Handcruff King
Kahlekuningas (Utbrytarkonungen)

Finland/Sweden 2002 colour 91 min Kinoproduction Oy

****

Drama, comedy, fantasy

cast: Miikka Enbuske (Esko), Heikki Hela (Toivo, Esko's father), Maija Junno (Aino, Esko's mother), Arttu Kapulainen (Juhana), Sulevi Peltola (Grandfather), Emil Lundberg (Patrick), Ralph Carlsson (Patrick's father), Lina Hofverberg (Helene)
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 their 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. They bring the good spirit in this movie. The script is written well but there's scenes, where Mr. Koskinen has perhaps gone too far into the 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 a lot of good humour.

TRIVIA: The movie was shot in Tornio.

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