'The Bachelor Days of Pekko'
Pekko aikamiespojan poikamiesaika
La vie de garçon de Pekko (French title)
Pekkos Junggesellenzeit (German title)

Available on DVD

Finland 1993 colour 89min R-Filmi Production Oy, Tahti-Musiikki Oy

**

Comedy

cast: Timo Koivusalo (Pekko), Joel Hallikainen (himself), Satu Silvo (Pipsa), Esko Nikkari (Reino), Tuija Piepponen (Kaisa Kuovi), Jope Ruonansuu (Heka), Seppo Kolehmainen
credits: dir. Sina Kujansuu (also script with Timo Koivusalo and Elina Tunturi), DOP Harri Räty, music Timo Koivusalo with Joel Hallikainen and Pekka Siistonen

Pekko was created by Timo Koivusalo for his stand up show. The character has a pretty similar history as Esko Toivonen's character Eemeli has. Pekko is almost a middle-aged man, who lives with his mother in a small country village. He is almost as childish as Uuno Turhapuro but he doesn't want to make good only for himself but also for the others. In the village lives among many a shy police Reino, a mad inventor Heka and beautiful Kaisa who secretly loves Reino. Pekko helps the other villagers to won their battle against bad city people, who are threatening their peace. There's also nice city people, for example lovely Pipsa. Pipsa is, of course, the one whom Pekko loves.

The very first Pekko movie is about Pipsa and Pekko, how they met each other in Pipsa's work (she's an archaeologist) and what are the curious business connected to it. There's some funny gags but as movie Pekko is too kind and sweet to be a strong comment for anything. The problem is perhaps in Pekko himself, who is maybe too innocent and weird to be real enough.

However, Pekko has got many fans. The first movie got a sequel in 1994. This movie brought back the old cast. The same cast has been also in later Pekko movies with some minor changes. In Pekko ja massahurmaaja the character called Heka was played by Juha Laitila instead of Jope Ruonansuu (they both are imitators).

Other Pekko movies (directed by Timo Koivusalo):
2. Pekko ja poika, 1994 [Pekko and His Son]
3. Pekko ja massahurmaaja, 1995 [Pekko and the Mass Charmer]
4. Pekko ja muukalainen, 1996 ["Pekko and the Stranger"]
5. Pekko ja unissakävelijä, 1997 ["Pekko and the Sleepwalker"]

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