focus on finland at valladolid international film festival
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2015 Focus on Finland at 60th Valladolid International Film Festival (Semana Internacional de Cine de Valladolid - SEMINCI)TRANSCRIPT
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60th Valladolid International Film Festival 2015Fo
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Dear Friends of Cinema,
Front cover: The White Reindeer by Erik Blomberg
Page 2: Restless Blood by Teuvo Tulio
Back cover: Drifting Clouds by Aki Kaurismäki
Editors: Jaana Puskala, Jenni Domingo, Maikki Rantala
Photos: The Finnish Film Foundation, National Audiovisual Institute
Lay-out: Maikki Rantala
Printed by: Premedia Helsinki, 2015
Finland has the joy and honor of being
the Guest Country at the 60th Valladolid
Film Festival. The festival will showcase a
wide and interesting selection of different
Finnish films – classic films from the past
decades, documentaries, dramas and short
films – a total of 24 films in different sections.
We hope our films will offer you a chance to
glimpse at the landscape of this Northern
nation’s soul. We believe our films will touch
you, make you laugh and evoke in you both
thoughts and feelings.
A warm thank you to Festival Director
Javier Angulo and Denise O’Keeffe for
this wonderful opportunity and many
congratulations on the Festival’s 60th
anniversary!
Jaana Puskala
Head of international promotion
The Finnish Film Foundation
Estimados amigos del cinema,
Finlandia tiene el placer y el honor de ser
el país invitado en la sexagésima edición
del Festival de Cine de Valladolid. Les
ofrecemos una amplia e interesante muestra
de la filmografía finlandesa -clásicos de las
pasadas décadas, documentales, dramas y
cortometrajes- en total 24 películas incluidas
en diferentes series. Esperamos que esta
selección de películas les sirva de ayuda
para conocer el espíritu de este pueblo del
norte de Europa. Estamos convencidos que
nuestras películas les emocionarán, harán
reír y despertarán tanto pensamientos, como
emociones.
Mi mas cordial agradecimiento tanto a
Javier Angulo, Director del Festival, como
a Denise O’Keeffe por ofrecernos esta
magnífica oportunidad y mi más sincera
felicitación al festival en su 60 aniversario!
Jaana Puskala
Directora de Promoción Internacional
Fundación Cinematográfica Finlandesa
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Official section – Sección Oficial
The Girl King 7
Meeting point – Punto de Encuentro
2 Nights till Morning 8
Time of History – Tiempo de Historia
Marzia, My Friend 9
Official section, short films – Sección Oficial, cortometrajes
Merry Christmas 10
Meeting point, short films – Punto de Encuentro, cortometrajes
Reunion 11
Focus on Finland – País Invitado: Finlandia
Documentaries:
The Iddle Ones 12
The 3 rooms of Melancholia 12
Steam of Life 13
The Punk Syndrome 13
Finnish Blood, Swedish Heart 14
Feature films:
Drifting Clouds 14
Bad Family 15
The Good Son 15
Open Up To Me 16
Village People 16
The Disciple 17
They Have Escaped 17
The Grump 18
Classics:
The White Reindeer 19
The Boys 19
The Earth is a Sinful Song 20
The Man Who Couldn’t Say No 20
The Wedding Walz 21
The Collector 21
Directors and producers attending Valladolid 2015 22
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The Girl King
The Girl King is the story of Sweden’s Queen Kristina, an enigmatic young woman
who defied convention, challenged tradition and changed the course of history.
Torn between reason and passion; between her female body and being raised as
a prince; between the ancient and modern worlds and between the brilliance of
her educated mind and the terror of the emotions she could not understand.
