Telvis prizes. --- "The Blessed Colonel" Autuas Eversti (Salig översten) Finland 1958 B/W 63min * Comedy cast: Pentti Siimes (the colonel), Hillevi Lagerstam, Tarmo Manni, Ekke Hämäläinen, Anneli Sauli, Leni Katajakoski credits: dir. William Markus A flashback. The colonel walks with this beutyful lady. Back to present time. The colonel is old. Another flashback. Back. Flashback. Back... Now the colonel is dead. No, he wakes up! Then some action: this old fellow runs to his old love. How exciting? The film is short, but it feels like 3 hours long. Even Tarmo Manni sounds boring as a caricature of over-reacting husband of the colonel's second daughter. --- "The Women Of Niskavuori" Niskavuoren naiset (Kvinnorna på Niskavuori) Finland 1958 colour 80min *** Drama cast: Emma Väänänen (Loviisa), Erkki Viljos, Pia Hattara, Elvi Saarnio, Teija Sopanen credits: dir. Valentin Vaala, music Harry Bergström äAlthough the Niskavuori movie serie is "heavy" drama, there's some hilarius supporting roles which keep it somewhat enjoyable. In this movie Aarne Niskavuori falls in love with an young teacher Ilona and that, of course, makes his wife Martta unhappy. What will happen to the great Niskavuori farm then? The movie is slightly more fresh than the earlier version of the same subject (made in 1938). --- 'Stomach In - Chest Out' Vatsa sisään ja rinta ulos (Magen in och brösten ut) Finland 1959 B/W 89min * Comedy cast: Helge Herala, Marjatta Kallio, Tommi Rinne credits: dir. Aarne Tarkas A girl school and the barracks. Lovely girls and more or less militant military boys. Of course it's hard to keep them separated. Poor officier tries his best, but soon he'll find himself from a girls' bathroom in drag... Occasionally funny. Mister Herala does good work, as does the rest of the cast but this is still far away from a masterpiece. Still, it is one of the best soldier farces from Finland. --- The Day the Earth Froze Sampo (Sampo) Finland 1959 colour 91min *½ Fantasy cast: Urho Somersalmi (Väinämöinen), Anna Orotsko (Louhi), Ivan Voronov (Ilmarinen), credits: dir. Aleksandr Ptusko, prod. G. Kuznetsov and Risto Orko A huge and ambitious production. The story is taken from Kalevala, the book in which Elias Lönnrot collected many years ago old people's songs of Finnish history. Sampo is a machine that Mrs. Louhi wants to be build for her. This mysterious machine is a somekind of money-maker and only one guy can build it: Ilmarinen. Evil Mrs. Louhi kidnaps Ilmarinen's sister and promises to set her free if he builds the machine. The movie is as stiff as a corpse. It smells like anything that has been made with too big ideas. We can see the attempt, the passion and the brilliance of some scenes but that all makes the movie too heavy and dull. It sinks into the swamp of poor B-movies. Let's hope it also stays there. Filmed in Sovcolor. TRIVIA: Urho Somersalmi was only Finnish actor in this movie. His own voice can be heard also on Russian version. TRIVIA#2: The Day the Earth Froze is only partly the same movie (according to Suomen Kansallisfilmografia). This 67 minutes long version has also partly different cast and it's directed by Gregg Sebelious and Herman Erkko (possibly fake names). TRIVIA#3: This was Urho Somersalmi's last movie. --- 'The Wonderful Adventures of Isaskar Keturi' Isaskar Keturin ihmeelliset seikkailut (Isaskar Keturis underbara äventyr) Finland 1960 B/W 80min * Comedy, musical cast: Hannes Häyrinen (Isaskar Keturi), Pirkko Mannola (Irma), Leo Jokela, Siiri Angerkoski, Umberto Marcato, Vesa Enne credits: dir. Aarne Tarkas Isaskar Keturi is private detective. He and his friend should try to find a rich girl who has ran away from her home because her father wants her to marry a bad guy. Keturi is not very good in his job, everything goes wrong. Somehow he and his friend find the girl and go to a song contest... The plot is so stupid that it's a wonder if this movie has been a succes. There's only two good things in the movie: Pirkko Mannola and Umberto Marcato singing. The most terrible part is to see Jokela and Häyrinen in drag. --- 'Police Inspector Palmu's Mistake' Komisario Palmun erehdys (Mysteriet Rygseck) Finland 1960 B/W 103min ***** Crime cast: Joel Rinne (inspector Palmu), Matti Ranin, Leo Jokela (Mr. Kokki), Pentti Siimes credits: dir. Matti Kassila, based on a book by Mika Waltari Murder! A young and rich man is found dead from his swimming pool. What has happened? Old and authorical inspector Palmu and his young partners start to investigate this case. A horrible game is behind evrything and more deaths will happen. A lovely crime movie, wonderful cast (especially Joel Rinne), some hilarious moments (Mr. Kokki sings...) and fantastic dialoque. All fits together brilliantly. There's also sequels. TRIVIA: Inspector's role was made for actor Aku Korhonen, but he was too ill to act and Joel Rinne got this part. Also the partners of the inspector were changed from Hannes Häyrinen and Uljas Kandolin to Mr. Ranin and Mr. Jokela. --- '"Oho!" Emil Said' Oho, sanoi Eemeli (Åhå, sa Eemeli) Finland 1960 B/W 94min 1/2 Comedy cast: Esko Toivonen (Eemeli), Tommi Rinne, Leni Katajakoski, Ville-Veikko Salminen credits: dir. Ville Salminen, script by Reino Helismaa, music Toivo Kärki äMama sends her 38 years old son to the big and bad world. It's a boring story but the actors keep so much noise that you can't sleep. There's also sequels. --- 'The School Marm on the Road Adventure' Opettajatar seikkailee (Lärarinnan på adventyr) Finland 1960 B/W 92 min *1/2 Comedy, romance cast: Leni Katajakoski, Tommi Rinne, Pirkko Mannola, Leo Jokela, Uljas Kandolin, Hannes Häyrinen credits: dir. Aarne Tarkas (also script) You'll probably never see this film. It's hard to find anywhere even in Finland. There's a tough teacher lady who tries to keep her students (all girls) away from boys and love stuff. Summer holidays come and of course this teacher gets stuck on a lonely island with some guy and falls in love. The movie has some funny moments but mostly it is over-acted mix of oldish school comedy and 60's modern world. --- '"Kerplunk," Said Emil' Molskis, sanoi Eemeli, molskis! (Plums, sa' Eemeli, plums!) Finland 1960 B/W 81min 1/2 Comedy cast: Esko Toivonen (Eemeli), Tarja Nurmi, Ville-Veikko Salminen, Uljas Kandolin, Tapio Rautavaara credits: dir. Ville Salminen (also staging), script Reino Helismaa, music Toivo Kärki A sequel for Oho, sanoi Eemeli. This time Eemeli is a little short of money and so he has to earn some to pay his taxes. It is hard to make a good comedy and this is not good. Third part for the Eemeli serie was released in 1962 ("Ei se mitään!" sanoi Eemeli). That part was directed by Åke Lindman. --- 'Little Peter' Pikku Pietarin piha (Lilla Peter) Finland 1961 B/W 73min *** Drama cast: Tuukka Tanner (little Peter), Elsa Turakainen, Tea Ista, Leo Jokela Hannes Häyrinen credits: dir. Jack Witikka, music Simon Parmet, based on a story by Aapeli äA lovely little piece of art. A tale about a motherless boy and his life. Really good work from the cast and the crew. Unfortunately this was Jack Witikka's last film. --- 'Songs After the Heart's Desire' Toivelauluja (Önskevisor) Finland 1961 colour 80min ** Musical cast: Pirkko Mannola, Esko Salminen, Leif Wager, Leni Katajakoski credits: dir. Ville Salminen, script Reino Helismaa This looks like someone would have said: "Let's make something that looks like those fancy and big Hollywood musicals! Does anybody have money? Oh, a dollar... Well, we can make it a little smaller..." It's about a girl who finds a song book and starts to dream about the songs in it. --- 'Step on the gas, Inspector Palmu!' Kaasua, komisario Palmu!(Vem mördade fru Skrof?) Finland 1961 B/W 95min ****1/2 Crime cast: Joel Rinne (Inspector Palmu), Pentti Siimes, Matti Ranin, Leo Jokela, Elina Salo credits: dir. Matti Kassila (also script with Kaarlo Nuorvala, based on a book by Mika Waltari) The semll of the gas. That old hag Mrs. Skrof must have fallen asleep and forgotten the gas on. Or is it a murder? Who would have done it? Another case for inspector Palmu and his good assistants. The second movie from the Palmu serie. Hilarious and stunning as the first one. Director's wife Aino Mantsas does an entertaining role as a foreign show girl. --- 'When the Chokecherry Blooms' Kun tuomi kukkii (När häggen blommar) Finland 1962 colour 105 min ½ Musical cast: Mauno Kuusisto (Mikko), Tamara Lund (Liina), Leo Lastumäki (Eetu), Siiri Angerkoski, Matti Oravisto (Jaakko), Raakel Laakso credits: dir. Åke Lindman, music Erkki Melankoski A big singer star Mauno Kuusisto seems to be the only issue why this movie was ever made. The plot is dull and acting... Well, the main stars, Tamara Lund and Mr. Kuusisto were better singers than actors. The story tells about a travelling tradesman who stops in a beautiful little village where he meets Liina, his new love. Liina is promised to another guy and that brings up difficulties. The story could be told in ten minutes but songs make the film longer. Sadly they are pretty boring and the silly echo effect make them sound irritating. TRIVIA: the chokecherry in the movie was painted and decorated to look like it was really blooming. The real flowers had died already when they start the shooting. --- 'Don't Count Your Chickens' Älä nuolaise (Kurragömmaleken) Finland 1962 B/W 113min ***1/2 Comedy cast: Leo Jokela, Tommi Rinne, Leni Katajakoski, Elina Salo credits: dir. & script Aarne Tarkas äA couple of poor gas station workers win in a lottery. The prize is not big but just enough for living a high quality life for a moment and perhaps that will bring rich ladies to them... Soon this pair of fellows start to act like two rich Americans and of course it will turn into a mess. Leo Jokela and Tommi Rinne are fantastic as the gas station boys/ rich Americans. These guys are not the only ones bluffing in the movie. Good acting, funny script and nice views. --- The Boys Pojat (Grabbarna) Finland 1962 B/W 106min **** Drama cast: Vesa-Matti Loiri (Jake), Kauko Helovirta, Liisa Nevalainen credits: dir. Mikko Niskanen A story about boys. How hard it is to live in country where's war, how hard is to grow up. Young Loiri does good work as Jake (he got also a diploma of it). Sad ending. TRIVIA: The story was originally written by writer Paavo Rintala. In his novel Jake (the main character) shoots himself in the end. --- "A Wonderful Adventure" Ihana seikkailu Finland 1962 colour 96min ** Romance cast: Pirkko Mannola (Helena Ehrenheim), Stig Fransman (Paul), Esko Mannermaa (Mr. Pedanzius), Siiri Angerkoski (Loviisa), Kauko Helovirta (Anders) credits: dir. and prod. T.J. Särkkä, music Heikki Aaltoila Time and place: it's summer, far before 20th century, somewhere in Finland. Always smiling Pirkko Mannola plays Helena, who has been promised to a rich but not so nice man. Hovever, she is in love with another guy and escapes from her rich house with him. Her parents doesn't of course like this, neither the rich guy was going to marry him. What comes next, that you can figure out or watch by yourself. It's worth of watching, although it is very much like those old Hollywood black and white B-movies from the 1940's. This is one of the few feature films which was shot in colour in 1960's Finland. The material was expensive, so they haven't spent it much for new takes. This means, if you're okay with old kind of acting and romantic stories, you're going to love this movie. Otherwise, you don't have much to see in it but the glorious costumes and warm and green Finnish summer. TRIVIA: Actress Ruth Snellman won a Finnish Oscar (Jussi) from her workmin this film. --- The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu (Stjärnor, kommissarie Palmu, stjärnor) Finland 1962 B/W 100min **** Crime cast: Joel Rinne (Palmu), Matti Ranin, Leo Jokela, Aino Mantsas, Esko Salminen, Helge Herala, Pentti Siimes, Pia Hattara credits: dir. Matti Kassila (also script with Kaarlo Nuorvala, based on a story by Mika Waltari) Inspector Palmu is old, but when there's crime he'll go and investigate. Hilarious and stunning as all Palmu movies are. This time the inspector has to help his young chief to find out the mysterious murdered who is maybe a friend of astronomy... The tracks lead to gloomy house of major Vadenblick (portrayed by incredibly sane looking Mr. Herala). --- 'Gold from the Wild North' Villin Pohjolan kulta Finland 1963 B/W 90min ** Western cast: Åke Lindman, Vili Auvinen, Helge Herala, Tamara Lund, Kauko Helovirta, Leo Jokela, Toivo Mäkelä (the priest) credits: dir. Aarne Tarkas What is a Finnish western? - A northern. This film was shot in Lapland (Finland). Otherwise it's pretty much same as the westerns which has been made in west and shot in colour. Gunfights, gold, robbers, good men who has something to hide, bad and rich boss, stupid bad guys and a lovely lady. The dialogue is oldish and the fights are a bit too slow. But in 60's this must have been really cool to watch. Especially for young boys. The story tells about three brothers of Vorna (Lindman, Herala, Auvinen) who returns to a place from where they had to escape 15 years ago. There everybody thinks that they are gold robbers. The bros. are willing to search gold peacefully and alone but of course the evil ruler of the saloon (Jokela) wants to