'The Fire-Eater'
Tulennielijä

Finland 1998 colour 100min MPR Matila Röhr Productions

**½

Drama

cast: Elina Hurme (Helena), Tiina Weckström (mother), Elena Leeve (Helena, 14), Elsa Saisio, Vappu Jurkka, Jordi Borrell, Jani Volanen, Sulevi Peltola, Kristo Salminen
credits: dir. Pirjo Honkasalo, script Pirkko Saisio, DOP Kjell Lagerroos

A very dark movie. It's a tale about two sisters, the pretty one and the ugly one, who live in circus. Their father wants the pretty one to be acrobat, but she wants something else and acts like handicapped. Because of this the father has to change his plans and try the same with the ungly one but she's no good at all. The story circles around the ugly sister and shows us how she grows up to be what she wants to be. In this way the movie is quite succesfull. However, at times it feels a bit too long. If you're searching for a nice little Hollywood story with a happy ending, this movie is not for you.

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