ORIGINAL TITLE Tyttökuningas DIRECTOR Mika Kaurismäki SCREENWRITER
Michel Marc Bouchard PRINCIPAL CAST Malin Buska, Sarah Gadon, Michael Nyqvist,
Lucas Bryant, Laura Birn, Hippolyte Girardot, Francois Arnaud, Patrick Bauchau,
Peter Lohmeyer, Martina Gedeck PRODUCED BY Marianna Films Oy/Mika Kaurismäki,
Anna Stratton, Rainer Kölmel, Arnie Gelbart, Wasiliki Bleser, Martin Persson DURATION
106 min SALES The Yellow Affair SPANISH DISTRIBUTOR: Film Buro/Aquelarre
Screenings:
Press screening: Thursday October 29th at 12.00, Teatro Calderón,
followed by press conference
Official screening: Thursday October 29tth at 19.00, Teatro Calderón
Repetition: Friday October 30th at 16.30, Teatro Cervantes
Mika Kaurismäki
Mika Kaurismäki’s first film liar (1980) was an overnight
sensation. It marked the beginning of a new era in
Finnish cinema, in which the Kaurismäki brothers led
the way. Since then Mika Kaurismäki has made a host
of feature films and documentaries, including
The Worthless, Rosso, Zombie and the Ghost
Train, Helsinki napoli, la Without a Map, Mama
africa, Brasileirinho, Three Wise Men, The House
of Branching love and Road north, which was one of
the most popular films in Finland in 2012 with almost
300 000 admissions. Mika has completed two new
films in 2015 –The Girl King and Homecoming.
The director will be present at Valladolid.
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2 nights till Morning
A one-night stand between two strangers in a foreign country and without a mutual
language takes an unexpected turn as a volcanic ash cloud prevents all flights
from taking off. ORIGINAL TITLE 2 yötä aamuun DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER Mikko Kuparinen
PRINCIPAL CAST Marie-Joseé Croze, Mikko Nousiainen PRODUCED BY
Elokuvatuotantoyhtiö Mjölk/Mikko Tenhunen DURATION 84 min
SALES Wide Management
Screenings:
1st screening: Wednesday October 28th at 11.30, Teatro Zorrilla
Main screening and presentation: Thursday October 29th at 22.00, Teatro Zorrilla
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Mikko Kuparinen
Kuparinen’s (b. 1979) first feature film was the romantic
comedy Body Fat Index of love, 2012. His short films
have won main prizes at international film festivals;
Sirocco won the H.C. Andersen Award, the Grand Prix
at the Odense Film Festival in Denmark in 2013. Sirocco
and Mikko were also chosen for the “10 Directors to
Watch” DVD published by four Nordic film magazines.
The director will be present at Valladolid.
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Marzia, My Friend
Marzia, My Friend is the story of an Afghan woman in her twenties, who – just like
all young people – dreams of love, freedom and an interesting job. But because she
lives in Afghanistan, her dreams are revolutionary. Ultimately Marzia’s story becomes
a symbol of the wider struggle of Afghan women: it is about the right to make
decisions about your own life.
ORIGINAL TITLE Marzia, ystäväni DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER Kirsi Mattila
PRODUCED BY Pohjola-filmi/Elina Pohjola, Piia Nokelainen DURATION 80 min, 2015
SALES Filmdelights
Screenings:
1st screening: Tuesday October 27th at 11.45, Broadway Cinema 11
Main screening and presentation: Thursday October 29th at 21.30, Broadway Cinema
Kirsi Mattila
Kirsi Mattila is a documentary director-screenwriter and
a freelance journalist. Mattila has worked as a journalist
since 1980 and she has written and directed a number of
educational programs and documentaries for TV and film.
Her selected filmography includes documentaries such
as niki and niki’s Brother (2008), 80 years of Student
Theatre (2006) and the Joy of Giving Birth (2004).
The director will be present at Valladolid.
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Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas is a Christmas story about Asko, a tram driver who finds an
abandoned baby. Who does the boy child belong to? Who is missing him?
Asko decides to find out. Merry Christmas is a comical interpretation of the
traditional Christmas gospel set in a modern-day Helsinki.