spoil their plans. Will the villagers hang the bros.? Will the bad guy (Helovirta) get the lady (Lund)? Will she ever change her trousers to a dress? ...Well, you can't get everything... There's a sequel for this film: Villin pohjolan salattu laakso (Den hemlighetsfulla dalen, 'The secret Valley in the Wild North', also 1963). It's also directed by Aarne Tarkas. --- "The Gang" Jengi (Gänget) Finland 1963 B/W 97min *1/2 Drama cast: Tarja Nurmi, Esko Salminen, Ville-Veikko Salminen, Liana Kaarina, Siiri Angerkoski credits: dir. Åke Lindman Nice attempt to tell a story about teenagers. A country boy and girl meets the city life. The director tries to say that the city is bad and the country side would be better place for everyone. Maybe, maybe not. Funny drinking and lovemaking sections. TRIVIA: Many of the film's so called naughty parts had to be cut before it was released. These parts contain the striptease and dialog about getting to bed. Also the title of the movie had to be changed. Before the change it was Ota minut nuorena (= Take me when I'm young). --- 'The Partisans' Sissit (Stridspatrull) Finland 1963 B/W 102min ***1/2 War cast: Matti Oravisto (Takala), Kauko Laurikainen, Paul Budsko, Heimo Lepistö credits: dir. Mikko Niskanen, script Matti Kassila etc., based on a story by Paavo Rintala Ex-soldiers gather together after war. The war has left a certain mark into them. We'll see a long flashback where lieutenant Takala and his men try to survive in the brutal reality of the war. Many of the lieutenant men (and even himself) are near to loose their mind. This movie shows well what the war really is and what it makes to people. Matti Oravisto in the main role is quite good and the other cast has also been picked well. What's wrong in this movie is the language which sounds sometimes too formal into people's mouth. If you'll forget it, it's a fine picture. TRIVIA: This movie was the most expensive of all the movies of Fennada-Filmi 'till 1963 (400 000 FiMK). --- 'The X-Baron' X-paroni (X-baronen) Finland 1964 B/W 86min *1/2 Comedy cast: Spede Pasanen (the baron/Kalle), Meri Lii, Jaakko Pakkasvirta (James), Simo Salminen, Heikki Kuvaja, Tapio Rautavaara credits: dir. (& script) Risto Jarva, Spede Pasanen & Jaakko Pakkasvirta There is a highly respected baron and a looser Kalle. They are like twins but at first they don't know about each other. Then one day they meet and soon Kalle is the baron and the baron starts to be Kalle. Some good laughs (thanks to pheonomenal Simo Salminen), but in between those moments... Well, this was mr. Pasanen's first film. Something has to be forgiven, even that boring ending. TRIVIA: Pirjo Vainimäki married Spede Pasanen a year after this movie was released. --- 'Under Your Skin'/Skin, Skin Käpy selän alla (En kotte under ryggen) Finland 1966 B/W 89min 1/2 Drama, romance, musical cast: Kristiina Halkola, Kirsti Wallasvaara, Pekka Autiovuori, Eero Melasniemi, Anneli Sauli credits: dir. Mikko Niskanen, music Kaj Chydenius & Henrik-Otto Donner Well. What to say? The Finnish Blair Witch Project? Yeah, this is terrible. Some Finnish critics love this film now and the 60's audience has loved it too. It was something totally new. Young people without script in woods with lots of beer. äIt is a love story with songs that sound like protest songs. TRIVIA: The actors had really to get drunk to do some nude shots. --- 'Crazy Finland' Pähkähullu Suomi (Crazy Finland/ Det helgalna Finland) Finland 1967 B/W 79 min **** Comedy cast: Spede Pasanen (Mr. Njurmi), Simo Salminen (Simo), Toivo Mäkelä, Leo Jokela, Tauno Palo (the vagabond), Siiri Angerkoski, Urho Kekkonen (as himself), Gregory Peck (as himself), Ester Toivonen (as herself) credits: dir. Jukka Virtanen, Spede Pasanen's production Crazy film which briefly tells everything about Finns and Finland. How to hunt a moose and how we always want to take every traveller into our saunas... And even the then president of Finland, Urho Kekkonen, glimpses in one scene. A fast, surprisingly enjoyable comedy. --- 'About Seven Brothers' Noin 7 veljestä (Ungefär 7 bröder) Finland 1968 B/W 96min **½ Comedy cast: Juhani Kumpulainen (von Wurstburg), Spede Pasanen (Sir Wilhelm/Robin Hood), Simo Salminen (Mauno Munalukko), Leo Jokela (Leonardo), Helge Herala, Kaisu Vuoristo, Vesa-Matti Loiri, Ere Kokkonen, Jukka Virtanen, Danny (the ballad singer) credits: dir. Jukka Virtanen, prod. Ere Kokkonen, music Jaakko Salo Everybody knows Robin Hood and every Finn knows Aleksis Kivi's 'Seven Brothers' (a book). This film tries to be a somekind of combination of these two. It starts with Aleksis Kivi's words but soon we'll hear that the movie is actually about evil von Wurstburg and good Robin Hood. Von Wurstburg collects taxes and Robin (with his about seven brothers) robs them back from the bad guy. And of course there's also lovely ladies, for example inventor Leonardo's wife. There's many funny jokes (like the gas-station for horses) in the movie but it has been edited (by Ossi Skurnik) so oddly that it makes the film look more like an amateur work than a real movie. But still: Spede Pasanen and his merry fellows tried to make something that nobody else wanted to try in late 60's Finland - which is great. --- 'Under the North Star'/ Here, Beneath the North Star Täällä Pohjantähden alla (Här under polstjärnan) Finland 1968 colour 186 min *** Drama cast: Aarno Sulkanen, Titta Katajakorpi, Kalevi Kahra, Pekka Autiovuori credits: dir. Edvin Laine (also script with Väinö Linna, Juha Nevalainen and Matti Kassila) äYear: 1880-something. Jussi from Koskela is poor but he asks if he could build his home to the vicar's swamp. The man agrees. When all seems to be fine, jealous people come and spoil poor man's dream. Briefly: people go through hard times in the yesterday's Finland. Hard it is also to watch if you want to be wake all of time. This film is too... serious. TRIVIA: The director (Laine), the set decorator (Ensio Suominen) and the leading man (Kahra) got "the Finnish Oscar", Jussi for this movie. --- The Marvellous Adventures of a TV Man Näköradiomiehen ihmeelliset seikkailut (En synradiomans underbara upplevelser) Finland 1969 B/W 83 min ***1/2 Comedy cast: Pertti Spede Pasanen (Mikko K. Ovimikko/Syvärivi), Simo Salminen (as himself), Aarre Elo (as himself), Tamara Lund, Vesa-Matti Loiri (Mr. Vasa), Tarja-Tuulikki Tarsala, Leo Jokela, Danny (as himself) credits: dir. Ere Kokkonen, producer & script Spede Pasanen Hilarious story about a night-watchman who goes into show business with his run-into-door tricks. The film contains many funny episodes and countless number famous Finns. It's amazing how it all stays together, but it does. Good work. --- 'Vodka, Mr. Palmu' Vodkaa, komisario Palmu (Vodka, kommissarie Palmu) Finland 1969 color 96min *** Crime cast: Joel Rinne (Palmu), Leo Jokela (Kokki), Matti Ranin, Inga Sulin, Viktor Klimenko credits: dir. Matti Kassila (also script with Geotg Korkman) This is the last Palmu movie. Writer Mika Waltari died, so the script was not made after his story. Also that that this Palmu film is not black & white makes the film lighter (in bad way). It's not so witty and funny as it could be. There is stupid action sequenses and boring musical numbers (Viktor Klimenko is a singer in reality). Also Joel Rinne acts like other foot in the crave. Time has not been kind to this movie. --- Leftovers from the North Pohjan tähteet (Bottenskrap) Finland 1969 B/W 87min ****1/2 Comedy cast: Vesa-Matti Loiri, Simo Salminen, Spede Pasanen, Ville-Veikko Salminen, Arja Saijonmaa credits: dir. Ere Kokkonen, script Spede Pasanen with Ere Kokkonen and Vesa-Matti Loiri, (Spede Pasanen productions) Oh man, this is pure art! It's a story about making of an art film. The director (Loiri) is just a beginner and his cast... Well, they have their own problems. The director of photography is old professional... In one scene they forget him in the middle of nowhere when they are travelling to the next shooting place! The best scene is a long drive shot which shows all the bad sides of one town (and the whole society). You wouldn't believe how much criminality you could set on one street of a little Finnish town! And when the producer comes... If he wants to do a western and not an art film or put his stupid relative in one extra part, the crew just have to kiss his arse. TRIVIA: Spede Pasanen was really angry for the Finnish critics. His movies were not art, they said. This movie made critics even more cold for Pasanen's films. The state never gave him any money (without the state's money it's VERY hard to make a movie in Finland). Pasanen got even more angry and there was a time when he chopped his films with an axe. Some brilliant works were destroyed, but gladly there were few copies of some his early works and not everything was lost! TRIVIA#2: The director of photography (Kari Sohlberg) got "the Finnish Oscar", Jussi. TRIVIA#3: This movie seems to be also a parody of Finnish film called Kesällä kello 5 (This Summer at 5, 1963), where a young couple drives around and speaks about divorcing. --- "The Headquarters" Päämaja (Högkvarteret) Finland 1970 B/W 88 min *** War, drama cast: Joel Rinne (Marshal Mannerheim), Tamara Lund, Jussi Jurkka, Leif Wager, Ossi Ahlapuro, Heikki Kinnunen, Matti Kassila, Anssi Mänttäri credits: dir. Matti Kassila (also script with Risto Juhani, based on a novel by Ilmari Turja) A true story about marshal Mannerheim. This war film happends in rooms of the headquarters, but some winds from the battle field appears occasionally. The film seems then very realistic. Only the figure of Mr. Mannerheim seems at times too immortal and high although Joel Rinne is perfect in this role. Also Jussi Jurkka does good work as Mannerheim's friend and companion. Singer Tamara Lund has too wide role for her acting talents, but she sings lovely. The movie is well made, only its old fashioned language disturbs. TRIVIA: Joel Rinne's last big role on the big screen. Young Heikki Kinnunen in brief role as an soldier! --- Aliisa Finland 1970 B/W 85 min **** Drama cast: Siiri Angerkoski (Aliisa) credits: dir. Jukka Sipilä, script Aulikki Oksanen This movie was made for TV but that doesn't make it worse than "real" movies. It's a story about poor old lady who tries to survive although she has no home and no friends. It's very realistic. There's (still) many old women and men who has nobody to help them when they really need it. Although the movie is quite depressive, Siiri Angerkoski's strong performance is good to see. This was her last movie before she died (cancer, 1971). --- 'A Summer Rebellion' Kesäkapina (Sommarrevolt) Finland 1970 B/W 78min ***1/2 Drama cast: Titta Karakorpi, Hannu Oravisto, Petra Frey, Eero Melasniemi, Veikko Honkanen credits: dir. Jaakko Pakkasvirta Mr. Pakkasvirta may have had a good idea when he started this project - at least it looks like it. It's a comment for society about the life of it and everything included on the time when the film was made. At same time it tries to be a story about a new star model, who climbs up to the top during the movie and gets everything what famous people can get. The movie starts as a documentary but changes little by little to artistic show and looses its characters to words and views. The acting in this film is incredibly good. If the movie would have been more like a "normal" drama movie and shot in colour, it would have earned more $. TRIVIA: This was the very first movie role for Hannu Oravisto (who is the son of Ritva Arvelo and Matti Oravisto). --- "Speedy Gonzales"/ 'Speedy Gonzales, The Son Of About 7 Brothers' Speedy Gonzales - noin 7 veljeksen poika (Speedy Gonzales) Finland 1970 B/W 85min **** Comedy cast: Spede Pasanen, Pertti Melasniemi, Leo Jokela, Tarja Markus, Simo Salminen credits: dir. Ere Kokkonen (also script with Vesa-Matti Loiri and Spede Pasanen) äSpeedy Conzales investigates the murder of his brother Mooses. A comedy western. Beware Sergio Leone! TRIVIA: The reason why Vesa-Matti Loiri (Pasanen's good friend and trusted cast member) is not in this movie is that he had broken his leg before the shooting. Pertti Melasniemi plays his part. TRIVIA#2: Mr. Pasanen won the Jussi prize as producer in 1971. --- "Akseli and Elina" Akseli ja Elina (Akseli och Elina) Finland 1970 color /131min *** Drama cast: Aarno Sulkanen, Anja Pohjola, Mirjam Novero credits: dir. Edvin Laine, script Väinö Linna with Edvin Laine, Juha Nevalainen etc. A sequel for Täällä Pohjantähden alla (Here, Beneath the North Star). Akseli and Elina have hard times. Akseli is a free man again. He returns to those small circles which he once left behind. Sad and boring. --- 'The Unhanged' Hirttämättömät (De ohängda) Finland 1971 B/W 85min *** Comedy, western cast: Vesa-Matti Loiri, Simo Salminen, Spede Pasanen credits: dir. Spede Pasanen with Vesa-Matti Loiri, script by Spede Pasanen, music Jaakko Salo This is good stuff. It's about mighty Speedy Gonzales who tries to catch two criminals acting like he would be a criminal too. Most of the movie happens in a deserted place - or at least these scenes are so boring that they seem to take more time than the other scenes. Otherwise, this movie has good jokes and some quite funny characters like Mr. Salminen's Indian Tonto.. --- 'In Adam's Dress... And A Bit Like