Pastor Jussilainen
Pastori Jussilainen (Pastor Jussilainen)
Le Pasteur Jussilainen (French title)

Finland 1955 B/W 88 min Oy Suomen Filmiteollisuus

**½

Comedy

cast: Edvin Laine (Elias Gabriel Jussilainen), Rauha Rentola (Eveliina Jussilainen), Tyyne Haarla (Mrs. Braxell, Eveliina's mother), Kirsti Ortola (Mari), Leo Riuttu (teacher), Kaarlo Halttunen (Janne), Kaisu Leppänen, Asta Backman (teacher's wife), Saara Ranin, Aune Häme, Holger Salin, Vilho Siivola, Matti Kassila (the narrator)
credits: dir. (& script) Matti Kassila, prod. T.J.Särkkä, DOP Osmo Harkimo, based on a play by Gustaf von Numers, music Heikki Aaltoila, staging Aarre Koivisto

Mr. Jussilainen - he's a chauvinist and priest of small Finnish village. His wife is kind and nervous. Her mother is coming to a visit and Mr. Jussilainen won't even like to have new carpets on their floor. He is against everything new and nice... But will it last forever?

Mr. Jussilainen is so disgusting person that you have to hate him before the first scene ends. Edvin Laine uses all his power to make this character unloveable and when the film has ended, it's difficult to know whether you actually liked the character or not.

The movie starts with an unusual opening: every actor and also persons from the director to the composer are introduced to the audience in a special way. The movie is shot like it would been shot on stage. The effect is actually suitable for this story. Aarre Koivisto's staging looks great.

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