2007

Checklist: some of the films I saw theatrically in 2007

9.1.2007 17.00 Edwin S. Porter & Edison, Orion
10.1.2007 17.00 Pimeänpirtin hävitys, Orion
12.1.2007 11.30 Rock'n'roll Never Dies, Tennispalatsi 14
12.1.2007 15.45 Hetki lyö, Kinopalatsi 4
12.1.2007 Faunin labyrintti
13.1.2007 12.15 V2 jäätynyt enkeli, Kinopalatsi
13.1.2007 14.45 The Science of Sleep, Maxim 1
16.1.2007 17.00 Umberto D, Orion
16.1.2007 19.00 Musta Pekka, Orion
16.1.2007 21.00 Kotini on linnani, Orion
17.1.2007 17.00 Koskenkylän laulu, Orion
17.1.2007 18.45 Meri on kohtalomme, Orion
17.1.2007 21.00 Arkipäivän rohkeutta, Orion
18.1.2007 17.00 Divided We Fall, Orion
19.1.2007 15.15 Musta Dahlia, Tennispalatsi 10
19.1.2007 17.30 Parfyymi, Tennispalatsi 3
20.1.2007 11.15 Rocky Balboa, Tennispalatsi 6
20.1.2007 13.30 Aidosti outoa, Kinopalatsi 5
20.1.2007 16.15 Silmänkääntäjä, Tennispalatsi 7
23.1.2007 19.00 The Cremator, Orion
24.1.2007 17.00 Kilroy sen teki, Orion
25.1.2007 17.00 Väiski ja kumppanit 10, Orion
25.1.2007 18.15 The Button-Pinchers, Orion
26.1.2007 14.30 Apocalypto, Tennispalatsi 3
26.1.2007 17.30 The Queen Kuningatar, Kinopalatsi 2
26.1.2007 20.30 A Good Year, Kinopalatsi 3
27.1.2007 11.45 Charlie sanoo, Kinopalatsi 8
27.1.2007 15.00 The Prestige, Tennispalatsi 13
30.1.2007 Los Tarantos, Orion
30.1.2007 The Joke, Orion
30.1.2007 The Rebels, Orion
31.1.2007 Ruusu ja kulkuri, Orion
31.1.2007 Faust, Orion

1.2.2007 Raja 1918
2.2.2007 18.30 Suden vuosi, Tennispalatsi 1
2.2.2007 15.30 Bobby, Tennispalatsi 13
3.2.2007 11.45 Holiday, Kinopalatsi 5
3.2.2007 14.45 The Last King of Scotland, Tennispalatsi 10
6.2.2007 16.45 Camaron, Orion
6.2.2007 19.00 Focus Langlois 1 montaaseja, Orion
6.2.2007 20.00 Veteen piirretty viiva, Orion
7.2.2007 17.00 Kalle-Kustaa Korkin seikkailut, Orion
7.2.2007 19.00 Focus Langlois 2 pelastetut, Orion
7.2.2007 21.00 Duende y misterio del flamenco, Orion
9.2.2007 17.30 Blood Diamond - veritimantti, Tennispalatsi 1
10.2.2007 12.30 Onnen potkuja, Tennispalatsi 12
10.2.2007 14.30 Déjà vu, Tennispalatsi 11
13.2.2007 19.15 Focus Langlois 4 huviohjelmia, Orion
14.2.2007 18.45 Focus Langlois 5 harvinaisuuksia, Orion
15.2.2007 17.00 Vaihdokas, Orion
16.2.2007 17.45 Kirjeitä Iwo Jimalta, Tennispalatsi 13
17.2.2007 11.15 Night at the Museum, Tennispalatsi 1
17.2.2007 13.15 Murto ja varkaus, Tennispalatsi 9
17.2.2007 15.15 Uhka, Tennispalatsi 7
20.2.2007 19.15 Ultimes collectes 1, Orion
21.2.2007 19.00 Ultimes collectes 2, Orion
22.2.2007 17.00 Ultimes collectes 3 Miehet sodassa, Orion
23.2.2007 16.45 Good Shepherd, Tennispalatsi 9
24.2.2007 Dreamgirls
24.2.2007 Miehen työ
28.2.2007 17.00 Härmästä poikia kymmenen, Orion