Eve's Too' Aatamin puvussa... ja vähän Eevankin (I Adams kläder och lite i Evas) Finland 1971 B/W 88min * Comedy cast: Heikki Kinnunen, Juha Hyppönen, Kauko Helovirta, Marja-Leena Kouki credits: dir. Matti Kassila (also script with Osmo Lampinen), music Nacke Johansson äA remake of an old story. A couple of young guys goes to swimming and lose their clothes. Soon everybody think that they are some criminals because they can't prove who they are and police is after an escaped prisoner on the very same area where these two guys lost their clothes. Of course there's a romance or two too. Loud acting, not so funny gags... Boring. TRIVIA: This was the third film version of the story. It has been shot also in 1931 and 1940. --- 'Numbskull Emptybrook'/'Numbskull Uselessbrook' Uuno Turhapuro (Uuno Turhapuro) Finland 1973 B/W 87min ** Comedy cast: Vesa-Matti Loiri (Nubskull), Marjatta Raita (his wife), Spede Pasanen (Mr. Hartikainen), Simo Salminen (Sörsselssön or Soersselssoen), Juhani Kumpulainen credits: dir. Ere Kokkonen, script (producer) Spede Pasanen There's about twenty Numbskull films, last one was released in 2004. Their main character, Numbskull, is a stupid and lazy man. He's a pig but he gets married with a lovely lady. This woman has a rich father who hates Numbskull. He tries to separate his daughter and Numbskull or at least get Numbskull in a proper work. His wife likes Numbskull and so does his secretary too. Numbskull has also friends: a home filosopher and mechanican Härski (or Haerski) Hartikainen and his working partner Sörsselssön (or Soersselssoen). They have "brilliant" ideas to help Numbskull. Since his very first tv appearances Numbskull has been one of the most loved characters for Finns. All Numbskull movies have been in Finnish top five lists when they have been shown in theatres or television. If you are not a Finn, you won't probably understand this success or its cause. Don't worry. You won't miss a thing. Other Numbskull movies: (In "" you see my own translation and after /-mark is the original name) "Professor Numbskull D. G. Emptybrook"/Professori Uuno D.G. Turhapuro, 1975 "Lottery Winner UKK Emptybrook"/Lottovoittaja UKK Turhapuro, 1976 "Hardware Store Seller Numbskull Emptybrook, The President's Son-In-Law"/ Rautakauppias Uuno Turhapuro, presidentin vävy, 1978 "The Marital Crisis Of Numbskull Emptybrook"/Uuno Turhapuron aviokriisi, 1981 "Numbskull Emptybrook Loses His Memory"/Uuno Turhapuro menettää muistinsa, 1982 "Numbskull Emptybrook In Army"/Uuno Turhapuro armeijan leivissä, 1984 "Numbskull In Psain"/Uuno Epsanjassa, 1985 "Numbskull Emptybrook Moves To The Country Side"/Uuno Turhapuro muuttaa maalle, 1986 "Numbskull Emptybrook Master Of Helsinki"/Uuno Turhapuro herra Helsingin herra, 1991 And so on... In film "Numbskull Emptybrook's Son"/Uuno Turhapuron poika the role of the son is played by Jukka Puotila, Finnish high-class imitator and in film "Numbskull Emptybrook, Mister Preseident Of The Rebublic"/Uuno Turhapuro herra tasavallan herra presidentti is very talented Finnish dog palying his talented dog. The dog's name is Tessu. --- Holy Jumpin' Jimminy! Said Mr. Who Herra Huu jestapa jepulis penikat sipuliks (Herr Huu - jestapa jepulis) Finland 1973 colour 70min ** Children cast: M. A. Numminen (Herra Huu), Elvi Saarnio, Martti Kuningas credits: dir. and prod. Jaakko Talaskivi (also script with M.A. Numminen and Antero Helasvuo), based on a story by Hannu Mäkelä, music M. A. Numminen Mr. Huu is a poor ghost who tries to be scary. But he isn't. A lousy children's movie which best part is singer M.A. Numminen, whose strange voice and odd grin may actually scare people. --- "The Man Who Couldn't Say No" Mies, joka ei osannut sanoa ei(Mannen som inte kunde säga nej) Finland 1975 colour 103 min *** Drama, comedy cast: Antti Litja, Kirsti Wallasvaara credits: dir. Risto Jarva (also script with Jussi Kylätasku and Kullervo Kukkasjärvi, and edit. with Matti Kuortti) äThe title tells almost everything. But there's also more. The movie is full of interesting characters whose life is funnily realistical. TRIVIA: Antti Litja won a Jussi prize (Finnish Oscar) from his role in this movie. Also the team that wrote the script won Jussi. --- Olympian Holiday Loma (Solskenande) Finland 1976 colour 113min **** Drama, comedy cast: Antti Litja (Aimo Niemi), Tuula Nyman (Marjukka Notkola), Eija Poikkinen credits: dir. Risto Jarva (also edit with Matti Kuortti and script with Jussi Kylätasku and Kullervo Kukkasjärvi) A shy Finnish man takes a vaction and plans a trip to winter Olympics. Somehow he ends up on an island where's no snow but a lot of sunshine. Well, one must take what one gets. If you don't have proper clothes for swimming etc., you can always... use your imagination. Lots of hilarious moments but not much of talking. Antti Litja is perfect as the shy Finn and Eija Poikkinen is just lovely as the mysterious woman who catches his eye on this bizarre trip. A brilliant movie by Mr. Jarva. --- "The Test-tube Adult And Simo's Angels" Koeputkiaikuinen ja Simon enkelit (Provrörsmannen och Simos änglar) Finland 1979 B/W 89min ** Comedy cast: Spede Pasanen, Vesa-Matti Loiri, Simo Salminen credits: script and dir. Spede Pasanen Mr Pasanen plays a guy who has grown up before his birth from a strange thing called test tube... He plays also a guy who has died in very strange way. And of course we'll see Uuno also. Some laughs. This is an odd Charlie's angels parody and not even very good one. It looks very amateurish. --- 'To Stop Smoking' Tup-akka-lakko (Spola röken!) Finland 1980 colour 105 min *** Comedy cast: Vesa-Matti Loiri, Spede Pasanen, Simo Salminen, Leo Lastumäki, Heikki Kinnunen, Hannele Lauri, Tenho Saur‚n, Helge Herala, Olavi Ahonen credits: dir. Spede Pasanen A sequel to film "The Test Tube Adult And Simo's Angels" (Koeputkiaikuinen ja Simon enkelit). Tenho Saur‚n recreates his police role from famous Finnish TV series "Reinikainen" and "Fill the Cistern" (Tankki täyteen). The film contains several funny episodes that are told by a postman (Kinnunen) to kind ladies on his round. Looks like amateur work. Not Pasanen's best work. --- That Kiljunen Family Kiljusen herrasväki (Herrskapet Kiljunen) Finland 1981 colour 103min *** Children, comedy cast: Jukka Sipilä, Marja-Sisko Aimonen, Jouni Lukus, Kai Lemmetty credits: dir. Matti Kuortti (also script) Based on the story written in 1914 by Jalmari Finne. The movie tells about a very noisy family (Kiljunen -> kiljua = to yell). This family has a fat and happy father, an ordinary mother, two wild boys and one small girl. They live on the countryside until they win a trip to the big city. Then the adventure starts. The film is full of yelling (in funny way) and crazy situations but you must remember it's for kids. In this way it is a good flick, children will enjoy. There's also a sequel. TRIVIA: Esa Pakarinen Jr. who plays Mr. Finne in this movie, was the son of Esa Pakarinen (musicman and comedian). --- The Worthless Arvottomat (De avlösa) Finland 1982 colour 115 min *** Drama cast: Matti Pellonpää (Manne), Pirkko Hämäläinen, Aki Kaurismäki (Ville Alfa), Esko Nikkari credits: dir. Mika Kaurismäki äManne looks alike a thin wet dog. This poor guy is a criminal. Not a very big one. He has a friend, Ville Alfa, who has a valuable painting. It promises only problems for both of them. There's a lovely blond woman. Manne finds out that the painting has something to do with the lady... and gangsters. Matti Pellonpää's huge charisma helps this flick a lot. He doesn't have to do much to make the film funny in a way. Nowadays Esko Nikkari plays usually nice polices and funny loonies but here he does a scary role as a mafia chief and director Aki Kaurismäki remakes his role as an odd young fellow called Ville Alfa. He is quite terrible. TRIVIA: Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki appears briefly in this movie. This very odd looking singer was a really big star in Finland until he died in late 1980's. A movie called Badding is about him. --- The King Who Had No Heart Kuningas jolla ei ollut sydäntä (Kungen som inte hade något hjärta) Finland 1982 colour 86min *** Fantasy cast: Kari Franck (the king), Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, Heikki Kinnunen (the primeminister), Aino Seppo (the princess), Tom Pöysti (the prince), Erkki Saarela (the angry man), Esko Salminen (narrator) credits: dir. Päivi Hartzell & Liisa Helminen, The king gives his heart away and loses his happiness. The person who can make him happy again, will get the princess and half of his land. This is a sweet fairytale for children but it also has some so-called artistic elements which can make kids bored. However, the movie was successful in Finland. --- Crime And Punishment Rikos ja Rangaistus (Brott och straff) Finland 1983 colour 94 min **1/2 Drama, crime cast: Markku Toikka, Aino Seppo, Esko Nikkari, Matti Pellonpää, Kari Sorvali credits: dir. & script Aki Kaurismäki, producer Mika Kaurismäki A young man kills a man who did wrong to his girl. Because of his crime the guy will get a punishment. The story is from Dostojevsky's famous novel but it's set in 1980's Finland. Not a bad idea though. This was Aki Kaurismäki's first (feature) movie, so it's far from a masterpiece. There is too much talk for a Kaurismäki movie. Still, the director has given the movie a bit of that auteurism which made him later very famous. --- Pessi and Illusia Pessi ja Illusia (Pessi och Illusia) Finland 1983 colour 81min **** Fantasy cast: Jorma Uotinen, Sami Kangas, Anu Marttila credits: dir. Heikki Partanen (also one of the script makers), music Kari Rydman, Jean Sibelius and Antti Hytti A lovely fairy tale. Illusia is a fairy who finds a gnome Pessi while she is visiting on the earth. They start to live together. Pessi keeps the little fairy warm when it's winter. But then an evil spider (dancer/choreographer Jorma Uotinen) finds out where they live. In spite of that there must not have been much of money to make this movie, it looks wonderful. Sari Salmela's costumes are fantastical and Jorma Uotinen's dance steals the show. Even the child actors are surprisingly good. One can only imagine how great movie this could have been with a bigger budget. TRIVIA: The movie won four Jussi prizes (Finnish Oscars) but also international awards. --- The Clan - The Tale of the Frogs Klaani - Tarina sammakoitten suvusta (KLANEN Berättelsen om Grudornas släkt) Finland 1984 colour 93min *** Drama cast: Antti Litja, Kari Väänänen (Leevi), Tuija Vuolle Soili Labbart, Matti Pellonpää, Esko Nikkari, Lasse Pöysti, Ville Salminen (Grandfather Sammakko) credits: dir. Mika Kaurismäki, music Anssi Tikanmäki, script Aki Kaurismäki They were known as criminals. Their women loved them but hated their bad habits. Why they always had to get drunk or act like big robbers. Every man in this family from the grandfather to Alexander the Great (Aleksanteri Suuri) Sammakko (or Frog in English) are robbers. The grandfather is dying in his home at same time when his son is boozing himself into the death. And the grandsons are in the jail. But not all. The family has still one hope: the youngest son. Will he be good? The cast is doing a good work, especially Kari Väänänen and Matti Pellonpää. The film is worth of watching but it may feel somehow gloomy. The biggest fault for this is in the story. We know in the baginning what's going to happend. It's a bit dull way to tell a story. But if you are a Kaurimäki fan, you'll enjoy. TRIVIA: Old director/screen writer/actor Ville Salminen does a cameo role as sick grandfather Sammakko. This was his last movie role. --- The Tug of Home - The Famous Niskavuori Saga Niskavuori Finland 1984 colour 120min *** Drama cast: Rauni Luoma (Loviisa), Esko Salminen (Aarne), Satu Silvo (Ilona Ahlgren) credits: dir. and script Matti Kassila, music Rauno Lehtinen Mr. Kassila's version of the great Niskavuori saga. This movie is a combination of two different stories but still it's somewhat more lame than any of the old Niskavuori movies. Maybe that's because the old Niskavuori movies are B/W which gives the certain loom for the film and its characters. TRIVIA: Loviisa was Rauni Luoma's last movie role. Originally she played Heta Niskavuori in the old Niskavuori film serie. --- Calamari Union Finland 1985 B/W 78min *** Comedy cast: Markku Toikka, Kari Väänänen, Matti Pellonpää, Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, Pate Mustajärvi, Martti "Eppu Normaali" Syrjä, Tuomari Nurmio, Sakke Järvenpää, Mato Valtonen, Sakari Kuosmanen, Dave Lindholm, Kari Heiskanen credits: dir. Aki Kaurismäki (also script and edit.) A group of men (their all name is Frank) travel from one side of the town to other side. It is very hard. Only two of them survive. :) It's funny, because there is really nothing to stop them. When you live in a joke, it's almost no joke anymore. TRIVIA: Almost all of the cast are Finnish rock musicans: Martti Syrjä is the leader of Eppu Normaali band, Pate Mustajärvi has a long career in smoky bars, Sakke Järvenpää, Mato Valtonen and Sakari Kuosmanen are Sleepy Sleepers band. --- Rosso Finland 1985 colour 74min **** Drama cast: Kari Väänänen (Rosso), Martti Syrjä (Martti) credits: dir. & prod. Mika Kaurismäki This is far away from the westerns but still it felt