'Silja - The Maid'
Silja - nuorena nukkunut (Silja)
Silja (French title)
Silja, die Magd (German title)

Finland 1956 B/W 91min Veikko Itkonen

***½

Drama

cast: Heidi Krohn (Silja), Jussi Jurkka (Armas), Aku Korhonen, Pentti Siimes (Honkkeli-Väinö), Tommi Rinne (Oskari), Kaarlo Halttunen (Kustaa), Oke Tuuri (Ville), Kullervo Kalske, Rauha Rentola, Pentti Irjala, Aino Lohikoski (Sofia), Åke Lindman, Heimo Lepistö (Teliniemi), Emmi Jurkka, Sakari Jurkka (Rinne), Pentti Viljanen
credits: dir. Jack Witikka, script Juha Nevalainen (based on a novel by F.E. Sillanpää), DOP Kalle Peronkoski, staging Roy, music George de Godzinsky

It's late 1910's. Silja is an young servant girl, an orphan who finds a job and home from the Nukari family. Men fall in love with her but she loves only one of them. Unfortunately she never can have him.

Heidi Krohn is so fresh and real as Silja that it makes one to forget how pathetic the plot is. Mr. Witikka's directing is smooth and gentle. The story ends in a way that leaves an opportunity for Silja and the audience to be happy.

The first version of the same story is Teuvo Tulio's Nuorena Nukkunut from 1937.

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