Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan / The King Goes Forth to France

Kungen beger sig till Frankrike. FI 1986. PC: Reppufilmi. P+D: Anssi Mänttäri. ASS.D.: Pauli Pentti. SC: Paavo Haavikko, Anssi Mänttäri, Heikki Katajisto - based on the play (1974) and the radioplay (1975) by Haavikko. DP: Heikki Katajisto - b&w - 1,66:1. Gaffer: Aki Kaurismäki. AD+COST: Pertti Hilkamo, Tuula Hilkamo. M: Anssi Tikanmäki. Songs by Anssi Tikanmäki to the lyrics of Paavo Haavikko performed by Susanna Haavisto, Paavo Piskonen, Paavo Haavikko and the "singing soldiers". S: Timo Linnasalo. ED: Irma Taina. LOC: Hämeenlinna: the Sirola Institute, Aulanko, Laajasalo, Vantaanjoki Falls, Suomenlinna, the ruins of the Karjalohja Church, Yyteri, the Raasepori Fortress, Vantaanjoki by Königstedt. CAST: Paavo Piskonen (The King), Susanna Haavisto (Caroline The Merry One), Kati Outinen (Caroline The Mare's Hair), Riitta Havukainen (Anne The Stripper), Kylli Köngäs (Anne The Thief), Harri Nikkonen (The Prime Minister), Lasse Pöysti (The Equester), Kalevi Kahra (The Blind King of Bohemia), Matti Pellonpää (The Earless Man), Markku Toikka (The Young Knight), Heikki Paavilainen (The Young Prime Minister), Pertti Sveholm (The Soldier of the King of Bohemia), Heikki Ortamo (Froissart, The Secretary), Tupuna Vaissi (The Queen), Timo Toikka (The English Knight), Martti Syrjä (A Singing Soldier), Pantse Syrjä (A Singing Soldier), Saku Kuosmanen (A Singing Soldier). A vintage print viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 17 June 2009.

Paavo Piskonen was watching the film in the audience. - A brilliant black and white print. - Based on an absurd radioplay by Paavo Haavikko, which has also been adapted as an opera by Aulis Sallinen. - The equester of the Prince of England predicts that the Prince will cross the English Channel as a King on horseback by July. His spouse will be called Anne or Caroline. However, the Emperor of Japan has caused global freezing in the summer of 1945 by ordering a taxi. The Prime Minister warns against going to France, because this would mean war. According to the Prince this would be the only war which would start because there is no reason, and that is why it is unavoidable. The blind King of Bohemia is on his way to the battle of Crécy, but his troops are going around in circles. Finally, one of the soldiers executes the blind king. The Queen arrives and follows the troops to the South. By spring the King orders protection to eggs of cranes, because a wedge of cranes is his only compass. - Eccentric, ambitious, bewildering, boring, mad. - The stark cinematography is often impressive. - The actors play their crazy lines straight. - Reportedly, Paavo Haavikko approved.

Kello

Klockan / The Clock. PC: Reppufilmi. P+D+SC: Anssi Mänttäri. DP: Heikki Katajisto - colour - 1,66:1. M: Beethoven, Mozart. "Pilvee" by Tuuliajolla Chorus and Juice Leskinen Slam. "Aamuyön improvisaatioita" by Benjamin Oroza. CAST: Paavo Piskonen (Lasse = Lauri Valjakka, docent of sociology), Riitta Havukainen (Marita Kunnas, secretary), Tiina Bergström (Marianne Kunnas, little sister), Benjamin Oroza (Pave, musician), Juhani Laitala (Lauri's school mate), Tarja Keinänen (Ulla Valjakka, Lauri's wife), Jone Takamäki (youth instructor), Matti Pellonpää (honest man), Kirsi Tykkyläinen (woman on train). 66 min. A KAVA print viewed at Cinema Orion, 15 May 2009. In the presence of Anssi Mänttäri and Paavo Piskonen interviewed by Markku Varjola. - A brilliant print. - In 1982-1986, Anssi Mänttäri directed 11 feature films in five years, exceptional in that era in Finnish film history. Kello broke a record as it was shot in two days (although the second day had 30 hours). - The film was crushed by critics who hated its dismal view of humanity. - It starts on the train, where we hear the frustrated monologue of Ulla, the wife of the male protagonist Lasse. In the restaurant of the railway station Lasse meets his schoolmate, now a successful director in an electronics company. On his voyage from bar to bar Lasse accidentally bumps into a young woman, Marita, who wedges into the taxi ordered by Lasse. They spend the night in Marita's elegant apartment. It turns out it's not hers, but she has permission to stay there. It's just for sex, but the sex act lasts less than a minute. Instead, Lasse and Marita insult each other in every possible way. When Marita's little sister and her boyfriend turn up, Lasse insults them, as well. - A bitter comedy of bad manners, frustration and desillusion. Maybe the glimpse of the young ones shows that there might be hope of something better. - This film is quite original. Mänttäri has maybe been inspired by the gloomiest relationship hells portrayed by Bergman. Bergman's films may have encouraged him, but there is no imitation here.