ORIGINAL TITLE Hyvää joulua DIRECTOR Matti Ijäs SCREENWRITER Juha Lehtola,
Matti Ijäs PRINCIPAL CAST Pertti Sveholm, Aili PRODUCED BY Scenes Oy/Juha
Lehtola DURATION 10 min, 2015 SALES Scenes Oy
Screenings:
Press screening: Sunday October 25th at 12.00, Teatro Calderón
Official screening: Sunday October 25th at 19.00, Teatro Calderón
Repetition: Monday October 26th at 16.30, Teatro Cervantes
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Matti Ijäs
Matti Ijäs, born 1950, is known for his feature films
Things We Do for love (2013), Blue Corner (2002) and
Blindfolded (1999). Ijäs has also enjoyed an extensive
career in television; his directorial works include The
Wrestler (1985) and The Inspection (1988). Matti Ijäs has
been awarded the Prix Italia, the State Prize for Cinema
and in 2002 he received the Order of the Lion of Finland –
Pro Finlandia Medal for his vast career in Finnish film.
The director will be present at Valladolid.
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Reunion
Young Anja accompanies the dead of her hometown to the afterlife. When she joins
her brother on the couch moments before his heart attack, things are different.
Can they make up and dance their way to the next world together?
ORIGINAL TITLE Tuolla puolen DIRECTORS/SCREENWRITERS Iddo Soskolne, Janne
Reinikainen PRINCIPAL CAST Selma af Schultén, Janne Reinikainen, Riitta Havukainen
PRODUCED BY Bufo/ Misha Jaari, Mark Lwoff DURATION 15 min, 2015 SALES Bufo
Screenings:
1st screening: Wednesday October 28th at 11.30, Teatro Zorrilla
Main screening and presentation: Thursday October 29th at 22.00, Teatro Zorrilla
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Iddo Soskolne
Iddo Soskolne (b. 1975 in Jerusalem) graduated with honours as a cinematographer
and screenwriter from the Sam Spiegel Film & TV School in Israel in 2003.
His graduation films travelled to numerous festivals including Cannes Cinéfondation,
Berlin and Clermont-Ferrand. Reunion is his first film as a director.
The director will be present at Valladolid.
Janne Reinikainen
Janne Reinikainen (b. 1969) is a Finnish theatre director, actor, and screenwriter.
His latest TV project is the series Napamiehet, in which he worked as a screenwriter,
director, and actor. Reunion is Janne Reinikainen’s first film as a director.
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Documentaries
The Idles Ones
2001 • 90´
The Idle Ones is a description of the
state of affairs—somewhere on the
edge of Europe—where the lack of a
regular job is becoming a way of life for
some of the younger generation.
Original title: Joutilaat
Director: Susanna Helke,
Virpi Suutari
Script: Susanna Helke, Virpi Suutari
Cinematography: Harri Räty
Production company: Kinotar Oy,
www.kinotar.com
Sales: Kinotar
Screenings:
Sat 24.10. 11:45 Sala Broadway 1
The 3 Rooms of Melancholia
2004 • 85´
The Chechen war. The inability of
adults to resolve the war gives rise to a
generation upon whom hatred has been
visited with vengeance. Children have
taken the burden of hatred which they
believe springs from within. There is no
need to seek its causes. The transposed
hatred casts a pall over the depths of their
minds: they are accompanied throughout
their lives by inexplicable melancholia
and sudden outbursts of rage.
Original title:
Melancholian 3 huonetta
Director: Pirjo Honkasalo
Script: Pirjo Honkasalo
Cinematography: Pirjo Honkasalo
Production company:
Oy Millennium Film Ltd.,
www.millenniumfilm.fi
Sales: Deckert Distribution
Spanish distributor: Parallel 40
Screenings:
Sat 24.10. 16:30 Sala Broadway 1
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Steam of life
2010 • 84´
Naked Finnish Men in saunas speak
straight from the heart and, with
the warmth of rusty stoves, cleanse
themselves both physically and mentally
as the film moves towards its deeply
emotional and unforgettable finale.