like some good old Sergio Leone film. A contract killer Rosso travels to Finland. He has some business there. He has lost his love and he cares about nothing. Although the whole movie bases on moods and it's full with improvisation, it's very enjoyable. Kari Väänänen really is Rosso and the landscapes - this movie looks good! TRIVIA: Mika Kaurismäki got the idea for this movie in pizzeria Rosso. --- The Unknown Soldier Tuntematon sotilas (Okänd soldat) Finland 1985 colour 199min *** War cast: Risto Tuorila, Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, Paavo Liski, Pertti Koivula credits: dir. Rauni Mollberg (also script with Veikko Aaltonen and Väinö Linna... based on Linna's book) A remake. Not as good as the first version, maybe because it tries to be too artistic (espesially in the end). --- 'Cool, hey?! Happy-Go-Lucky Andy and Carefree Charlie' Kliffaa hei! (Kliffa, hej!) Finland 1985 colour 101min ** Comedy cast: Vesa-Matti Loiri (Auvo), Simo Salminen (Kultsi), Hannele Lauri credits: dir. Ere Kokkonen, script Spede Pasanen (also producer), Simo Salminen, Ere Kokkonen and Vesa-Matti Loiri Cool? Actually this is quite boring. Two clown-like guys gets a lot of money, spends it and get some more money. --- "The White Dwarf" Valkoinen kääpiö (Den vita dvärgen) Finland 1986 colour 105min *** Drama cast: Kari Heiskanen, Esko Salminen, Lilga Kovanko, Jaakko Pakkasvirta, Matti Tuominen credits: dir. Timo Humaloja A tough mine engineer is doing his job when the roof of the mine suddenly falls down. He and his colleagues are trapped. When they'll finally get out, they find out that there has been a nuclear accident. The mine engineer gets sick and he starts to think about his life. Kari Heiskanen is an excellent actor when you need a tough looking guy. Although he does his best, he can't do much for the boring story. The promising start is the only good thing in this movie. --- "The Snow Queen" Lumikuningatar (Snödrottning) Finland 1986 colour 93min **** Fantasy cast: Satu Silvo (The Snow Queen), Outi Vainionkulma, Sebastian Kaatrasalo, Tuula Nyman , Esko Hukkanen credits: dir. Päivi Hartzell (also script), music Jukka Linkola äA wonderful fairytale of two children and a bad queen who wants to separate them. The whole movie looks just amazing. It has everything that a fairytale should have and maybe even more. Satu Silvo is perfect for her role as the icy queen. The music is like silk for your ears. --- Helsinki Napoli - All Night Long Helsinki Napoli All night Long Finland/Germany 1987 colour 93 min **1/2 Comedy, action cast: Kari Väänänen (Alex), Roberta Manfredi (his wife), Jean-Pierre Castaldi, Samuel Fuller, Jim Jarmusch credits: dir. Mika Kaurismäki äDark roads, Russians, Italians, Germans... And one Finnish taxi driver who drives around with two corpses. Sounds funny? Yes, occasionally this film has hilarious moments, but it's more an action than a comedy movie. Director Samuel Fuller does a tiny role as a gangster. Finnish Kari Väänänen has a great role as a taxi driver but he is not Bruce Willis. Mr. Väänänen seems to be always better when he is not in the leading role. Well, the language of this film is not very realistic either and the camera is always too far from the objects. In night scenes it's very hard to see all expressions if the actors are a mile away... --- 'Hamlet Goes Business' Hamlet liikemailmassa (Hamlet i affärsvärlden) Finland 1987 B/W 85 min ** Drama, comedy cast: Kati Outinen (Ofelia), Pirkka-Pekka Petelius (Hamlet), Esko Salminen, Elina Salo credits: dir. Aki Kaurismäki Hamlet goes business and that will be a mess. Not so "shakespeary" as you might think. Still funny and quite interesting version. --- Ariel Finland 1988 colour 70 min ***1/2 Comedy cast: Susanna Haavisto, Turo Pajala, Matti Pellonpää credits: dir. Aki Kaurismäki (also script) äAriel is a story of hard times and growing out of them. The main character loses everything and by a chance he becomes as thief. Critics of USA voted this piece of art for best film of the year (1990). It's easy to see why. It is good. Its jokes are on time and the plot is easy to follow. The movie isn't anyway "easy", it just looks like that. --- Leningrad Cowboys Go America Finland 1989 colour 78min *** Comedy cast: Matti Pellonpää, Kari Väänänen, Sakke Järvenpää, Sakari Kuosmanen, Silu Seppälä, Mato Valtonen, Mauri Sumén credits: dir. Aki Kaurismäki (also script), music Mauri Sumén The world's worst rock band go to America. Hooray! This is cult stuff. A story about a rock band which travels to America with their evil manager and tries to reach the stardom. The whole thing is shot with a wry sense of humour - you'll either love it or not. The casting is great, of course, Leningrad Cowboys plays themselves. Followed by two sequels: Total Balalaika Show (1993) and Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses (1994). TRIVIA: Singer Mato Valtonen can not really play quitar. He's just bluffing. --- The Match Factory Girl Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö (Flickan från tändsticksfabriken) Finland 1989 colour 68 min **** Drama, comedy cast: Kati Outinen (Iiris), Elina Salo, Esko Nikkari, Vesa Vierikko, Silu Seppälä credits: dir. Aki Kaurismäki (also script & edit.) äPoor Iiris tries to find happiness. We see her sitting in the corners of different dancing places and working at the match factory. She lives with her mother and stepfather and she has even to pay for this poor little place. But then one day everything seems to become little lighter... The first half of the film goes almost without any words (in fact the characters speak only about ten words during that time) and the whole film's dialoque is hilariously small. Kati Outinen is perfect as Iiris. She's looks so sad and little that no one could replace her in that role. --- 'The Winter War' Talvisota (Vinterkriget) Finland 1989 colour 195min *** War cast: Taneli Mäkelä, Konsta Mäkelä, Timo Torikka, Vesa Vierikko credits: dir. Pekka Parikka (also script with Antti Tuuri), music Juha Tikka The winter war - a historical war for Finns.The films starts from fall 1939 and follows the history line carefully. It's epical and at same time pretty traditional war movie. Is this a big and mighty war movie? Well, it's not a dreadful film. There is everything that a war movie needs, but the director tried to make some scenes too artistic. He has fallen in sentimentality which may lack the power of the movie. --- 'Alone' Yksinteoin (Genom en gärning) Finland 1990 colour 82 min **½ Documentary, drama cast: Jussi Parviainen, Sanna-Kaisa Palo, Vesa Mäkinen credits: dir. and prod. Pekka Lehto, music Matti and Pirjo Bergström, DOP Kari Sohlberg There's at least two versions of this film, one has three cast members and another only one. This review is for the last one. When this movie was made, writer-actor Jussi Parviainen was divorcing from his wife Sanna-Kaisa Palo. Actor Vesa Mäkinen is Sanna-Kaisa's new boyfriend. Mr. Parviainen tells straight to the camera how he feels, what has happened and what he has been thinking about the issue. It's a long monologue in dark. Mr. Parviainen is amazingly good, really credible, it's been told that he improvised all he was doing in the movie. The movie is, however, difficult to watch. It has nothing much else to show to us but Mr. Parviainen and it can be really boring to watch only him a hour and a half. --- äCupid Aims High Amor ampuu ohi (Amor misses målet) Finland 1990 colour 47min **½ Drama, comedy cast: Sanna-Kaisa Palo (Leena Virtanen), Kaija Pakarinen (Miia Palokärki) credits: dir. Marjo Valve (also script with Raija Talvio) Two different ladies and an apartment which the other one of them has to leave behind. These ladies are dollmakers and performers waiting for their big hit. When the other one falls in love with an art magazine owner they can almost smell the success. The only problem is, does the mister art want his honey and her apartment just as they are or should there be something else? A short low-budget comedy. This is a cute little movie but nothing much else. It has its moments, at times Sanna-Kaisa Palo is almost funny. That's enough, since the director has told that she didn't even want to make a big "killer" comedy. This movie's historical value is mainly in its clothes and landscapes and that's something which them doesn't have 'till at least 60 years has passed. What's really great in this movie, is actually the song in the ending titles (Dalida: La Flamenco). That kicks. --- I Hired a Contract Killer Finland-Germany-Great Britain-Sweden 1990 colour 80 min ***1/2 Drama, comedy, crime cast: Jean-Pierre L‚aud (Henri Boulanger), Margi Clarke (Margaret),Imogen Claire, Kenneth Coley, Nicky Tesco credits: dir. & script & producer Aki Kaurismäki äHenri loses his job. Everything goes. He thinks that it's better to be dead than alive and so he tries to kill himself. No good. He can not even kill himself, so bad is the world. Then Henry hires a contract killer - one sad fellow too. After that Henri's life changes: love comes. And he can't stop the killer...! Silent humour, gloomy characters and landscapes - everything that a Kaurismäki movie needs. Actors are good, although Margi Clarke is a bit too lively to be a real Kaurismäki lady. TRIVIA: The director himself does a cameo role in the movie as a guy who sells shades. --- 'Sgt Major Körmy and the Field Marshal's Baton' Vääpeli Körmy ja marsalkan sauva (Fältväbel Körmy och marskalkens stav) Finland 1990 colour 111min **½ Comedy cast: Heikki Kinnunen (SM Körmy), Pentti Siimes (Tossavainen), Tom Pöysti (Ville Pienimäki) credits: dir. Ere Kokkonen (also script), music Aarno Raninen Sgt major Körmy has a task to give for his good soldiers: they'll have to find field marshal's baton to win a game. This is a farce comedy of army and its traditions. Every part of Sgt major Körmy series has lots of army jokes, one part takes a look into female soldiers (then quite new thing in Finnish army), another into submarine business (submarines are not allowed for Finnish army) and so on... Every part of the serie is heavily overacted as that would make them funny. You may like them, if you like Police Academy series. There's many similar things in these two different series, this one is only produced with a lower budget. --- Zombie and The Ghost Train Zombie ja Kummitusjuna (Zombie och spöktåget) Finland 1991 colour 87min *** Drama cast: Silu Seppälä (Zombie), Matti Pellonpää (Harri) Marjo Leinonen, Mato Valtonen credits: dir. & script Mika Kaurismäki Zombie plays a bass quitar, sits alone in his home and walks around the snowy streets. Something is missing in his life. The Ghost Train is a band whose music nobody has heard but they are still rich and famous. They walk around Zombie's life like death's angels. The whole movie is Zombie's diary. This sad looking guy is writing his own destiny. If Zombie is a bit boring his friends are not. Matti Pellonpää as Harri, a famous singer and Zombie's closest friend, is one of the funniest characters in the movie. Just like in other Kaurismäki movies, the humour is a bit twisted and not so easy to see at first. However, this movie is not a comedy but more like a tragedy with a grin. It won three Jussi prizes (Finnish Oscars), one for the best actor (Silu Seppälä). TRIVIA: Matti Pellonpää sings himself in the movie. --- Rolli - Amazing Tales Rölli - hirmuisia kertomuksia (Rölli - Förfärliga berättelser) Finland 1991 colour 83min ****1/2 Children, fantasy cast: Allu Tuppurainen (Rölli or Rolli or Roelli), Sari Mällinen (the fairy), Jussi Lampi, Risto Kaskilahti credits: dir. Olli Soinio (also script with Allu Tuppurainen), music Allu Tuppurainen with Kari Hillo and Antti Hytti Röllis are trolls which live in forests. Most of them are scary but not all of them. The main character, simply named as Rölli, is peaceful and only a little scary. Only with other trolls he acts like bad boy. Rölli is known from the Finnish television. The tv serie has been shown there for years and all the characters are made by actor Allu (Allan) Tuppurainen. This film was made after the tv serie. In this flick Rölli falls in love with a lovely fairy and tries to keep their forest clean. The sweet little troll makes his best to save the nature. An instructive story with lots of fantasy. The film won Jussi prizes (Finnish Oscars) for best actress and costumes & make-up. There's also a sequel (Rölli ja metsänhenki, 2001). --- ä'Moonshine Moonshine' Pirtua pirtua Finland 1991 colour 96min ½ Drama cast: Martti Kainulainen (Matson), Matti Mäntylä, Mikko Jurkka (Masto), Timo Koivusalo credits: dir. and prod. Visa Mäkinen A real B movie, or even worse... This movie is about smugglers, who worked during late 1919 to early 1932 in Finland and dealed mainly alcohol. Somebody gets killed, somebody losts the goods, somebody else gets killed... Finally the whole movie gets so messy that if you're still watching it then, you don't care about any of its characters. It's hard to believe that the actors of this film could do better work. Actually, they can, they have proved it on the stage many times. So the problem is in the script and directing. There you have bookish dialogue, too much of babbling, unimportant scenes... Luckily Ms. Mäkinen hasn't made new movies since this. --- Goodbye, Trainmen/ And the Men on Train Wave Veturimiehet heiluttaa (Lokföraren som vinkade) Finland 1992 colour 86min **1/2 Drama cast: Samuli Edelmann, Santeri Kinnunen credits: dir. Kari Paljakka, script Juha Lehtovuori A story about two friends, the good and the bad. They'll separate and life goes on. The one gets a good life and the other doesn't. Not exactly a bad movie but the whole idea of the good and the bad boy is already a too old cliche. Singer/actor Samuli Edelmann did his debute role here. --- La Vie de Bohème Bohemian Life Boheemielämää (Bohemliv) Finland/France 1992 B/W 100min **** Comedy cast: Matti Pellonpää, Evelyne Didi, Andre Wilms, Kari Väänänen credits: dir. Aki Kaurismäki (also script) äA story about poor artists who try to be understood and loved. One of them falls in love but another one seduces his lady. Well, the world is full of women. This is a wonderful piece of art. The story is loaned from Henri Murger's novel. It fits perefectly in black and white. There's more talk than in Kaurismäki movie usually is but in this case it doesn't make the movie look or sound bad. There's also some absolutely crazy scenes which make just anybody laugh. Simply one of Aki Kaurismäki's best movies. The movie is in French. TRIVIA: Matti Pellonpää played an Albanian in this film, because only then his bad French didn't matter so much. --- Tanjuska and the 7 Devils Tanjuska ja 7 perkelettä (Tanjuska och de 7 djävlarna) Finland 1993 colour 82min **** Documentary cast: Tatjana Vladimirova (Tanjuska), Pirjo Honkasalo (narrator) credits: dir., prod., script, edit. and DOP Pirjo Honkasalo Director Pirjo Honkasalo introduces us to a little Russian girl, who has been "out" of the society since a holy man found out that she has demons. The girl, Tanjuska, lives alone with his father, who makes everything to save his daughter. This documentary affects emotionally. It's a powerful story created by almost one woman alone. If it wasn't a documentary, it could be easily a horror flick. The only minus for the whole thing is the soundtrack. At times it's really hard to heard the narrator. --- ä'The Bachelor Days of Pekko' Pekko aikamiespojan poikamiesaika Finland 1993 colour 89min ** Comedy cast: Timo Koivusalo (Pekko), Joel Hallikainen (himself), Satu Silvo (Pipsa) credits: dir. Sina Kujansuu (also script with Timo Koivusalo and Elina Tunturi) Pekko was created by Timo Koivusalo for his stand up show. The character has a pretty similar history as Esko Toivonen's character Eemeli has. Pekko is almost a middle-aged man, who lives with his mother in a small country village. He is almost as childish as Uuno Turhapuro but he doesn't want to make good only for himself but also for the others. In the village lives among many a shy police Reino, a mad inventor Heka and beautiful Kaisa who secretly loves Reino. Pekko helps the other villagers to won their battle against bad city people, who are threatening their peace. There's also nice city people, for example lovely Pipsa. Pipsa is, of course, the one whom Pekko loves. The very first Pekko movie is about Pipsa and Pekko, how they met each other in Pipsa's work (she's an archaeologist) and what are the curious business connected to it. There's some funny gags but as movie Pekko is too kind and sweet to be a strong comment for anything. The problem is perhaps in Pekko himself, who is maybe too innocent and weird to be real enough. However, Pekko has got many fans. The first movie got a sequel in 1994. This movie brought back the old cast. The same cast has been also in later Pekko movies with some minor changes. In Pekko ja massahurmaaja the character called Heka was played by Juha Laitila instead of Jope Ruonansuu (they both are imitators). --- Tigrero - A Film That Was Never Made Finland/Brazil/Germany 1994 colour 75 min *** Documentary cast: Samuel Fuller, Jim Jarmusch credits: dir. Mika Kaurismäki (also script, edit. & producer) A story about a film that Samuel Fuller never made of Karaja Indians. It's exciting although there's finally very little action. But if you're interested of backgrounds of a lost movie project, this is the film you're searching for. --- ä'The Killing of a Cat' Kissan kuolema (Kattens död) Finland 1994 colour 89 min *** Drama cast: Marja Pyykkö (Nitta), Kalle Ahola (Ari), Kaija Kangas (Liisa) credits: dir. and script Raimo O. Niemi, prod. Claes Olsson and Bert Sundberg, music Yari The main character of the movie is Nitta, an young and angry woman, who lives in so called school home. She seems to be bored into her life behind laws and orders. The fact is, she and the other teen girls in the school home have a secret which has something to do with their teachers. There's a good idea behind the story. But the movie doesn't work very well anyway. It has idly fitting dialogue and some scenes that look pretty unnecessary for the story. A good movie is one that makes you to forget that you're watching a movie. This flick can't make it. --- Lipton Cockton in the Shadows of Sodoma Finland 1995 colour 83min ½ Sci-Fi cast: Jorma Tommila (Cockton) credits: dir. Jari Halonen Detective Lipton Cockton tries to search a woman who looks like Marilyn Monroe? Detective Lipton Cockton tries to search a woman who looks like Marilyn Monroe? The film looks a bit like Blade Runner, but... It seems to me that there's no script at all. And actors... They are so poor that I'll hope you never see this flick. TRIVIA: When mister Halonen's movie Aleksis Kiven elämä/"The Life of Aleksis Kivi" was just arrived to theatres, the director had an interview in Joonas Hytönen Show (a talk show). Mister Halonen had a long monoloque about his methods and thoughts. The host was quiet for a long time after that and then he replied: "Wow, that sounded great - but I didn't understand a word..." --- 'The Last Wedding' Kivenpyörittäjän kylä Finland 1995 colour 90min *** Drama cast: Pertti Koivula, Martti Suosalo, Esko Nikkari, Esko Hukkanen credits: dir. Markku Pölönen Iät's like a long and hot summer day. There's a guy who tries constantly move a big rock - because of something that his father once said to him. And there's a bunch of women who just babble and babble. A guy, who has moved to Sweden. Wedding quests. Lots of tiny stories in one. Director Markku Pölönen has coloured this film with certain kind of humour which makes its characters loveable. He is not (luckily) just one new "Aki Kaurismäki" but a man who has something own ingenuine to give. Great casting, everything works nicely together. No wonder that this movie was a big success. TRIVIA: Actor Pertti Koivula had to put his weight up about 20 kg for his role. TRIVIA#2: The movie won three Jussi prizes (Finnish Oscars), one for the best movie, one for directing and one for supporting actor (Matti Varjo). --- Vampira: About Sex, Death and Taxes Vampira Finland 1995 colour and B/W 64min *** Documentary cast: Maila Nurmi credits: dir., sound and prod. Mika J. Ripatti It's been told that she was James Dean's girlfriend. The dark lady from a 1950's tv show. She was the horror hostess but what she is today? Is she even living anymore? An interesting little documentary about Maila "Vampira" Nurmi. Director Mika J. Ripatti shows introduces us to Ms. Nurmi's past and present but he doesn't make the subject look any odder or lovelier than she was or is. However, he could have shown something more, nothing scandalous but just more theatre, film and television history. Maila Nurmi herself is as fantastic and funny as she can be. --- Kummeli Stories Finland 1995 colour about 86 min *** Comedy cast: Timo Kahilainen, Heikki Hela, Heikki Silvennoinen (The Kummeli group) credits: script The Kummeli group, producer Claes Olsson In 1990's - Kummeli was running on tv. Short, funny stories made by four, extremely hilarious guys. This movie is mostly the same. We go through different episodes, some of them keeps going on through the whole movie. There's no real plot. The tv serie was something that may not feel like comedy for a foreigner. The movie is a bit better than the serie, but still you have to know something about Finnish culture before you can really understand it. The movie has also a sequel, Kummeli kultakuume. --- The Night Train Yöjuna Finland 1996 colour 82 min ***1/2 Thriller cast: Santeri Kinnunen, Åke Lindman, Minna Soisalo, Martti Suosalo credits: dir. Arto Lehkamo An accident happends. A common freight-train crashes into a truck. The weather was foggy and the night was dark. And the truck was empty. It seems to be a sabotage, but why? An young investigator Ari Nykänen (Kinnunen) finds out that this train wasn't as common as everybody says. Soon there is killers after him. His marriage was in crisis and now everything is even more difficult. Santeri Kinnunen is just a right guy for the leading role. He is the cute hero and helpful everyman. It's easy to like his character. Also his family looks very real. The budget of the film hasn't been big and that shows. Although the acting is abowe routines and clumsyness, there's faults. The sound of the copy that I saw was bad and the scenes are sterile: there's nothing much but the actors and the darkness of the night to look at. Still, this is OK movie. --- 'Drifting Clouds' Kauas pilvet karkaavat Finland 1996 colour 96min ***1/2 Comedy cast: Kari Väänänen, Kati Outinen credits: dir. Aki Kaurismäki The life is hard. Depression, grey sky. But then everything starts to smile - thanks for the restaurant Työ (work in English). The cast is good. Actor Matti Pellonpää died before the filming, so Kari Väänänen shared his role with Ms. Outinen in this movie. Kati Outinen does her work very sensitively. The jokes are witty as always in Kaurismäki's movies. TRIVIA: The photo on the desk in the film's house, that's actor Matti Pellonpää as baby. TRIVIA#2: The famous Finnish movie critic and historian Peter von Bagh has a cameo role as a customer in the restaurant. --- "The Heart of the man" Miehen sydän Finland 2004 colour ?min ***1/2 Drama, comedy cast: Mari Rantasila (Raija), Pertti Sveholm (Harri), Juha Muje, Oskari Katajisto, Elena Leeve credits: dir. Veli-Matti Saikkonen, script Kjell Westö äIt's late. A man enters to a tiny dinner place, orders a meal and starts to eat it. It's almost the closing time. Suddenly he gets angry: the meal is cold. The lady who owns the place doesn't want to do anything for the issue, and the man goes absolute mad. Later we'll learn more about this guy, his friends, job, the misery of middle-age and his women. The owner of the dinner place may become one of them. The script of the film won in 1997 a prize in EBU contest. The text is good and the actors work well together, especially Sveholm and Rantasila as the main couple. Still, the dialogue sounds a bit too stiff for their mouths. However, this is a very good story about Finnish mentality. --- "The Kummeli Gold Fever" Kummeli kultakuume Finland 1997 colour 96 min ***1/2 Comedy cast: Timo Kahilainen, Heikki Hela, Heikki Silvennoinen (The Kummeli group), Heikki Vihinen, Kari Hietalahti, Mari Turunen, Jukka Puotila (Peter North), Vesa-Matti Loiri, Oiva Lohtander, Tapio Liinoja, Tuula Nyman, Vesa Vierikko credits: script The Kummeli group, dir Matti Grönberg, prod. Markus Selin If the first Kummeli movie wasn't actually very funny, this one is better. It's about a madman Elmeri Hautamäki (Silvennoinen) who escapes from mental hospital to search a gold treasure which his father, Kyrpä-Jooseppi (Joseph The Cock), left to him. Elmeri is not alone on his way. There's also his nurse, a guy with huge muscles and a "lady" with him. Together they'll meet a bunch of weirdoes. There's evil nazis, deaf monks, poetic homos and almost everything else... Although there's jokes about monks, homos etc. the comedy doesn't go over the edge. It's mainly funny, thanks for the great cast. One of the film's best perfomances comes from imitator Jukka Puotila, who plays extremely well a crazy German (was that really him?!). The soundtrack is... magnificent. :D --- The Minister of State Sagojoga Minister Sagojogan ministeri (Minister på villovägar) Finland 1997 colour 83min **** Drama cast: Bjorn Sundquist, Erik Kiviniemi, Anita Suikkari, Kari-Pekka Toivonen, Esko Hukkanen credits: dir. Paul-Andres Simma äAt first it wasn't easy to believe that this kind of a movie could be so funny, but it is. It starts with a scene in the present day. An old man is driving his car and he starts to tell a story to a kid. Then we go back to 1945, when the WW2 was going on. The story takes its place in Sagojoga, Lappland. The small village is surrounded by three big states: Sweden, Finland and Russia. The people there change their language and props depending on who is attacking. Sometimes Sagojoga is part of Finland, sometimes part of Sweden etc. The life in the village changes when two villagers find an ill man from the woods. The scary villagers don't know should they kill the man or what until the guy finally wakes up and claims that he's minister Rävmark from Helsinki, Finland. Of course he's not, but that is a starter of an incredible adventure. Both the minister (Erik Kiviniemi) and the villagers are criminals but somebody has to win. The story has some real historical background but it's still very much of fantasy. Some of the actors seem to be unprofessional, but