Vinski ja näkymättömyyspulveri / Vinski and the Invisibility Powder

Juha Wuolijoki: Vinski ja näkymättömyyspulveri / Vinski and the Invisibility Powder (FI 2021) starring Kuura Rossi as Vinski with Pirjo Heikkilä (Krista), Martti Suosalo (the pharmacist) and Mikko Leppilampi (Antero).

Vinski och osynlighetspulvret.
    FI © 2021 Snapper Films Oy. P: Juha Wuolijoki, Laura Salonen. Co-P: Ramūnas Škikas.
    D: Juha Wuolijoki. SC: Jari Olavi Rantala, Juha Wuolijoki, Mauri Ahola – based on the novel Koko kaupungin Vinski (1954) by Aapeli [Simo Puupponen]. Cin: Kjell Lagerroos (Finland), Mika Orasmaa (Lithuania). PD: Arūnas Čepulis. Cost: Kristina Mališauskiené. Makeup: Žaneta Jasiūniené. M: Leri Leskinen, Lasse Enersen. Richard Wagner: "Treulich geführt" ("Here Comes the Bride", Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin, 1850). Song during end credits: "Näkymätön" (2021, comp. Anna Puu, Tiina Vainikainen, Jukka Immonen, lyr. Anna Puu, Tiina Vainikainen) perf. Anna Puu [Anna Puustjärvi]. S: Kimmo Perkkiö. ED: Antti Reikko.
    C: Kuura Rossi (Vinski), Mikko Leppilampi (Antero), Pirjo Heikkilä (Krista), Martti Suosalo (pharmacist), Fiona Iyare (Roosa), Sampo Sarkola (tv reporter), Minka Kuustonen (priest), Hannu-Pekka Björkman (policeman), Chike Ohanwe (teacher), Cécile Orblin (nurse), Kari Ketonen (neighbour).
    Loc: Lithuania and Porvoo.
    86 min
    Language: Finnish.
    Also released in a Swedish version, translated by Nina Donner (see cast of voice talent beyond the jump break).
    Premiere: 22 Dec 2021.
    Corona precaution: 50 max capacity, hand hygiene, face masks.
    Viewed at Finnkino Strand 1, Iso Kristiina, Lappeenranta, 15 Jan 2022.

Tagline: "Real heroes are invisible".

AA: Directed and produced by Juha Wuolijoki, Vinski and the Invisibility Powder is a family film with solid production values, a good cast and a wonderful score.

The books of the humoristic author Aapeli (Simo Puupponen) were filmed in the 1960s and the 1970s by top directors like Jack Witikka and Rauni Mollberg, and his Vinski books were adapted for teleplays in the 1960s. There has been a long break until Juha Wuolijoki's current adaptation.

It's a fairy-tale with invisibility powder as the central device. Invisibility is more than just a gimmick. Vinski, raised by a single mother, is being bullied at school. An eccentric pharmacist becomes his best friend.

With the pharmacist's magic powder Vinski gains the superpower of invisibility. The novel on which the film is based is from the 1950s, but Juha Wuolijoki integrates contemporary superhero discourse in the tale. More specifically, there is an affinity with Spiderman lore: "a real hero wants to remain unknown".

With good judgement, Wuolijoki combines timeless elements (old townscapes of Lithuania and Porvoo) with modern details (SUV's and computers). The special effects of invisibility and the transition scenes are stylish.

Kuura Rossi conveys the growth of the bullied schoolboy into a superhero with conviction. The appealing comedienne Pirjo Heikkilä impresses as Krista, a single mother who runs a confectionery. Mikko Leppilampi is the suitably sleazy master burglar Antero operating under the cover of a security company. Martti Suosalo is an enchanting pharmacist / magician.

A comic highlight is a dinner scene in which Antero tries to seduce Krista with a fish treat called nahkiainen (lamprey), while the invisible Vinski sabotages him.

Leri Leskinen and Lasse Enersen have composed a score that provides a magic atmosphere. This Christmas I listened every day to Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, and this movie score belongs to the same realm and dimension of enchantment.

In the cast, diversity is observed, and Minka Kuustonen's interpretation as the priest is open to the non-binary.

Speaking about the priest: Vinski and the Invisibility Powder is another instance of the cinema's obsession with the theme of the cancelled wedding.

SYNOPSIS FROM THE PRESS BOOK:

SYNOPSIS FROM THE PRESS BOOK:

"Vinski ja näkymättömyyspulveri sijoittuu kuvitteelliseen Hömpstadin kaupunkiin, joka on joutunut röyhkeän rikosaallon kouriin. Murrot ja ryöstöt ovat nyt osa kaupunkilaisten todellisuutta, ja poliisia auttamaan tarvittaisiin nyt todellinen supersankari."

"Koulupoika Vinski (Kuura Rossi) tutustuukin salaperäiseen apteekkariin (Martti Suosalo), joka tarjoaa Vinskille mahdollisuutta tulla Hömpstadin sankariksi. Apteekkarin salaisuus on näkymättömyyspulveri, jonka avulla pääsee kulkemaan myös seinien läpi. Pulverin avulla Vinski voisi pelastaa kaupungin ja paljastaa salaisen rosvopäällikön, jonka tuntomerkkinä on vain keltaiset hansikkaat."

"Supersankaruus höppänän apteekkarin kanssa ei kuitenkaan ole helppoa. Samaan aikaan myös Vinskin äiti Krista (Pirjo Heikkilä) alkaa seurustella lipevän turvayrittäjä Anteron (Mikko Leppilampi) kanssa. Hankalinta Vinskille kuitenkin on pitää apteekkarille antamansa lupaus olla kertomatta näkymättömyyspulverista kenellekään ja pitää omat sankarityönsä salassa. Onnistuakseen Vinskin täytyy todellakin olla näkymätön supersankari."

VOICE TALENT OF THE SWEDISH VERSION:

Vinski: Theo Zilliacus.
Apotekare: Rabbe Smedlund.
Krista: Edith Holmström.
Andreas: Paavo Kerosuo.
Ronja: Salma Sarkola.
Tv-reporter: Sampo Sarkola.
Präst: Petra Pääkkönen.
Johan: Eddie Berger.
Skurkarna: Dennis Nylund, Pelle Heikkilä.
Polis: Hannu-Pekka Björkman.
Lärare: Chike Ohanwe.
Farmaceut: Nina Hukkinen.
Sköterska: Cécile Orblin.
Trädgårdsmästare: Sampo Sarkola.
Brudtärna: Nina Hukkinen.