Original title: Miesten vuoro
Director: Joonas Berghäll, Mika
Hotakainen
Script: Joonas Berghäll,
Mika Hotakainen
Cinematography: Heikki Färm,
Jani Kumpulainen
Music: Jonas Bohlin
Production company: Oktober Oy,
www.oktober.fi
Sales: Films Transit International
Screenings:
Wed 30.10. 12:00 Sala Broadway 10
The Punk Syndrome
2012 • 90´
The Punk Syndrome is a film about the
Finnish punk rock band Pertti Kurikan
nimipäivät, which later was the Finnish
representative in the 2015 Eurovision
Song Contest. The film follows the
band´s four mentally challenged
members’ journey from the rehearsal
room to festival stages and ultimately,
into the limelight.
Original title: Kovasikajuttu
Director: Jukka Kärkkäinen, J-P Passi
Script: Jukka Kärkkäinen, J-P Passi
Cinematography: J-P Passi
Music: Pertti Kurikan nimipäivät
Production company: Mouka Filmi,
www.mouka.fi
Sales: Autlook Filmsales
Screenings:
Sun 25.10. 11:45 Sala Broadway 1
Documentaries
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Finnish Blood, Swedish Heart
2013 • 90´
The journey of a father and son
becomes a musical, delving into
the emotional memory and history
of Finnish migration to Sweden, an
exploration of shame, guilt, crime,
alcoholism and family secrets.
Original title: Laulu koti-ikävästä
Director: Mika Ronkainen
Script: Mika Ronkainen
Cinematography: Vesa Taipaleenmäki
Music: Anna Järvinen, Darya Pakarinen,
Love Antell, Markus Fagervall and
several other artists
Production company:
Klaffi Productions,
www.klaffi.com
Sales: Klaffi Productions
Spanish distributor: Parallel 40
Screenings:
Sat 31.10. 20:00 Sala Broadway 11
Documentaries Feature films
Drifting Clouds
1996 • 96´
This film has a story, which is not very
hard to understand, especially if you
have seen the film. The main characters
(altogether two) form a family. In the
beginning they are happy. Then the
trouble comes. By the end they are
happy again. Almost the same can be
said about the supporting characters,
although they are never—in cinema—
as important as the main characters,
except for Wolter Brennon.
— A.K.
Original title: Kauas pilvet karkaavat
Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Script: Aki Kaurismäki
Cinematography: Timo Salminen
Cast: Kati Outinen, Kari Väänänen, Elina
Salo, Sakari Kuosmanen, Markku Peltola
Production company: Sputnik Oy,
www.orimattila.fi/kirjasto/kaurismäki,
www.the-match-factory.com
Screenings:
Fri 30.10. 19:30 Sala Broadway 9
Sat 31.10. 19:15 Sala Broadway 10
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Bad Family
2010 • 92
After going through an ugly divorce,
a father must raise his son on his own
while the mother has custody of the
daughter. Sixteen years later, the
mother passes away, and the brother
and sister meet once again. The father
thinks his son has a crush on his sister.
The son rebels against his father, who
copes poorly with the situation. The
father ends up alone with his own
demented father.
Original title: Paha perhe
Director: Aleksi Salmenperä
Script: Aleksi Salmenperä
Cinematography: Tuomo Hutri
Music: Ville A. Tanttu
Cast: Ville Virtanen, Pihla Viitala,
Lauri Tilkanen
Production company: Sputnik Oy,
www.the-match-factory.com
Sales: The Match Factory
Screenings:
Sun 25.10. 20:00 Sala Broadway 1
Mon 26.10. 11:45 Sala Broadway 1
The Good Son
2011 • 87´
After a scandalous premiere, actress
Leila escapes to the old family
summerhouse with her two sons. The
explosive and arrogant Ilmari, her older
son, is Leila’s protector and confidant.
The peaceful vacation is disrupted when
Leila invites her artist friends over for
a rowdy weekend. After the party Leila
invites one of the guests, Aimo, a writer,
to stay. Ilmari is immediately hostile
towards the intruder. As Leila begins to
fall in love, Ilmari begins to suspect that
Aimo might be dangerous.