in a way it's good to see real people from Lappland in the movie too. The Lapplandish music of the movie won a Finnish Oscar prize called Jussi. It's brilliant in its happy weirdness. --- 'Collector' Neitoperho ****1/2 Finland 1997 colour 98 min Drama cast: Leea Klemola (Eevi), Reea Mauranen, Elina Hurme credits: dir. & script Auli Mantila Eevi is far away from child but she acts like one. Her sister has been her mother since their parents died and when her sister wants to get new life without Eevi something snaps in Eevi's head. She runs away, steals her sister's car and starts to drive away from the reality. Leea Klemola is great as Eevi, she won prizes for this role. The dialogue sounds real and the script is good. You never know what happends next in the movie. There's much of violence in this movie so I don't recommend it to everybody. --- 'Freakin' Beautiful World' Sairaan kaunis maailma Finland 1997 colour 94min *** Drama cast: Arttu Kapulainen, Kati Outinen credits: dir. and script Jarmo Lampela A story about teenagers who tries to stay alive in the world of drugs and crimes. Many people in Finland have been angry because of the language of this film. When almost every word is "fuck", it's hard to watch a film? At least it's more realistic than bookish language from the 1950's movies. This film is very well made and its young cast is perfect for their roles. Still there is some failures which makes the movie look a bit awkward. The pictures are freakin' colourful anyway. --- The Quiet Village Vaiennut kylä Finland 1997 colour 77 min **1/2 Crime cast: Taisto Reimaluoto (the police), Taneli Mäkelä (Pukari), Vesa Vierikko (Mandoliini), Sari Havas credits: dir. Kari Väänänen (also script), music Ismo Alanko äBased on a true story about a girl who was found killed in the woods (this happened a few decades ago, the case Kyllikki Saari). Everybody in the girl's home village suspected their neighbour as the killer. The case is still open. Actor Kari Väänänen has done a lot of work, when he wrote and directed this film but something is missing. There's funny characters, suspicious characters and action. Almost too much of everything. --- "Little Sister" Pikkusisar Finland 1999 colour 107 min *** Drama, war cast: Vera Kiiskinen (Katri Ruuska), Kai Lehtinen (Arvo), Tarmo Ruubel credits: dir. Taru Mäkelä, script Raija Talvio, DOP Jouko Seppälä It's 1941, the war between Finland and Russia is going on. Katri has lost her husband in the war. She tries to start a new life giving her best as nurse in a hospital. There she meets a charming poet Arvo, who may have lost his eyes forever. But there's also another guy, Eero, Katri's old friend from her childhood, who fancies her. A slightly melodramatic war movie. There's nothing bad in the actors. Both Mr. Ruubel and Lehtinen are ok in their roles. Vera Kiiskinen is perfectly calm and still sensitive as Katri. The movie looks and sounds fine, like it all would really happen in 1940's. The major problem in the movie is its script. There's no real surprises and the characters never grow interesting enough. That's pretty sad, since this flick has everything else just as it should be. TRIVIA: The singer in the hospital is Virve "Vicky" Rosti, who can be rememberd also from song Sata salamaa which she sang in the Eurovision song contest (1980's). --- "The Redemption" Lunastus Finland 1999 colour 78 min **** War, drama cast: Kari Heiskanen credits: dir. Olli Saarela The story takes place in Finland about a hundred years ago. There's war going on, also in that small village, where the priest Patrick Sillman lives. He tries to stay away from it 'tillhis secret takes him over. A story about love and hate. Mr. Heiskanen does perfect work in the main role. His acting is very small and therefore pleasant to watch. Same goes with the whole film. --- Amazing Women by the Sea Ihanat naiset rannalla (Underbara kvinnor vid vatten) Finland 1998 colour 100 min ***1/2 Drama cast: Åsa Karlin (Rosa), Marika Krook (Bella), Onni Thulenius, Nicke Lignell, Micke Rejström credits: dir. Claes Olsson, music Yari, based on a book by Monika Fagerholm This movie is full of pretty scenes. Nostalgy, laughters, love and amazement. Most of the time we'll see everything trough little Thomas' eyes. Beautiful summer holidays, his ex-mermaid mother (singer Marika Krook), his jazz-loving father. We get also the boy's view to their summer neighbours, who have a shiny boat, lots of money and a strange daughter. But not everything is fine. The little boy can not understand adults who cry and scream. His mother (Marika Krook) falls in love with her somebody else's husband and all starts to go wrong. Critics have crushed the whole film. Maybe after many years they understand it better? After all, it is more than just a collection of nice pictures... --- 'The Fire-Eater' Tulennielijä Finland 1998 colour 100min **1/2 Drama cast: Elena Leeve, Elina Hurme credits: dir. Pirjo Honkasalo A very dark movie. It's a tale about two sisters, the pretty one and the ugly one, who live in circus. Their father wants the pretty one to be acrobat, but she wants something else and acts like handicapped. Because of this the father has to change his plans and try the same with the ungly one but she's no good at all. The story circles around the ugly sister and shows us how she grows up to be what she wants to be. In this way the movie is quite succesfull. However, at times it feels a bit too long. If you're searching for a nice little Hollywood story with a happy ending, this movie is not for you. --- A Respectable Tragedy Säädyllinen murhenäytelmä (En anständig tragedi) Finland 1998 colour 112 min **** Drama cast: Ville Virtanen, Timo Jurkka, Päivi Akonpelto, Henriikka Salo, Kyllikki Forssell credits: dir. Kaisa Rastimo, based on a novel by Helvi Hämäläinen äIt's the late 1930's. Elisabeth (Päivi Akonpelto) finds out that her husband has a lover. A girl from neighbour. Elisabeth runs to her husband's sister, to ask an advice. But the sister doesn't find there any problem, of course, Elisabet's sister has a more twisted life. Her problems are bigger. Her ex-husband is addicted to his own mother and sex. She loves still him. The story is old, but Kaisa Rastimo has this certain ability to make everything to look very fresh and interesting. Although there's a tragedy going on, the world of the film looks like a paradise and sounds like thousands bells would be ringing all of the time. It's lovely and ironic. --- Going to Kansas City Finland/Canada 1998 colour 98min *** Drama, romance cast: Mikko Nousiainen, Michael Ironside, Melissa Galianos credits: dir. Pekka Mandart (also script with Tony McNabb and Morrie Ruvinsky) An young and handsome Finnish guy travels to US, falls in love and gets in trouble. A story about prejudice, love and an American life. It's a bit road movie too. OK cast, OK music, nice shots... But nothing much else. --- "A Long Hot Summer" Pitkä kuuma kesä Finland 1999 colour 100min **** Drama cast: Unto Helo, Hanna-Mari Karhinen, Mikko Hakola credits: dir. Perttu Leppä (also script) A hilarius story about young guys who wanna be real rock stars. äA hilarius story about young guys who wanna be real rockstars. The summer is hot, as the title says, and the music is rough as sand. All the young dudes in the movie are almost amateurs but they do still fine job. The dialogue sounds realistic and everything in the movie looks well-thinked. It's a joy to watch this kind of a movie. --- "Satumaa: Unto Mononen's Life And Tangos" Satumaa - Unto Monosen elämä ja tangot Finland 1999 colour/B/W 71min *** Documentary cast: M.A. Numminen (himself), Risto Kaskilahti (Unto Mononen) credits: dir. and prod. Claes Olsson (also script with M.A. Numminen) A half-acted documentary about composer Unto Mononen who wrote many tangos years ago (one of them was called Satumaa). Risto Kaskilahti looks very much like Mr. Mononen but the acted scenes doesn't fit very well in the other material. The documentary gives, however, quite a lot interesting information about the subject. --- Kiss Me in the Rain Rakkaudella, Maire Finland 1999 colour 100 min **** Drama cast: Eeva Litmanen (Maire), Minna Haapkylä, Esko Salminen credits: dir. Veikko Aaltonen äShe looks fine. She has money, a son and a good job. But her husband is not there. His job is far away and the son is distant. She drinks and collects crime articles from newspapers. And then she gets an idea: she has to help one of those poor people whose name she has found in one of the articles. Maire wants to be loved and this is her way to find love. Eeva Litmanen plays Maire as she really would be her. She is so good that you find yourself talking to her character, saying: "No, Maire. Stop that. Get some help, woman!" Another surprisingly good actress in this film is Minna Haapkylä. At first her character is to Maire as helpless object but in the end she is changes. The role is very difficult but Haapkylä makes it look easy. The reason for that why this movie is not worth of five stars (*), is in its story. This kind of a tale stays in between of realism and fiction but it can't never really reach the other side (realism). --- "The Tough Ones" Häjyt Finland 1999 colour 102 min **** Drama, crime cast: Samuli Edelmann (Jussi), Juha Veijonen (Antti), Arttu Kapulainen (Roope), Kalevi Haapoja, Sari Havas (Sisko), Kari Väänänen, Jussi Lampi, Teemu Lehtilä credits: dir. Aleksi Mäkelä Three young guys did a messy bank robbery. Two went into the jail and the third one - he became a police. Nobody knows where they put the money. After years they finally meet. But: where is the money? The two of the guys start to search the third one who most likely has taken their money. Of course innocent people will be killed and lots of damage will be seen, but there's also humouristic moments. The cast makes fine roles, especially Sari Havas as Sisko. Gladly the head roles are not stereotypical. The story is occasionally a bit weak (it's a modern version of rough free guys, who used to mess around Pohjanmaa years ago). The whole film is still very interesting. Something is happening all of the time in the movie. --- 'The Swan And The Wanderer' Kulkuri ja joutsen Finland 1999 colour 117min ***1/2 Biography, drama cast: Tapio Liinoja (Tapio Rautavaara), Martti Suosalo (Reino Helismaa), Pertti Koivula, Esko Nikkari, Tuija Piepponen (Siiri Angerkoski), Martti Katajisto (T.J. Särkkä) credits: dir. Timo Koivusalo (also script), music Tapio Rautavaara and Reino Helismaa Tapio Rautavaara, an Finnish icon. He was an Olympic star, but later also singer and actor. (I think he was as stiff as a log as singer and actor, but it's just my opinion). Reino Helismaa was a singer and a comedy song writer. He wrote also plays (movies) and love songs. His face was seen in many movies aswell but he never came as big star as his good friends Esa Pakarinen and Tapio Rautavaara. This film tells the story of these three good men. It's about their life and how hard is to keep friends. Timo Koivusalo did the Pekko movie serie before this film, but he has no professional education from movie area. At times this shows, he makes decisions which are very common for people who have no real touch into movies. Fortunately he had a good team with him. Especially actor Martti Suosalo does wonderful work as Reino Helismaa. He IS Mr. Helismaa. --- Juha Finland 1999 B/W 78min ***1/2 Drama cast: Kati Outinen, Elina Salo credits: dir. Aki Kaurismäki A remake. A strory about an young couple. There's a simple guy and his pretty wife, who falls in love with an evil man and runs away from her lovely and peaceful home to bad city and life. Tragical. The casting is well made, but the movie itself is a bit slow. This film is silent. This is third version of the same story. Other versions were directed by T.J. Särkkä (1956, with Eino Kaipainen as Juha, the movie is in color) and Nyrki Tapiovaara. --- 'The Ambush' Rukajärven tie Finland 1999 colour 120 min ***1/2 War cast: Peter Franzén (Eero Perkola), Taisto Reimaluoto (Unto Saarinen), Kari Heiskanen (Jussi Lukkari), Kari Väänänen (Tauno Snicker), Irina Björklund (Kaarina Vainikainen), Kai Lehtinen (major Kivikari), Arttu Kapulainen (Ville Snicker) credits: dir. Olli Saarela, based on a book by Antti Tuuri Another Finnish war movie, and, not a bad one! Many old Finnish war veterans have blamed this film about its action sequenses (They found mistakes in them...). Well, still the film looks good and Peter Franzen is perfect in his role. There's a lot of blood, but also a love story. So, this is a good combination of everything that a common war movie has. --- ä"The Call of Lakeus" Lakeuden kutsu Finland 2000 colour 94 min ***½ Drama cast: Kari Väänänen (Erkki Hakala), Esko Nikkari (Paavo Hakala), Mari Rantasila, Martti Suosal credits: dir. Ilkka Vanne (also script with Antti Tuuri, based on a novel by Antti Tuuri) A man, who has spent the last few years of his life in Florida, returns back to his old home country. He wants to start his life there from the beginning and now he has money to do it. But what the others think about his return? This is a slow moving drama with some nice and tidy action scenes. It has many good characters, even juicy ones, and the cast is excellent. Unfortunately the movie never reaches the