Putkinotko

Roland af Hällström: Putkinotko (FI 1954) with Matti Lehtelä (Juutas Käkriäinen) and Elvi Saarnio (Rosina Käkriäinen).

Ödemarkens barn. 

    FI (c) 1954 Fennada-Filmi. P: Mauno Mäkelä. 

    D+SC: Roland af Hällström - based on the novel by Joel Lehtonen (1920) and the play by Urpo Lauri (1953). DP: Esko Töyri. M: Elvi Saarnio. 

    Starring Elvi Saarnio (Rosina Käkriäinen), Matti Lehtelä (Juutas Käkriäinen), Lasse Pöysti (Malakias), Ritva Juhanto (Saara), Pentti Viljanen (Aapeli Muttinen), Hillevi Rautio (Lyygia), Leni Katajakoski (Sanelma). 

     A terribly worn vintage 35 mm print with Swedish subtitles. 

    Viewed at Cinema Orion (Roland af Hällström), 16 Jan 2008. 

One day in the countryside of dreamy Savo in the summer of 1917. Based on a masterpiece of Finnish literature, influenced by naturalism and impressionism, a doubly satirical look on a poor, lazy and fertile country family and a merchant spending his holiday in the country with his girlfriend. No plot, no main characters, a portrait of life, where each detail counts, avoiding drama, capturing the sense of life in the country without idealization and illusions, but also without cliches and sordidness. It's full of life! This film, which avoids the conventions of popular storytelling, was a hit and still is, just like the play is still a summer stock favourite. Vibrant cinematography by Esko Töyri.