The Doll Merchant
Nukkekauppias ja kaunis Lilith (Dockhandlaren och den vackra Lilith)
De poppenhandelaar (Belgium)
Le marchand de poupées (French title)
Der Puppenhändler und die schöne Lilith (German title)

Finland 1955 B/W 89min Oy Suomen Filmiteollisuus

****

Fantasy

cast: Martti Katajisto (the doll merchant [nukkekauppias]), Hillevi Lagerstam (Lilith), Tauno Palo, Heikki Savolainen (anarchist), Esko Mannermaa, Veikko Linna, Artturi Laakso, Eino Kaipainen, Armas Jokio, Oke Tuuri, Fanny Cederberg, Uljas Kandolin, Irja Kuusla, Laila Rihte, Kullervo Kalske
credits: dir. Jack Witikka (also script with Walentin Chorell), music Simon Parmet, DOP Marius Raichi, staging Aarre Koivisto, dolls Mona Leo

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!

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