point, where the audience could really enjoy of the catharsis. Anyhow, there's a lot of movies which are worse than this. --- "Badding" Badding Finland 2000 colour 103 min **** Drama, musical cast: Janne Reinikainen (Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki), Karoliina Blackburn (Mari), Pertti Koivula, Peter Franz‚n (Ossi), Ilkka Koivula, Vappu Jurkka credits: dir. Markku Pölönen Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki was a singer. A nerd looking guy who sung lika an angel. The cause of his death was mainly the boozing. All that's fact. This movie starts with a text: "This is not true, this is a fairy tale." Unlikely the film claims, Mr. Somerjoki never had a friend like Ossi and there was never brothers Hilton. But when I first saw brothers Koivula (Ilkka and Pertti) looking like somebody in Rocky Horror - well, I thought this could be something different. And it is. The whole movie is like a drunkard's dream. It seems to me that he (Badding) wakes up at times but his reality is too hazy and so he goes everywhere half-dreaming his life. Maybe it's all naïve, but the dream is better for him, 'cause it's just so lovely. Mr. Reinikainen really looks like Badding. He goes deep inside into the character and brings the dead singer back alive. Some other actors act like they would be in circus but that's not so bad as it could be in "non-dream" movie. "Thank you, Rauli!" OK. Maybe Badding gave something to Mr. Pölönen, but still that text looks stupid at the end of the film. --- Gold Fever in Lappland Lapin kullan kimallus Finland 2000 colour 120 min **** Drama cast: Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, Vesa Vierikko, Lasse Pöysti, Peter Franzén, Irina Björklund credits: dir. & script Åke Lindman äA historical story about a goldrush in Lappland. Mr. Lindman got the idea for the film as early as in 1970's. It took this long to finally get shot. Two humble guys goes to Lappland to find gold. They have a brand new map that shows good places to make some money. But the map is fake and when they finally find gold, more obstacles come on their way. The landscapes in the movie are wonderful. We'll see many fine characters and especially Lepistö and Ervasti (Vierikko & Petelius) are charming fellows. Everything looks very real (the houses, clothes, manners etc.), the whole crew has done lots of work for this. Still, this movie may feel overlong and very old-fashioned. --- Lovely Mass Suicide Hurmaava joukkoitsemurha Finland 2000 colour 118 min ** Comedy cast: Santeri Kinnunen, Heikki Kinnunen, Tom Pöysti, Kristiina Halkola, Esko Nikkari, Vesa-Matti Loiri, Eero Melasniemi, Titta Jokinen credits: dir. Ere Kokkonen, based on a novel by Arto Paasilinna A group very different people find out that they all want one and same thing: to commit a suicide. So they get a bus and start the trip to their end. Poor acting or at least poor lines they have. The film affects like a sleeping pill. TRIVIA: A famous Finnish singer Eino Grön does a cameo role in this film. --- "A Monkey Story" Apinajuttu Finland 2000 colour 60 min *** Drama cast: Ville Virtanen (Jensse), Miia Lindström (Sirje), Max Bremer credits: dir. Esa Illi (also script) A group of friends come to Sirje's wedding and memories rise up. The actors look and sound very realistic in their roles. A small budget movie. --- "The King Slow" Kuningas Hidas Finland 2000 colour 60 min ***1/2 Drama cast: Kai Lehtinen (painter Taisto), Tanjalotta Räikkä (his wife) credits: dir. Saara Saarela A story about a painter who thinks that he has lost his feelings because he washes his hands with turpentine (a rumour says that turpentine goes trough the skin into the brains and kill cells which we need to have emotions). The painter tries to feel, but nothing happends. The whole film is warm and gentle. Kai Lehtinen is a just right man to play the main character, a little bit slow painter. The name of the movie comes partly from King Midas, who had an ability (a curse) to made gold with his touch. --- "The Geography of Fear" Pelon maantiede Finland 2000 colour 94 min **1/2 Crime cast: Tanjalotta Räikkä, Leea Klemola (Maaru Tang), Kari Sorvali, Kaarina Hazard, Eija Vilpas credits: dir. Auli Mantila (also script, based on a book by A. Kauranen) A group of women kills a man. They want to teach to all men, who act like pigs, that women are no toys. Director Mantila said somewhere that this movie is not feministic. Most of the time it is. Among these kind of issues this also a story about two sisters, the one hates the other. The other loves her sister anyway. The leading lady can't give an impressing performance in this movie. She's like outsider all of time. Leea Klemola and Kaarina Hazard are better in their roles, just like they would have born to be angry and feministic bitches. However, that's not enough to save the film. --- Bad Luck Love Finland 2000 colour 91 min **1/2 Drama, action cast: Jorma Tommila, Tommi Eronen, Marja Järvenhelmi, Ilkka Koivula, Arttu Kapulainen, Kari Väänänen credits: dir. Olli Saarela Seems to me that the director hasn't known should he be like Tarantino or not. This is not utterly bad movie but it could have been a lot better... Too many talented actors are wasted (for example Arttu Kapulainen in the role of young junkie) just because the makers of the movie have stuck into tricks with pretty images. The story tells about tough guy Ali (Jorma Tommila) who kills another criminal. While he is in the jail, he gets news that changes his life: his girlfriend has a baby and he is the father. There are lots of good character roles among poor ones. One of the best roles has given to Kari Väänänen (the mafioso). It was delightful to see him in this kind of action. --- Restless Levottomat Finland 2000 colour 111 min *** Drama cast: Mikko Nousiainen (Ari), Irina Björklund, Laura Malmivaara, Petteri Summanen, Samuli Edelmann credits: music by Crash, Ultra Bra, Maija Vilkkumaa etc., dir. Aku Louhimies, script Aleksi Bardy They have shot this film in Turku, Finland. But almost nobody in this film talks like people there do. Samuli Edelmann is one of those, who sounds real and his performance is also one of the film's finest performances. Mikko Nousiainen plays his friend, the main character Ari... His character is not very easy to identify. This young man gets all women and forgets them. He can not feel anything, he says this also to a woman, who finally wants to get married with him. This poor lady tries everything but the case is impossible to solve. The actors may have tried their best and the script is not exactly bad. But, something's missing. These actors and actresses are too pretty to be believable. Anyway, this film got really big success in Finland. Lots of love scenes and country's best pop hits. That's the mixture to get money. --- "River" Joki **** Finland 2000 colour 106min Drama cast: Juha Kukkonen, Elina Hoffrén, Ilkka Koivula (Erkka), Sanna Hietala (Anni), Pihla Penttinen (Virve), Heikki Rantanen credits: dir. Jarmo Lampela River has almost no story at all. It's about people who live their lives. The most important character is an young lady, Anni, who is going to kill herself and her baby. She walks into the river while two different brothers, a music person and a becoming young dad are searching their father. The father has escaped from his birthday party to a bar. And at same time in a local pizza house, there's an young woman who tries to make her co-workers fall in love with each other. A bit by bit all these stories start to fascinate the watcher. River is a lovely movie. It's nothing special but definitely something it's pleasant to watch. All the actors are have a good touch to their roles and the camera work is very smooth. As a movie River looks and sounds like a river. --- Young Love Finland 2001 colour 80min **½ Drama cast: Joonas Nordman (Jukka), Saija Lentonen (Johanna), Sari Havas (mother) credits: dir. and script Arto Lehkamo As the title tells, this is a story of young love. Jukka is about 13 years old when he falls in love with Johanna. Johanna, who is almost twenty, has an evil father and no trust in herself. Jukka wants to help her and one way to do it is to make Johanna as beauty model. But does Johanna want to love him and be a "star" of catwalks? The main problem of this movie may be that it wants to be too realistic, but the same time the story is full of cliches. It also has very bookish dialogue, which may not be a big deal for people who don't speak the language but to them who do... The actors are pretty good anyway, and the soundtrack is kind of okay. But that's just not enough to make this film anything big. --- The Kites Over Helsinki Leijat Helsingin yllä (Drakarna över Helsingfors) Finland 2001 colour 90min *** Drama cast: Paavo Kerosuo, Pekka Strang, Johanna af Schulten, Pirkka-Pekka Petelius credits: dir. Peter Lindholm, based on a novel by Kjell Westö This is a story about a rich family and different generations. There’s the once poor but now rich and famous father, who wants to see, how his two sons grow up to keep the family name honoured. His wife, a silent and sensitive lady is like a decoration on the wall. And their children. Riku (Kerosuo), the younger one, is lazy and a bit lost. Dani (Strang), the elder one, is bright but he has no will to follow his father's steps. He wants to be a musician and so the family goes into pieces. The cast is good. It keeps the story running on with fresh acting. Especially Pekka Strang does nice work, although we can never get close enough to his character. The whole movie is in Swedish. It may irritate some Finnish watchers… --- "The Rose of the Sloven" Rentun ruusu Finland 2001 colour 99min *** Drama, musical cast: Martti Suosalo (Irwin Goodman), Ilkka Koivula (Vexi Salmi), Esko Nikkari, Riitta Salminen, Pertti Koivula, Vexi Salmi (himself) credits: dir. (& script with Vexi Salmi) Timo Koivusalo, music Irwin Goodman Somehow it’s amazing, somehow not, but you can be a singer star with a rusty and nasal voice. At least Irwin Goodman could. He was a protest singer, a bit like Bob Dylan, and a beloved folksman. This movie tells his story, how he became into the stardom, how the Irwin Goodman character took him over and finally, how he died. His friend and ex-manager Vexi Salmi is telling this story. Timo Koivusalo gets better as director and writer a film by film but he’s still not perfect. Using real Vexi Salmi as the story teller the director makes a mistake. Mr. Salmi is not an actor and it shows. There’s also some scenes which look just amateurish. Luckily Mr. Koivusalo has again got Martti Suosalo into this project. A good actor saves much. TRIVIA: Actor Matti Mäntylä re-creates his role as the music man Toivo Kärki in this movie. He played the very same role in Timo Koivusalo's Kulkuri ja joutsen which also told about Finnish musicians. --- "Everything Is Alright" Kaikki Hyvin Finland 2001 colour 2 h ***** Drama cast: Outi Mäenpää, Sari Havas, Tobias Zilliacus... (Stella Polaris group) credits: dir. Janne Kuusi, script Stella Polaris group A powerful drama about a big brother's birthday party where his famous, infamous, crazy, poor etc. family is invited. There's terrible fights between his wife and sisters and finally there's everything else but a happy birthday party. And then he has something to say... Wonderful acting - it's no wonder, because it was pretty much improvisated. The Stella Polaris group has really succeed. --- "Tango Cabaret" Tango kabaree Finland 2001 colour 84 min ** Drama, dance, musical cast: Aira Samulin (as herself), Martti Suosalo (M.C.), Remu Aaltonen, Helena Lindgren, Jorma Uotinen, Tuomari Nurmio, Andy McCoy, Paula Koivuniemi credits: dir. Pekka Lehto Take a little bit Fellini, over one 70 years old dancing star, a bunch of Finnish singers and other art persons... And you'll get "Tango Cabaret". The story is about this (yes, she actually exists) red haired, old but still lively dancer lady. She tells her life story while she and her friends are in the rehearsal of her new show. This show is just a big fantasy sequence and it should have been in a totally different movie. Now it only makes things messy and terrible to watch. what a pity. --- The Classic Klassikko Finland 2001 colour 80 min ***** Comedy cast: Martti Suosalo (Hotakainen), Janne Hyytiäinen, Martti Onnismaa, Pertti Sveholm, Arvi Lind (as himself), Pirkka Pekka Petelius credits: dir. Kari Väänänen, based on a novel by Kari Hotakainen äPerhaps one of the most funniest Finnish movies ever. It's a story about a writer (Suosalo), whose publisher wants him to be like everybody else in the business: to write his own memoirs. But what if you don't have anything to tell...? The writer has to create something big and so he does. There's some nice looking cars in his big story. Somehow trusted and well-known Finnish news anchor Arvi Lind gets involved with this case too. The casting is great. Martti Suosalo does once again a marvellous performance. He is the heart of the whole show and Pertti Sveholm's police character is a brilliant sidekick. --- 'Rollo and the Woods Sprite' Rölli ja metsänhenki Finland 2001 colour 92min *** Fantasy, adventure cast: Allu Tuppurainen (Rölli), Maria Järvenhelmi (Milli), Peter Franzén , Samuli Edelmann credits: dir. Olli Saarela, music