'Up on the Highest Bough'
Mä oksalla ylimmällä (Jag gungar i högsta grenen)
Je me balance sur la plus haute branche (French title)
Auf dem hohen Ast (German title)

Finland 1954 B/W 88min Oy Suomen Filmiteollisuus

*˝

Romance, musical

cast: Maaria Eira (Maria Sawina), Martti Katajisto (Gabriel Linsén), Ture Ara (baron Platonow), Kaarlo Halttunen (Himmelschein), Helena Salonius (Linnea Linsén), Börje Lampenius (Filip von Schantz), Laina Laine (Miina), Veikko Linna, Rakel Laakso (Mrs. Müller), Tommi Rinne, Pentti Siimes, Maikki Länsiö, Heimo Lepistö
credits: dir. Jack Witikka (also script with Valentin Chorell), prod. T.J. Särkkä, DOP Marius Raichi, music Nils-Eric Fougstedt, costumes Bure Litonius and Fiinu Autio, staging Aarre Koivisto

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.

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