1.3.2007 17.00 Hermot pinnalla, Orion
2.3.2007 16.45 Little Children, Kinopalatsi 4
2.3.2007 19.30 Yhden tähden hotelli, Kinopalatsi 2
3.3.2007 12.15 Paljastavat merkinnät, Kinopalatsi 3
3.3.2007 14.30 Lotta ystäväni (dub), Kinopalatsi 4
6.3.2007 16.15 Marseljeesi, Orion
6.3.2007 21.00 Rodeon miehet, Orion
7.3.2007 17.00 Sadan miekan mies, Orion
7.3.2007 19.00 Ihmispeto, Orion
8.3.2007 17.00 Silta, Orion
8.3.2007 21.00 Johnny Guitar, Orion
9.3.2007 16.45 Aavan meren tällä puolen, Kinopalatsi 2
9.3.2007 Vers le sud, Kino Engel 1
10.3.2007 11.15 Ghost Rider - aaveajaja, Tennispalatsi 2
10.3.2007 13.45 Arthur ja minimoit (dub), Tennispalatsi 2
14.3.2007 17.00 Dokumentin ytimessä 35: paljastava kamera, Orion
16.3.2007 16.30 Fur, Kinopalatsi 10
16.3.2007 20.15 Hollywoodland, Tennispalatsi 10
17.3.2007 13.00 Uusi ihminen, Tennispalatsi 1
17.3.2007 15.30 Tideland, Kinopalatsi 2
20.3.2007 16.45 Kotiapulaisen päiväkirja, Orion
20.3.2007 19.00 Nainen riisipellolta, Orion
21.3.2007 17.00 Kuisma ja Helinä, Orion
21.3.2007 21.00 Viikinkien kosto, Orion
22.3.2007 17.00 The Land of the Wandering Souls, Orion
22.3.2007 21.00 Joki, Orion
23.3.2007 17.45 Kirjava huntu, Kinopalatsi 1
24.3.2007 11.15 Numero 23, Tennispalatsi 2
24.3.2007 15.15 Sävel ja sanat, Tennispalatsi 1
28.3.2007 17.00 Dokumentin ytimessä 36 Elokuvaa elokuvasta, Orion
28.3.2007 19.15 Les Artistes du Théâtre Brûlé, Orion
29.3.2007 17.00 Väiski ja kumppanit 11, Orion
29.3.2007 19.00 Kultaiset vaunut, Orion
30.3.2007 12.45 Mr. Bean lomailee, Tennispalatsi 3

30.3.2007 17.30 Pariisin varpunen - Édith Piaf, Maxim 1
31.3.2007 11.30 Kikin lähettipalvelu, original version, Tennispalatsi 8
31.3.2007 17.00 kinokonsertti Maa, Koiton Laulu, Orion

18.4.2007 17.00 Rengasmatka eli peräkylän pikajuna, Orion
18.4.2007 19.00 Dust in the Wind, Orion
19.4.2007 19.00 Daughter of the Nile, Orion
19.4.2007 21.00 Katkera voitto, Orion
21.4.2007 11.30 Sunshine, Tennispalatsi 6
21.4.2007 13.30 Inland Empire, Kinopalatsi 1
25.4.2007 16.30 Sillankorven emäntä, Orion
27.4.2007 19.00 Suolla tuulee, Orion
28.4.2007 12.15 Goyan aaveet, Kinopalatsi 10
28.4.2007 15.15 300, Tennispalatsi 2
29.4.2007 20.30 Paholaisen hampaat, Orion