Tuomas Kantelinen A sequel for the TV serie and movie Rölli - hirmuisia kertomuksia (1991). This movie tells, like many other movies do too, about the fight between good and bad. Rölli and his troll friends are searching a new home when they suddenly find one. Unfortunately that's already occupied. Because the trolls are "horrible" they want to take the place to themselves. Can anything change their mind and what happens then to the charming little Rölli troll? Although this movie has been filmed with a smaller budget than for example LOTR or Harry Potter films, it looks good. The scenes are colourful and imaginative. At times the picture seems to take over the story but - thankfully - not too often. The cast is superb, especially Allu Tuppurainen (the creator of the Rölli character) and Maria Järvenhelmi do good work. This movie definetely is a joy to watch. --- The Man Without Past Mies vailla menneisyyttä Finland 2002 colour 94min **** Drama, comedy cast: Markku Peltola, Kati Outinen, Sakari Kuosmanen, Annikki Tähti credits: dir. & prod. & script Aki Kaurismäki A bunch of robbers attack on a guy and he almost loses his life in that moment. Later he wakes up in a hospital, finds out that he can't remember his name or anything and escapes from the hospital before anybody will pronounce him as dead. He has to start a new life but it's not so easy if you have no name. This movie is one of Aki Kaurismäki's funniest flicks, although maybe not his best one. It could have been better if Matti Pellonpää was playing the main character. Markku Peltola is not as sensitive actor as Pellonpää was but not a very far from that. Kati Outinen is excellent as Irma, it's no wonder that she won a prize in Cannes from this role. There's also numerous cameos and other supporting roles that are more than well acted. Esko Nikkari as a bank robber and Sakari Kuosmanen as Anttila make two of the most hilarious roles in this movie. It's well shot and edited. A must see for everyone. TRIVIA: Director's own dog Tähti plays Hannibal the dog. She is the granmother of the dog called Ilona, who "plays" a part in the tv serie Kotikatu. TRIVIA#2: This movie won two prizes in Cannes (Kati Outinen and the movie itself) but it was also the very first Finnish movie which was nominated for the Oscar. --- ä"Heinähattu and Vilttitossu" Heinähattu ja Vilttitossu Finland 2002 colour 75min Kinotaurus Oy **** Children, comedy, drama cast: Katriina Tavi (Heinähattu), Tilda Kiianlehto (Vilttitossu), Minna Suuronen (mother Hanna), Antti Virmavirta (father) credits: dir. & edit. Kaisa Rastimo (also script with Marko Rauhala), music Hector A light kids movie about two small girls who rather stay with their exiting neighbours than at home with their boring father (all he can think is his potatoes - he examines them) and highly educated mother (in spite of that she can't even cook). Then the other one of the girls, Heinähattu, has to go to the school. Because her sister is two years younger than her, she begins to worry about her. Who shall look after the small Vilttitossu if their mother goes to work and father just keeps observing his plants? There's no doubt about it, this is fun to watch. Especially kids may like about it. The child performers, Tilda and Katriina, are a marvellous couple. Adult performers go at times over the edge from realistic acting to complete circus. But it doesn't matter much, because the funny neighbours and policemen in the movie are mostly seen from the kids point of view. These characters are partly fantasy, a link to the world that only a child's imagination can create. The movie is not full of nonsense, it tries also to teach something to the kids. This part is nicely "hidden", it goes well with everything else. TRIVIA: The movie won Finnish Oscars, Jussi prizes, from costumes and staging. --- Lovers and Leavers/ Lovers & Leavers Kuutamolla Finland 2002 colour 119min ***½ Drama, romance, comedy cast: Minna Haapkylä (Iiris Vaara), Peter Franzén (Marko), Anna-Leena Härkönen (Anna) credits: dir. Aku Louhimies (also script with Katja Kallio), based on a novel by Katja Kallio A romantical comedy that comes from somewhere else but Hollywood really looks a bit different. Iiris Vaara is a 30 years old single woman. She's quiet and nice as her working place, the bookstore, quite opposite to her mother. Iiris loves romantical movies, her mother loves reality. Iiris needs some reality too but will she find it with a handsome movie director Marko? The two funniest characters in the movie are played by Pirkko Saisio and writer/actress Anna-Leena Härkönen. Ms. Saisio's bohemian artist mother suits well in the story as does Ms. Härkönen's sex maniac. The best performances of the movie are given by the main star Minna Haapkylä and Matti Ristinen. Ms. Haapkylä makes her character loveable with her solid presence. Mr. Ristinen's character needs a little more time but in the end you'll love him too. When the cast is as good as this and everything else seems to be running well too, the main problem in this movie seems to be in the fact it looks too much like a mass product. The sense of Hollywood is too near. This is anyway a great film from director Aku Louhimes. --- "Ten Hags" /"Ten Graters" Kymmenen riivinrautaa Finland 2002 colour 103min **1/2 Comedy cast: Esko Salminen (Rauno Rämekorpi), Santeri Kinnunen (Sorjonen), Petra Frey, Rinna Paatso, Kristiina Elstelä, Susanna Haavisto, Rea Mauranen, Tea Ista, Kari Väänänen credits: dir. Ere Kokkonen and script with Arto Paasilinna (novel) Rauno Rämekorpi is a big boss and now he's having a big birthday party. He gets lots of presents and flowers. Unfortunately his wife is allergic to the flowers and he has to move them somewhere. He doesn't want to waste his pretty gifts, he calls a taxi and then it starts: he wants to meet all his old lovers and give the presents to them. The dialogue - it's not very natural. The actors do their roles as routine and that's nothing else but dull to look at. There's funny moments but anyway it all seems kind of old fashioned. TRIVIA: Director Ere Kokkonen and writer Arto Paasilinna makes cameos in this film. Also violinist Linda Brava (Lampenius) has a quick appearance. TRIVIA#2: Santeri Kinnunen played a character called Seppo Sorjonen also in the movie Hurmaava joukkoitsemurha. --- "Duet Amoroso" Duetto Amoroso Finland 2002 colour 45min **1/2 Musical cast: Mari Palo (Maria), Pentti Hietanen (Laszlo), Jarmo Mäkinen (Bruno), Juha Laitila (Jorkki), Pertti Koivula (Jesse) credits: dir. (& script) Markku Pölönen, music Verdi etc. äMarkku Pölönen has done better films than this. His attempt to put together opera, musical and... stuff is interesting but it moves on too slowly. Tenor Pentti Koivula and soprano Mari Palo are good but they are opera cast and they have their manners which don’t work well in Pölönen’s hands. The story tells about beautiful Maria, who moves to evil Bruno’s house and falls in love with the porter Laszlo. They sing lovely duets and evil Bruno’s servants make a slapstick comedy. Odd, occasionally fun and nice to listen but it’s still too long. --- Handcruff King Kahlekuningas (Utbrytarkonungen) Finland/Sweden 2002 colour 91 min **** Drama, comedy, fantasy cast: Miikka Enbuske (Esko), Heikki Hela, Maija Junno, Arttu Kapulainen, Sulevi Peltola credits: dir. and script Arto Koskinen, music Samuli Laiho, prod. Claes Olsson 12 years old Esko dreams about becoming new Houdini. He has only one friend, Swedish boy Patrick. When Esko's mom and dad have hard times in their marriage and big kids tease smaller ones, Esko and Patrick escape to boyish fantasy world where Rommel and his troops are still alive. Although the story is told from 12 year boy's point of view, this is not "a for kids only" movie. The young actors are very good. The script is well written but there's scenes where Mr. Koskinen has gone perhaps too far into fantasy world. This is one of those movies where you'll have to focus on every scene and word or else you may not know what's happening. Anyway, it's a fine movie and there's good humour. TRIVIA: The movie was shot in Tornio. --- Sound Of Brazil (Moro No Brazil) Moro No Brazil Germany, Brazil, Finland 2002 colour 105min ***** Documentary, musical cast: Walter Alfaiate, Velha Guarde da Mangueira Mika Kaurismäki credits: Mika Kaurismäki (dir., script) äA beautiful documentary of the music and musicians of Brazil. A colourful story which is really nice to watch. It goes really deep into the Brazilian culture but never looses certain lightyness. --- Stripping Hengittämättä & nauramatta Finland 2002 colour 74min *** Drama, comedy cast: Liisa Kuoppamäki (Inka), Meri Nenonen, Marc Gassot (Arno), Johan Storgård (Luukas), Mikko Nousiainen credits: dir. Saara Saarela äIt's a bit like Ally McBeal. A story about a woman called Inka who draws a cartoon serie and seems to live her life like a cartoon heroine. She wants always be in the middle of the action and arrange everybody's business. Oh boy, she's a wacko. In the beginning she leaves her lover (Nousiainen), who is as surprised about this as the audience. There's no good reason for her to move but she does it anyway. Her cartoon seems to be never published. Everything goes wrong. Even her new lover is a big mistake. But better times will come. Liisa Kuoppamäki was a good choise in the head role of this movie but sometimes she's showing out either too little or wrong feelings. Maybe the fault was not her but the director's. However, there's some hilarius supporting roles. For example Inka's brother, a computer witzard who doesn't usually come out from his "cave", is fantastic. The movie is visually fine and its soundtrack sounds nice but the story should have been better written. --- Raid Finland 2003 colour 125 min ***1/2 Crime, action, comedy cast: Kai Lehtinen (Raid), Oiva Lohtander (Jansson), Mari Rantasila (Tarja), Pekka Huotari (Huusko), Kirsti Väänänen, Juha Muje (Sundman), Markku Maalismaa, Risto Salmi (Arska), Helge Herala (Keisari, Tarja's father) credits: dir. Tapio Piirainen The popular TV serie called Raid was made in 2000. It told about a contract killer, polices, corruption, love and lots of other things around their world. This movie is a second act for that serie. Still, it works without the serie too and it is extremely funny. The movie starts from the point when the contract killer, Raid’, travels back to Finland. He wants to see his girlfriend Tarja, but it seems that she has died in an arson. Raid’s old friend, a huge and sympathetic cop Jansson, has some other information about things and soon they both are investigating Tarja’s case. There’s big business behind everything. The cast is same as in the tv serie. Lehtinen, Lohtander, Muje and the others does very good work. Especially Juha Muje as an alcoholist and Markku Maalismaa as a weird truck driver are great. They are also the funniest characters in the movie. The dialogue of the movie is as short and juicy as in the tv serie. TRIVIA: The leading lady of the movie, Mari Rantasila, sang both the movie and the serie’s main themes. --- Sibelius Finland 2003 colour/B/W 116min ***1/2 Drama cast: Martti Suosalo, Miina Turunen, Heikki Nousiainen, Seela Sella, Vesa Vierikko credits: dir. & script & prod. Timo Koivusalo, music by Jean Sibelius Jean Sibelius, a famous Finnish composer, is definitely one of those persons, who will be always remembered as one of great Finns. This movie is his biography. It shows the tragic childhood of the genius, his wild years with heavy drinking and all which comes with it and the ageing maestro with his loyal wife and charming daughters. Mr. Koivusalo isn’t a great director. He isn’t also a great writer but he has done his best for this movie. It’s powerful drama, because of the music which is composed - of course - by Jean Sibelius. Martti Suosalo plays young Sibelius well, as usual, and Heikki Nousiainen is also quite good as the ageing maestro. Although Mr. Koivusalo has used some clichés (he seems to not get rid of those), this is a good film. After all, it’s not easy to make a movie about somebody, who has so big role in Finnish history. --- Gourmet Club Finland 2004 colour 65min *** Comedy cast: Hannu-Pekka Björkman (Paavo Ylönen), Harri Ketonen, Michael Badalucco (chef Orsino) credits: dir. Juha Wuolijoki Doctor Paavo Ylönen has lost his money. Because he is highly respected man, he tries to fake that he is still a rich man. Then he gets one more problem. He and a few other men has this so called gourmet club, where they eat expensive meals, made of something that one of its member has brought with him. After the meal the other members try to guess what they've been eating. Every time they make a bet about it. It's doc's turn to bring the special ingredient with him but what could a poor man offer, if he wants to win too? This is a black comedy, which tells a lot about the movie. You know in the beginning what's going to happen. It's not a bad idea but it also lacks the power of the ending. However, the movie has its moments. Although it takes place mainly in the stiff upper-class gourmet club, everything is moving on all of the time. All the actors work nicely together, even "the big American star" Michael Badalucco fits well in the image as the chef of many secrets. This is a TV movie. ---