Joulutarina

[En julberättelse] / Christmas Story. Finland 2007 (c) Journalist Productions / Snapper Films. P+D: Juha Wuolijoki. SC: Marko Leino - based on the story by Marko Leino, Aku Louhimies, Juha Wuolijoki. DP: Mika Orasmaa - colour - 1:2,35. LOC: Levi, Utsjoki (Lapland), the old market square of Turku. Starring Hannu-Pekka Björkman (Nikolas), Kari Väänänen (Iisakki), Laura Birn (Aada), Minna Haapkylä (Kristiina), Mikko Leppilampi (Hannus), Mikko Kouki (Eemeli), Otto Gustavsson (young Nikolas), Antti Tuisku (Mikko). 80 min. Released by Sandrew Metronome Distribution Finland, English subtitles by Janne Mökkönen. Viewed at Tennispalatsi 4, Helsinki, 1 December 2007. A fairy-tale of the childhood of Santa Claus hundreds of years ago in Lapland. Little Nikolas is orphaned at Christmas-time and taken care by the village. As a token of his gratitude Nikolas starts the habit of carving beautiful wooden toys as Christmas presents. As famine strikes, the grumpy and mean old carpenter Iisakki takes him as an apprentice. A fine modern fairy-tale without specific religious affiliations. The great and simple theme "It's better to give" is perhaps not at its most fashionable right now. - The print viewed was obviously struck from a digital intermediate, and the views of the Lapland did not look as ravishing as they could on a cinema screen.
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