The Matriarch
Lieksa!

Available on DVD

Finland 2007 colour 91 min Suomen Filmiteollisuus Oy

****

Drama, comedy

cast: Sanna-Kaisa Palo (Martta), Peter Franzén (Laszlo), Jenni Banerjee (Lara), Samuli Vauramo (Kasper), Heikki Kinnunen (Otto/Niccolo), Tatu Siivonen, Tuomas Uusitalo, Toni Wahlström, Lotta Lehtikari, Elina Knihtilä, Puntti Valtonen, Janne Reinikainen, Kaarina Turunen
credits: Markku Pölönen (dir. & script), DOP Jan Nyman, music Vesa Mäkinen

When Otto Koppelo (Kinnunen) dies, Martta Koppelo (Palo) has to do what a woman has to do. She follows Otto's last wish and leads the Koppelo family to Lieksa. Or at least she tries. There's many troubles on their way; a young man who doesn't talk (Vauramo), a bad guy from their past (Franzé) and all those little difficulties that which may appear, when you're on the road with old cars.

Markku Pölönen seems to have got many influences from old Finnish cinema for this piece of art. It's all good. However, some of his desicions (for example in acting) are too odd for the viewer; why does Heikki Kinnunen play that role so poorly? Or why young Samuli Vauramo is wasted in a role of the dummy? This movie raises many questions, so it's maybe good to view it more than once. Also, the great Sanna-Kaisa Palo is one of the reasons why to watch this movie at least twice.

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