Original title: Hyvä poika
Director: Zaida Bergroth
Script: Jan Forsström, Zaida Bergroth
Cinematography: Anu Keränen
Music: Mi and Láu
Cast: Elina Knihtilä, Samuli Niittymäki,
Eero Aho, Anna Paavilainen, Eetu Julin
Production company: Oy Bufo Ab,
www.bufo.fi
Sales: Level K
Screenings:
Tue 27.10. 22:00 Sala Broadway 9
Wed 28.10. 11:45 Sala Broadway 9
Feature films
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Feature films
Open up to Me
2013 • 95´
Open up to Me is an intense
psychological drama about sexual
identity. In modern relationships
nothing can be taken for granted
anymore. There is no ready-made
model for love. We have to create our
own morals. We have to draw lines and
sometimes, when our hearts tell us to,
cross them.
Original title: Kerron sinulle kaiken
Director: Simo Halinen
Script: Simo Halinen
Cinematography: Hena Blomberg
Music: Jarmo Saari
Cast: Leea Klemola, Peter Franzén,
Ria Kataja,
Emmi Nivala, Alex Anton
Production company: Edith Film,
www.kaihorepublic.com
Sales: The Yellow Affair
Screenings:
Thu 29.10. 22:00 Sala Broadway 9
Fri 30.10. 11:45 Sala Broadway 9
Village People
2013 • 95´
Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, the long-time
president of the Republic of Finland, is
scheduled to visit Alli’s Bar on his way to
northern Finland. He is blindly worshiped
and the nearer the visit draws, the more
envy, competition and dirty tricks we see
in a small town. No one is spared from
the brutality!
Original title: Kekkonen tulee!
Director: Marja Pyykkö
Script: Elias Koskimies (based on the
short story “Alli’s Bar” in the novel
“Urho Kekkonen Straße” by Pia Pesonen)
Cinematography: Konsta Sohlberg
Music: Antti Lehtinen
Cast: Wilma Rosenqvist, Merja Larivaara,
Marjaana Maijala, Konsta Mäkelä,
Miina Turunen
Production company: Solar Films Inc.,
www.solarfilms.com
Sales: Solar Films Inc.
Screenings:
Wed 28.10. 22:00 Sala Broadway 9
Thu 29.10. 11:45 Sala Broadway 9
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Feature films
The Disciple
2013 • 93´
An isolated island in the Baltic Sea in
the summer of 1939. Thirteen-year-
old Karl comes to the island to work
as lighthouse master Hasselbond´s
assistant. Master Hasselbond turns
Karl down because of his young age.
Karl struggles desperately to stay on.
Karl and Hasselbond’s oppressed
son, Gustaf, become friends, but their
friendship turns into rivalry and hate
when Hasselbond starts to favor Karl
over his own son.
Original title: Lärjungen
Director: Ulrika Bengts
Script: Roland Fauser, Jimmy Carlson
Cinematography: Robert Nordström
Music: Peter Hägerstrand
Cast: Erik Lönngren, Patrik
Kumpulainen, Niklas Groundstroem,
Amanda Ooms, Ping Mon Wallén
Production company:
Långfilm Productions Finland Oy,
www.langfilm.fi
Sales: Långfilm Productions
Screenings:
Mon 26.10. 22:00 Sala Broadway 9
Tue 27.10. 11:45 Sala Broadway 9
They Have Escaped
2014 • 102´
When a boy and girl meet at a detention
center for troubled youths, they steal
a car and flee together. Thus begins a
journey with endless escapes.
They Have Escaped is a film about
fragile love, childhood dreams and the
violence of reality.