2.5.2007 17.00 Poikkiparru, Orion
2.5.2007 19.00 Eija-Liisa Ahtila I, Orion
4.5.2007 11.15 Spider-Man 3 - Hämähäkkimies 3, Tennispalatsi 1
4.5.2007 14.00 Häiden jälkeen, Kinopalatsi 8
4.5.2007 17.00 Syyskuinen sunnuntai, Orion
4.5.2007 19.00 Rakkaus on aarre + Lohdutusseremonia, Orion
5.5.2007 15.15 Alpha Dog, Tennispalatsi 12
8.5.2007 19.00 Helsingin Elokuvapaja esittää, Orion
9.5.2007 17.00 Rakastaa, Orion
10.5.2007 17.00 Tyttö ja laukku, Orion
11.5.2007 19.00 Sami van Ingen I, Orion
15.5.2007 18.45 Sami van Ingen II, Orion
22.5.2007 19.00 Veli Granö, Orion
25.5.2007 14.15 Zodiac, Kinopalatsi 9
25.5.2007 19.00 Ilppo Pohjola, Orion
29.5.2007 16.00 Suomalainen näytelmäelokuva, Bristol
29.5.2007 19.15 Sähkö The Movie, Orion
30.5.2007 17.00 Anna, Orion

1.6.2007 13.30 Grindhouse: Death Proof, Kinopalatsi 5
1.6.2007 The Fountain, Kino Engel 1
5.6.2007 17.00 Ingmar Bergmanin maailma, Orion
6.6.2007 17.00 Arkiston aarteita: Mannerheim 1, Orion
8.6.2007 19.00 Bergman-kansio, Orion
16.6.2007 Saalis
20.6.2007 17.00 Hellyys, Orion

7.8.2007 14.15 The Simpsons Movie (orig), Tennispalatsi 7
7.8.2007 16.30 Pariisin kytät, Orion
8.8.2007 14.00 Lady Chatterley, Maxim 1
9.8.2007 14.15 Silta salaiseen maahan, Tennispalatsi 8
10.8.2007 13.00 Harry Potter ja Feeniksin kilta, Tennispalatsi 9
11.8.2007 12.00 Pirates of the Caribbean, Tennispalatsi 14
15.8.2007 16.30 Dirty Story, Orion
21.8.2007 21.00 Traveller, Orion
22.8.2007 19.00 Homework, Orion
22.8.2007 Close Up, Orion
23.8.2007 17.00 Ja elämä jatkuu, Orion
28.8.2007 17.00 Oliivipuiden katveessa, Orion
30.8.2007 17.00 10, Orion
30.8.2007 19.00 Karl May, Orion
31.8.2007 13.30 Medusan sinetti, Kinopalatsi 2
31.8.2007 17.00 10 on Ten, Orion

1.9.2007 12.00 Tuntematon nainen, Tennispalatsi 13
4.9.2007 17.00 Close Up, Orion
4.9.2007 19.00 Joulupukki murhattu, Orion
4.9.2007 21.00 Time in the Sun / Bezhin lug, Orion
8.9.2007 12.00 Colorado Avenue, Tennispalatsi 3
8.9.2007 16.30 Yö, Orion
11.9.2007 17.00 Myrskyöitä, Orion
14.9.2007 16.45 Yksityisalue, Orion
14.9.2007 18.45 Lapualaismorsian, Orion
14.9.2007 21.00 Kreivi (restored), Orion
15.9.2007 16.45 Ruusujen aika, Orion
15.9.2007 21.00 Kuuma kissa, Orion
16.9.2007 16.00 Täällä alkaa seikkailu, Orion
16.9.2007 18.15 Vihreä leski, Orion
16.9.2007 20.00 Punahilkka, Orion
20.9.2007 18.30 Control, Helsinki Film Festival, Bio Rex
21.9.2007 16.45 Kirje kolmelle naiselle, Orion
22.9.2007 15.45 Lieksa!, Tennispalatsi 9
23.9.2007 18.00 Kummitus ja rouva Muir, Orion
25.9.2007 18.45 Kaikki tiet tukossa, Orion
26.9.2007 19.00 Elämän maantiellä, Orion
27.9.2007 17.00 Meistä juorutaan, Orion
28.9.2007 17.45 Sovitus, Bristol
29.9.2007 11.15 Ganes, Tennispalatsi 1
30.9.2007 16.00 Väiski ja kumppanit 13, Orion

