Onni von Sopanen

Finland 2006 colour 90min Production House

***½

Drama, comedy

cast: Kaarlo Somerto (Onni), Alex Anton (Miro), Julius Vakkuri (Josku), Oona Linnasalmi (Iida), Minna Suuronen (mother), Robin Svartsröm (father), Jarkko Pajunen (VP), Meri Nenonen, Kari Väänänen, Joonas Saartamo
credits: dir. Johanna Vuoksenmaa, script Johanna Hartikainen, edit. Harri Ylönen, music Kerkko Koskinen, prod. Liisa Akimof

There's not many Finnish films for kids. Onni von Sopanen is one of the few, and not even bad. Its main character is Onni, a 11 years old boy, who thinks he isn't really child of his mother and father. His older sister teases him, his dad seems to be quite boring and his mother – he has heard her speaking something weird about his past. Luckily Onni has a good friend at his school and a little pet, who will listen him.

Onni von Sopanen is written well, although you can find some family movie cliches from it. It's dialogue is very today (Onni wants a new cell-phone, a computer and lots of other stuff – the script writer makes nice fun of everyday family life), although there's many things which haven't changed during the years. Mom is still mom, love is still love, kids will try the patience of their parents...

The flick has many quite fun moments, thanks for the good timing and almost professional-like child actors.

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