Original title: He ovat paenneet
Director: J-P Valkeapää
Script: J-P Valkeapää, Pilvi Peltola
Cinematography: Pietari Peltola
Music: Helge Slicker
Cast: Roosa Söderholm, Teppo
Manner, Pelle Heikkilä, Petteri Pennilä
Production company: Helsinki-filmi Oy,
www.helsinkifilmi.fi
Sales: The Yellow Affair
Screenings:
Sat 24.10. 22:00 Sala Broadway 9
Sun 25.10. 11:45 Sala Broadway 9
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Feature films
The Grump
2014 • 103´
The Grump is a story about a die-hard
man in his eighties who is outspoken and
stubborn. He thinks everything was much
better in the old days. The story unfolds
as the Grump falls down his basement
steps and hurts his ankle. His city-
dwelling son finds him, and according to
doctor’s orders, the Grump must attend
physiotherapy in the city, which means
he must stay with his son and daughter-
in-law. Now the Grump must face a
changing world.
Original title: Mielensäpahoittaja
Director: Dome Karukoski
Script: Tuomas Kyrö, Dome Karukoski
Cinematography: Pini Hellstedt
Music: Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
Cast: Antti Litja, Petra Frey,
Mari Peronkoski, Ilkka Forss
Production company:
Solar Films Inc., www.solarfilms.com
Sales: The Yellow Affair
Spanish distributor: Film Buro/Aquelarre
Screenings:
Fri 30.10. 22:00 Sala Broadway 9
Sat 31.10. 11:45 Sala Broadway 9
Classics
Restless Blood
1946 • 91’
A drama directed by Teuvo Tulio, the
father of Finnish melodrama. Two sisters
fall in love with the same man, creating a
love triangle with ill-fated consequences.
Sylvi, the main character who becomes
blind, is played by Regina Linnanheimo,
one of the biggest stars from the early
years of Finnish cinema.
Original title: Levoton veri
Director: Teuvo Tulio
Script: Teuvo Tulio, Regina Linnanheimo
Cinematography: Pentti Lintonen
Music: Tauno Marttinen
Cast: Regina Linnanheimo,
Eino Katajavuori, Toini Vartiainen
Production company: Teuvo Tulio
Screenings:
Thu 29.10. 19:30 Sala Broadway 1
Fri 30.10. 16:45 Sala Broadway 1
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The White Reindeer
1952 • 74’
The White Reindeer is a real gem
among Finnish classics, a film we love to
screen abroad. The film is set in fabled,
mythical and wild Lapland. A woman is
transformed into a reindeer, and with
the intensity rising, we get to watch this
strange woman, who is thought to be a
witch, journey towards destruction.
The White Reindeer can also be
considered a successful art film where
exquisite camerawork and poetic
music support female lead Mirjami
Kuosmanen’s fantastic performance.
The film was awarded at the Cannes
Film Festival in 1953.
Original title: Valkoinen peura
Director: Erik Blomberg
Script: Erik Blomberg,
Mirjami Kuosmanen
Cinematography: Erik Blomberg
Music: Einar Englund
Cast: Mirjami Kuosmanen,
Åke Lindman, Kalervo Nissilä
Production company: Junior-Filmi Oy
Screenings:
Mon 26.10. 20:00 Sala Broadway 1
Tue 27.10. 16:45 Sala Broadway 1
The Boys
1962 • 106’
Mikko Niskanen is a director who
has succeeded exceptionally well in
portraying the Finnish lifestyle from an
individual perspective in, for example,
Eight Deadly Shots.
His film The Boys is set in post-World
War II Lapland as German troops are
pulling out. We see the war and its
destruction from the perspective of
boys on the verge of adulthood.
The life of the main character Jake is
turned upside down, and he is faced
with a big change.
Original title: Pojat
Director: Mikko Niskanen
Script: Mikko Niskanen,
after Paavo Rintala’s novel (1958)
Cinematography: Olavi Tuomi
Music: Einar Englund
Cast: Vesa-Matti Loiri, Uti Saurio,
Hannu Vironmäki, Liisa Nevalainen,
Kauko Helovirta
Production company:
Oy Suomen Filmiteollisuus
Screenings:
Sun 25.10. 18:00 Sala Broadway 1
Mon 26.10. 16:00 Sala Broadway 1
Classics
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Classics
The Earth Is a Sinful Song
1973 • 108’
The Earth Is a Sinful Song is one of
the Finnish films you can’t forget easily.