Toto

Toto / Toto. FI 1982. PC: Filmiauer Oy / Anssi Mänttäri. Ohjaus: Suvi-Marja Korvenheimo (= Anssi Mänttäri). SC: Suvi-Marja Korvenheimo, Tuovi Mäkipää-Hakola. DP: Heikki Katajisto - filmed on 16mm - prints blown up to 35mm. S-ED: Tuomo Kattilakoski. M: Asko Mänttäri. Lyrics to the theme song: Jukka Virtanen. ED: Marjatta Niiranen. S: Jouko Lumme, Paul Jyrälä. CAST: Juha Hyppönen (Eki), Paavo Piskonen (Pena), Mikko Hänninen (Reiska), Eeva Eloranta (Hanna, Eki's wife), Helena Haavisto (Pena's mother-in-law), Veronika Mattson (Krisse, Pena's wife), Virve Kauste (Mirkku), Sanna Fransman (Päivi), Liisa Halonen (Marja, Reiska's ex-wife), Pentti Auer (Kurt), Tuija Ahvonen (saleswoman), Pauli Virtanen (Lievonen), Paavo Liski, Kai Honkanen, Olli Tuominen (policemen), Susanna Haavisto (waitress), Tadaaki Kawata (Mr. Tokoshi), Masaaki Hashimoto (Mr. Iwasaki), Ilkka Kylävaara (writer), Reima Kekäläinen (artist), Henri Kapulainen (2. writer), Katriina Rinne, Kaisa Karikoski (women in the pub), Kai Salminen (director Vornanen), Heidi Kari (secretary), Annette Arlander, Ulla-Maija Tamminen (girls in the pub), Ilkka Vanne (foreign businessman), Hannele Laaksonen (callgirl), Kalevi Immonen (violinist), Heidi Blom (Pena's daughter), Taina Saikkonen (Taina), Tiina Bergström (Tiina). 82 min. A vintage print with Swedish subtitles screened at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 21 Nov 2008. Introduced by Anssi Mänttäri hosted by Martti-Tapio Kuuskoski. Also Paavo Piskonen was present in the screening. - Good print with a pleasant, successful 16mm blowup look. - The trio of grown-up men on the loose has been compared with Cassavetes' Husbands. Pena has become a father (again), he hangs out with his car salesman colleague Eki, and they join with their drifter friend Reiska. Reiska wins big time in the horse races, and they go on a binge, planning a trip. They try to pick up women, but only Eki has any success. - The images of the race track in the beginning and in the end bring the story into ironic relief. - The theme song of Asko Mänttäri and Jukka Virtanen would deserve publication in its own right. - It's a film about alcohol and alcoholism. - There is a good solid drive in this tale of the absurd alcoholic binge.

Aurinkotuuli

Solvinden / Sun Wind. FI 1980. PC: Filminor. PC: Kullervo Kukkasjärvi. D: Timo Linnasalo. SC: Ilpo Tuomarila, Linnasalo - based on the novel by Kullervo Kukkasjärvi. DP: Heikki Katajisto. M: Antti Hytti. ED: Juho Gartz. Starring Paavo Piskonen (gravity researcher Erik Rankamaa), Lilga Kovanko (gravity researcher Laura, Pauli's wife, Fabian's daughter), Antti Litja (Paul, doctor), Erkki Pajala (Fabian, janitor). 122 min. Viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 17 September 2008. - Ok print. - A rare Finnish scifi film. - Erik has been deep-frozen after his death in 1970, and he is brought back to life in 1999. A film of visions and reflections, not based on special effects, very slow, an ecological warning of a decaying world with dilapilated buildings, air without sun. - A memorable opening shot: the composition is divided in half by sea and shore, and slowly the camera turns upside down. - I watched half an hour this time.

Aikalainen

[A Contemporary]/ En samtida. FI 1984. D: Timo Linnasalo. Based on the novel Notes from Underground (Zapiski iz podpolja, 1865) by F.M. Dostoyevsky. Starring Paavo Piskonen (the Underground Man). 72 min. Viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 14 September 2008. - In the presence of Timo Linnasalo and Paavo Piskonen, interviewed by ?Eero Tammi?. TL and PP told that the idea came from PP, based on the dramatization by Ilpo Tuomarila, directed for the stage by Heikki Mäkelä. A Russian critic commened: poor guys, now you'll never get rid of Dostoyevsky. Piskonen met Jack Nicholson in ?Cannes?,and he said: Know Thyself. - This time I watched only the introduction to this rare film version of the first existentialist novel.