2.10.2007 19.00 Animen synty, Orion
6.10.2007 20.30 film concert Orphans of the Storm, Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi, Pordenone
13.10.2007 20.30 film concert Lulù, Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi, Pordenone
18.10.2007 16.00 Pirullista peliä, Orion
19.10.2007 12.45 Rottatouille (dub), Tennispalatsi 1
19.10.2007 17.45 Musta jää, Tennispalatsi 3
26.10.2007 19.00 film concert Kaupungin valot, RSO, Finlandia-talo

2.11.2007 15.30 Sicko - aivan sairasta, Kinopalatsi 10
2.11.2007 18.15 Sinä elävä, Maxim 2
3.11.2007 15.15 Family Meeting, Kinopalatsi 8
4.11.2007 19.45 Ceux qui m'aiment prendront le train, Orion
7.11.2007 17.00 Dokumentin ytimessä 39, Orion
9.11.2007 XXX, SEOL lippu
14.11.2007 17.00 Narrien illat, Orion
14.11.2007 19.15 Majakanvartijat, Orion
16.11.2007 18.30 Michael Snown elokuvia, Orion
16.11.2007 20.30 Peter Kubelkan elokuvia, Orion
17.11.2007 15.30 La Région Centrale, Orion
17.11.2007 19.00 Nära ögat, Orion
17.11.2007 21.00 Peter Kubelkan elokuvia, Orion
18.11.2007 16.00 Peter Kubelka: The Edible Metaphor, Avanto / Kiasma-Teatteri
21.11.2007 16.30 Dokumentin ytimessä, Orion
27.11.2007 18.45 42. katu, Orion
29.11.2007 20.00 We the Living, Orion
30.11.2007 17.45 4 kuukautta, 3 viikkoa, 2 päivää, Maxim 2

1.12.2007 11.15 Joulutarina, Tennispalatsi 4
1.12.2007 15.15 Beowulf, Kinopalatsi 8
5.12.2007 16.15 Dokumentin ytimessä, Orion
11.12.2007 16.30 La Nuit fantastique, Orion
13.12.2007 20.30 Sa majesté la femme, La Cinémathèque francaise, Rue de Bercy, Salle Henri Langlois, Paris
14.12.2007 20.30 Rivalités, La Cinémathèque francaise, Rue de Bercy, Salle Jean Epstein, Paris
18.12.2007 17.00 Ilotyttö, Orion
19.12.2007 17.00 Vain neljä kertaa, Orion
25.12.2007 19.30 I'm Not There., Kinopalatsi 6
26.12.2007 18.XX Meidän poikamme merellä, Orion
27.12.2007 15.30 Klo 15:10 lähtö Yumaan, Kinopalatsi 8
30.12.2007 13.00 Sooloilua, Tennispalatsi 12
31.12.2007 10.15 Cassandra's Dream, Tennispalatsi 11

Röllin sydän

Quest for a Heart / Röllis hjärta. FI / DE / RU /GB (c) 2007 Matila-Röhr Productions. P: Marko Röhr. D+SC: Pekka Lehtosaari - based on the characters created by Allu Tuppurainen. AD: Janne Kopu. Voice talent: Allu Tuppurainen (Rölli / Rolli), Saija Lentonen (Milli Menninkäinen /Millie), Aarre Karén (Lakeija), Jyrki Kovaleff (Riitasointu), Matti Ranin (Rupeltaja), Esa Saario (Kylänvanhin) . Animation. Released by Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution. Viewed at Tennispalatsi 8, Helsinki, 31 Dec 2007. The troll Rölli was created by Allan Tuppurainen in the early 1980s. The profane hermit tries hard to be nasty but cannot help his good heart. Because of his anarchic spirit he has been compared with Pippi Långstrump. He never conforms. His signature call is "by my dirty toes!". Based on Rölli, Tuppurainen has written fairy-tales and songs (as composer and lyricist), made 14 records and audio cassettes, and played on tv and stage. There have been now three theatrical feature Rölli films: Rölli - hirmuisia kertomuksia (1991, D: Olli Soinio), Rölli ja metsänhenki (2001, D: Olli Saarela), and Röllin sydän (2007), all produced by Marko Röhr. Six years in the making, the animated feature is based on traditional analogue drawing and painting techniques, and besides, digital effects have been used. Hundreds of artists participated in the production in five studios. The final film print has been processed via a 2k digital intermediate. http://www.questforaheart.com/