The portrayal of the people of Lapland
and their harsh living conditions can
be described as gritty; that as well as
the depiction of their everyday life will
stay with you a long time. As we watch a
young woman grow into an adult, we also
get a good picture of what the different
seasons in Finland look like, thanks to the
masterful camerawork by Kari Sohlberg.
Original title: Maa on syntinen laulu
Director: Rauni Mollberg
Script: Rauni Mollberg,
Pirjo Honkasalo, Panu Rajala,
based on Timo K. Mukka’s novel (1964)
Cinematography: Kari Sohlberg
Music: Hannu Sinnemäki
Cast: Maritta Viitamäki,
Pauli Jauhojärvi, Aimo Saukko,
Milja Hiltunen, Niiles-Jouni Aikio
Production company: RM-Filmi Ky
Screenings:
Sat 24.10. 19:30 Sala Broadway 1
Sun 25.10. 16:00 Sala Broadway 1
The Man Who Couldn’t Say no
1975 • 103’
Risto Jarva’s The Man Who Couldn’t
Say no is a fine portrait of the culture
and attitudes of the free and radical 70s.
The film, shot in a beautiful old wooden
house in the idyllic neighborhood of
Vallila, Helsinki, is a comedy, which is
not that common in Finnish film where
most are dramas. The main character is
played by Antti Litja, who also plays the
lead in Dome Karukoski’s The Grump
(2014); another example of a long-time
favorite actor of Finns.
Original title: Mies, joka ei
osannut sanoa ei
Director: Risto Jarva
Script: Jussi Kylätasku, Risto Jarva
Cinematography: Antti Peippo
Music: Markku Kopisto
Cast: Antti Litja, Kirsti Wallasvaara,
Matti Ruohola, Vivi-Ann Sjögren
Production company: Filminor Oy
Screenings:
Wed 28.10. 19:30 Sala Broadway 1
Thu 29.10. 16:45 Sala Broadway 1
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The Inspection / The Wedding Waltz
1988 • 56’
The Inspection is a film made for TV
and an example of excellent ensemble
work by the filmmakers and actors. This
film, spiced with dark humor, enjoys a
cult status, especially among Finnish
men. People can recite lines from it, and
it’s typically watched on a Friday night
with beer and friends, which is natural,
as the central theme of the film is
friendship between men. Director Matti
Ijäs has made a long and fine career; all
in all he has directed 36 films.
Original title: Katsastus
Director: Matti Ijäs
Script: Joni Skiftesvik, Matti Ijäs,
Timo Torikka, based on several
short stories by Joni Skiftesvik
Cinematography: Pauli Sipiläinen
Music: Antti Hytti
Cast: Vesa Vierikko, Sulevi Peltola,
Markku Maalismaa, Kaija Pakarinen
Production company: Yleisradio TV 1
Screenings:
Fri 30.10. 18:00 Sala Broadway 11
Sat 31.10. 16:00 Sala Broadway 11
The Collector
1997 • 96’
The debut film of director Auli Mantila
is an exceptionally striking masterpiece
from the female director, now also a
producer, known for her original style.
The main character of the film is Eevi,
a young woman who definitely doesn’t
have her life together. She’s someone
we wouldn’t even want to get to know,
but the director takes us on a journey
into her broken mind. Holding our
breaths, we get to watch her actions and
their consequences. Leea Klemola gives
an excellent performance as Eevi.
She also stars in Simo Halinen’s film
Open up to Me.