Cassandra's Dream

Cassandra's Dream / Cassandra's Dream. US / GB (c) 2007 Wolverine. P: Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum, Gareth Wiley. D+SC: Woody Allen. DP: Vilmos Zsigmond. M: Philip Glass. Starring: Colin Farrell (Terry Blaine), Ewan McGregor (Ian Blaine), Tom Wilkinson (Uncle Howard), Hayley Atwell (Angela Stark, actress), Sally Hawkins (Kate). 108 min. Released by Scanbox, Finnish / Swedish subtitles by Jaana Wiik / Janne Staffans. Viewed on 31 Dec 2007 at Tennispalatsi 11, Helsinki. Woody Allen has created a completely new style since moving to Britain. In Match Point and this, he creates original crime dramas which obey the laws of classical tragedy. His tales also share an affinity with Biblical parables. Born British critics do not find Woody Allen's Cockney accents and rhythms convincing, but from the viewpoint of a not-native speaker this is a strong, solid, and moving film. I admire Woody Allen's capability to surprise and explore new things. Certainly the audience was gripped in the sold-out screenings of Helsinki (it was hard to get a seat).

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

Kello 15.10 lähtö Yumaan / 3:10 to Yuma (Swedish title). US (c) 2007 Relativity Media. D: James Mangold. SC: Halsted Welles, Michael Brandt, Derek Haas - based on a short story by Elmore Leonard. Starring Russell Crowe (Ben Wade), Christian Bale (Dan Evans), Logan Lerman (William Evans), Dallas Roberts (Grayson Butterfield), Ben Foster (Charlie Prince), Peter Fonda (Byron McElroy), Vinessa Shaw (Emmy Nelson), Alan Tudyk (Doc Potter), Luce Rains (Marshal Weathers), Gretchen Mol (Alice Evans). Released in Finland by FS Film, Finnish /Swedish subtitles by ... and Joanna Erkkilä. 125 min. 35mm print from a digital intermediate, mediocre visual quality. Viewed 27 Dec 2007 at Kinopalatsi 8, Helsinki. High profile remake of the Delmer Daves 1957 western with Glenn Ford and Van Heflin. This is quite a tough film, developing some of the oldest Western film themes that were already present in William S. Hart's "soul fights". The script is expanded with violent confrontations in Indian territory and on railway construction site. It's carried by the actors, who are good, including the supporting parts. The impact is weakened by excessive killing.