Original title: Neitoperho
Director: Auli Mantila
Script: Auli Mantila
Cinematography: Heikki Färm
Cast: Leea Klemola, Elina Hurme,
Rea Mauranen
Production company: GNUfilms Oy
Screenings:
Tue 27.10. 19:30 Sala Broadway 1
Wed 28.10. 16:45 Sala Broadway 1
Classics
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DIRECTORS
Mika KaurismäkiMikko KuparinenKirsi MattilaMatti IjäsIddo Soskolne
Zaida BergrothZaida Bergroth (b. 1977) has directed
the awarded short films Glass Jaw
(2004) and Heavy Metal 2006). Her first
feature was last Cowboy Standing
(2009), which won the Flash Forward
-award at Pusan FF 2009, as well as the
Finnish Jussi awards for best screenplay
and best sound design. At Chicago IFF
it won Golden Hugo in New Directors
Competition. The film was also Finland’s
nominee for Nordic Council’s Film Prize.
Simo HalinenBorn in 1963, Simon Halinen is a writer/
director, working for film and television.
His TV works include the TV film
Minerva (1997), the mini-series The Girl
with a Pig Tale (2004) and three-part
black comedy Golden Retriever (2007)
His first feature film was Cyclomania
(2001). Open up to Me is his second
feature. Halinen has also written two
novels: Idänsydänsimpukka (2004) and
Lemmenomenia (2008).
Marja PyykköOne of the most promising Finnish new
generation movie directors Marja Pyykkö
(b. 1975) has graduated from UIAH.
Her first feature film Run, Sister, Run
is a milestone in the way it portrays the
rebellion of the Finnish youth. Village
People is Pyykkö’s second feature; a
tongue-in-cheek comedy about people
longing for a miracle, something or
someone to change their lives for good.
The story is set way up in Finnish Lapland
where everything is twisted but nothing
is as it seems. Pyykkö has directed
numerous short films and commercials.
As a second-generation movie
professional, she has lived and breathed
film since early ages as an actress,
assistant director, casting director and
property master before her career
launched her to the director’s chair.
PRODuCERS
liisa Penttilä-asikainenLiisa Penttilä-Asikainen is the CEO
and Executive Producer of production
company Kaiho Republic. Since 2001
Penttilä-Asikainen has produced awarded
short films, TV series, and feature
films. Some recent examples include Aku
Louhimies’s film naked Harbour (2012)
and Simo Halinen’s film Open up To Me
Zaida Bergroth Simo Halinen Marja Pyykkö
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(2013). She has also co-produced e.g.
Lars Von Trier’s Dogville (2003) and
Peter Greenaway’s Eisenstein in
Guanajuato (2015). Penttilä-Asikainen is
a member of ACE and Board member of
the Finnish Film Foundation.
Mark lwoffProducer Mark Lwoff (b. 1976) is one
of the founding associates of the
production company Bufo in 2007.
His productions have included feature
films Zaida Bergroth’s The Good Son,
Pirjo Honkasalo’s Concrete night,
Akseli Tuomivaara’s Korso and Jörn
Donner’s film armi alive!. He’s currently
developing White Point, an action film to
be directed by Akseli Tuomivaara in 2016.
THE FInnISH FIlM FOunDaTIOn
Jaana Puskala Jaana Puskala has worked in the
International Promotion department of
the Finnish Film Foundation since 1990.
She was the acting Head of International
Promotion during 2003–2006 and was
appointed the Head of Feature Film
Promotion in 2008. As the Head of Feature
Film Promotion she is responsible for
promoting Finnish feature films abroad as
well as building and reinforcing contacts
between the Finnish film industry and
international festivals, sales companies and
distributors around the world.
Mrs. Puskala is Finland’s representative
in European Film Promotion (EFP), an
umbrella organization of promotional
institutes of different European countries,
and has been a member of the board
of EFP since 2009. She is also Finland’s
representative in the Festival Group of
Scandinavian Films.
Tel. +358 50 593 2068
Jenni DomingoJenni Domingo works as a Coordinator
of Feature Film Promotion at The Finnish
Film Foundation. She has a background
of TV documentary production, as well
as working in the film festival organization.
Good films in every genre are her inspirer,
organizing things and solving matters
her aspiration.
Tel. +358 40 841 2849
Liisa Penttilä-Asikainen
Jaana Puskala
Jenni DomingoMark Lwoff
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www.ses.fiFoc
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