Meidän poikamme merellä

Våra gossar till sjöss / [Our Boys at Sea]. FI 1933. PC: Suomi-Filmi. P+D+ED: Erkki Karu. SC: Erkki Karu, Georg Malmstén. DP: Theodor Luts. M: Georg Malmstén. Starring Georg Malmstén (Senior Sergeant Pekka Kuusisto), Kati Aspelin (Navy nurse Leila), Aku Käyhkö (Navy Doctor Väre), Jaakko Korhonen (Captain of the submarine). Centenary of Finnish Fiction Film Print, 35mm (Suomen elokuva-arkisto 2007). Viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, Boxing Day, 26 Dec 2007. 109 min. An early Finnish military farce and an early Finnish musical, a vehicle for Georg Malmstén (1902-1981), the heroic opera barytone who became a wonderful popular singer-songwriter and conductor-bandleader, and was also a trained marine. Erkki Karu, the greatest Finnish silent film director and the visionary chief of the Suomi-Filmi company, had lost his touch as a director. There is no sense of visual expression, montage, direction of actors or sense of humour in his work by now. In the Navy exercises, the singing marine Pekka tries to find any excuse to see the charming Navy nurse Leila. His rival is the navy doctor. Pekka's submarine sinks to the bottom, and he volunteers to swim to the surface, risking his life, this being before the era of professional scuba gear, but in Leila's hands he is cured, the cure seen as a montage superimposed on his fever chart. The soundtrack is technically not especially good. The only reason to see this is the warm, exuberant, vital, irresistible Georg Malmstén, excellent as singer, songwriter and bandleader:
"Meidän Maija" [Our Maija], dedicated to the navy canteen hostess
"Kuu hopeoitaan hohtaa" [The Moon's Silvery Glow], with a nocturnal montage of the sea
"Leila", theme tune of the film, one of the most beloved Finnish waltzes
"Sinitakkien marssi" [March of the Bluecoats], a merry Marine anthem
"Hyvästijättö Havaijille" [Farewell to Hawaii], a Pacific parody in drag
"Aallokko kutsuu" [The Call of the Waves], another evergreen
http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Malmst%C3%A9n

I'm Not There

I'm Not There / I'm Not There. DE / US (c) 2007 VIP Medienfonds 4 GmbH. PC: Killer Films. D: Todd Haynes, CO-SC: Oren Moverman - "inspired by the music and many lives of Bob Dylan".
Starring as Dylan Not There: Marcus Carl Franklin (Woody Guthrie), Ben Whishaw (Arthur Rimbaud), Christian Bale (Jack Rollins / Pastor John), Heath Ledger (Robbie Clark), Cate Blanchett (Jude Quinn), Richard Gere (Billy the Kid). - Charlotte Gainsbourg (Claire). 35mm print in 1:2,35 KodakVision 2353, from 16mm and 35mm negatives, via disappointing digital intermediate (2K). 135 min. Released in Finland by Scanbox, Finnish / Swedish subtitles Jaana Wiik / Nina Ekholm. Viewed on Christmas Day 25 Dec 2007 at Kinopalatsi 6, Helsinki. - A labour of love, an anti-biopic of Bob Dylan, full of music and poetry in vintage and new interpretations by great artists. It's a poet's view of another poet. Impossible, yes, inspiring, yes, worth reseeing, yes!
Pressbook in English: http://www.filmikamari.fi/pressit/uploads/text/INT_press_bookFin.pdf

Beowulf

Beowulf /Beowulf USA (c) 2007 Shangri-La /Paramount. P: Steve Bing, Jack Rapke, Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis. D: Robert Zemeckis. SC: Neil Gaiman, Roger Avary - based on the epic poem (ca 700-1010). DP: Robert Presley. 3-D digital animation based on the real-life models of Ray Winstone (Beowulf), Robin Wright Penn (Wealthlow), Anthony Hopkins (Hrothgar), Charlotte Salt (Estrith), Sebastian Roché (Wulfgar), John Malkovich (Unferth), Crispin Glover (Grendel), Brendan Gleeson (Wiglaf), Chris Coppola (Olaf), Angelina Jolie (Grendel's mother), Alison Lohman (Ursula). 113 min. In English and old English. Released in Finland by Sandrew Metronome Distribution Finland, with Finnish /Swedish subtitles by Timo Porri / Janne Staffans. Viewed in 2-D (no 3-D release in Finland, there being no Real D cinemas or IMAX 3D cinemas in Finland) at Kinopalatsi 8, Helsinki, 1 December 2007. A photorealistic digital animation based on the old English-Nordic-Germanic saga, this is a new accomplishment in the trend of Final Fantasy, The Polar Express, and (parts of) 300. The technique is called motion capture. It is a Pagan, pre/Christian story about curses and dragons and Viking honour, set in what are now known as Denmark and southern Sweden. From a technical viewpoint it is state/of/the/art. The audience *especially the females( had a good laugh when views of the the nude Beowulf\s family jewels were blocked *in a tradition established in Mario Bava\s Diabolik, parodied in the Austin Powers films(. The nude Angelina Jolie\s natural beauty was stylized in classical sculpture fashion, abstracting her most intimate feminine details. The great film/philosophical question> no, this animation is no more humanly convincing than Final Fantasy and the rest. A stylized drawing and painting *say, Mowgli in The Jungle Book( can be more lively in animation than 3D photorealistic motion/capture. The visual look of the film is bleak and deathly.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf

Raja 1918 / [The Border 1918]

Gränsen 1918. Finland / Russia (c) 2007 Border Productions / Studio 217. P: Jörn Donner, Jarkko Hentula. D: Lauri Törhönen. SC: Aleksi Bardy - based on the story by Jörn Donner - based on the diaries of Kaj Donner. DP: Esa Vuorinen. PD: Sergei Kokovkin. CO: Marjatta Nissinen. M: Sergei Jevtushenko. Starring Martin Bahne (Captain von Munck), Minna Haapkylä (teacher Maaria Lintu), Tommi Korpela (Kiljunen), Hannu-Pekka Björkman (sergeant major Muranen), Lauri Nurkse (lieutenant Suutari), Leonid Mozgovoy (major Gentsch). 117 min. In Finnish (main language), Swedish, German, and Russian, the print viewed with Finnish subtitles. Viewed at Kinopalatsi 1, 1 December 2007.

An exciting, new and bold approach at the tragic events on the Finnish-Russian border in 1918 after the Russian Revolution and the bloody Finnish civil war. The screenplay by Aleksi Bardy based on a story by Jörn Donner based on the diaries of Kaj Donner, his father, discards clichés and looks unflinchingly at the chaotic and messy reality in a turning-point of history. There is something Tolstoyan in Donner's sense of the interplay of history and the fates of individuals with their complex and divided interests. The film faces the brutality of the times both on the sides of the Reds and the Whites, the duplicity, the complicity of many, but also the nobility and the generosity whenever possible. The actors and the historical atmosphere are convincing. Lauri Törhönen's best film as a director. A film worth revisiting, one would welcome further historical films of such complexity. My favourite Finnish film of 2007. - The print viewed was from a digital intermediate with a denatured, lifeless look, which resembled weak Sovcolor prints of the 1970s.
www.raja1918.fi/

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.
www.joulutarina.fi/

4 luni, 3 saptamani si 2 zile

4 kuukautta, 3 viikkoa, 2 päivää / 4 månader, 3 veckor och 2 dagar / 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days. RO 2007. PC: Mobra Films etc. D+SC: Cristian Mungiu. DP: Oleg Mutu - 1:2,35 - color [Super 35mm > digital intermediate, Kodak Cinelabs, Romania]. LOC: Bucharest. Starring Anamaria Marinca (Otilia), Laura Vasiliu (Gabita), Vlad Ivanov (Bebe). 113 min. Released in Finland by Cinema Mondo, Finnish / Swedish subtitles by Arto Vartiainen / Ditte Kronström. Viewed at Maxim 2, Helsinki, 30 November 2007. - Cristian Mungiu's first entry to his proposed trilogy of "Tales from the Golden Age", bitterly ironically dealing with the 1980s in Ceausescu's Romania. It is a tale of abortion, illegal in Romania. The title refers to the stage of pregnancy of the protagonist Gabita. It is the story of the young student Gabita and her loyal friend Otilia, who experience extreme humiliation in the hands of the illegal abortionist called Bebe. Like Roy Andersson, Cristian Mungiu shoots his film in the early cinema style of long shots and long takes with minimal camera movement and cutting. It all rings true. The ultimate humiliation of Bebe's demands hits the girls hardest after the fact. The banquet scene at the home of Otilia's boyfriend conveys powerfully both the joy of others and the desolation of the young girl. The abortion seems to be an experience well-known to many. The performances are excellent. - The print from the digital intermediate is relentlessly bleak, ugly and dead, highlighting the melancholia and depression of the subject-matter. In Italian neo-realism the lively vibrancy of the cinematography was a counterforce to the depressing reality of the story.