Lain mukaan

Enligt lagen / [By the Law]. FI 1956. PC: Fennada. P: Mauno Mäkelä. D+SC: Roland af Hällström - based on the short story by Minna Canth (1889). DP: Esko Töyri. M: Tauno Pylkkänen. Starring: Eila Peitsalo (Maria Toikka), Matti Oravisto (worker Ville Toikka), Fritz-Hugo Backman (boss Ephraim Oppman), Elvi Saarnio (Katri), Pentti Viljanen (foreman Peltonen). 76 min. A vintage print with Swedish subtitles. Viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 13 August 2008. - Hällström's last film closes the circle with his first film: both are based on prominent women author's texts, and both are relevant for feminism. - The inflammatory short story of Minna Canth was first published as a private publication only. Based on a true case in Kuopio, it is an account of a conviction of a worker for attempted manslaughter of the big boss who had sent him on an errand of two weeks in order to access his young and beautiful wife. - This could be the stuff of exaggerated melodrama, but Minna Canth and Roland af Hällström work against the expectations. The approach is restrained. Ville and Maria keep silent in the court, not provoked by the distortions of the prosecutor. Ville is sent to three years of hard labour. In the evening the boss appears at Maria's home. With him, a bottle of wine more sparkling than ever. - Fennada quality production at its best.

Suomalaistyttöjä Tukholmassa

Finska flickor i Stockholm / [Finnish Girls in Stockholm]. FI 1952. PC: Fennada. P: Mauno Mäkelä. D: Roland af Hällström. SC: Kaarlo Nuorvala. DP: Esko Töyri. M: Tapio Ilomäki, Josef Kaartinen. Starring Toini Vartiainen (Rauha), Eija Inkeri (Kirsti), Maija Karhi (Liisa) - Esko Saha (Olavi Peltola), Åke Lindman (Erik), William Markus (Sven) - Henake Schuback (Italian engineer), Elvi Saarnio (Finnish streetwalker). 102 min. Vintage print viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 18 June 2008. - Beautiful definition of light, but a focus problem in the old print. - Fun to compare with Sex and the City the movie. - This small and unpretentious film has unintended documentary value for the modern viewer. It records the very start of the "Ruotsinlaiva" syndrome of tenement-building-sized cruisers shuttling between Stockholm and Helsinki or Turku (Åbo). The drama is based on the abysmal difference in the living-standard of affluent Sweden and poor Finland still struggling in the aftermath of three terrible wars. (First in the 1980s the gap was getting even, and still Sweden has the superior lead in cultural heritage, manners and mores.) - We see in a cheerfully superficial mood different strategies of experiencing Stockholm, and a selection of stereotypical male responses to the unexperienced girls.

Tukkijoella (1951)

Timmerflottarna / [Timber River]. FI 1951. PC: Fennada. P: Mauno Mäkelä. D: Roland af Hällström. Based on the musical play by Teuvo Pakkala and Oskar Merikanto (1899). DP: Esko Töyri. M: Oskar Merikanto (the original play) and Tapio Ilomäki (additional score). Starring Tauno Palo (Turkka), Rauni Ikäheimo (Katri Pietola), Sirkka Hirvonen (Anni), Helge Herala (Huotari), Rakel Laakso (Maija Rivakka), Kalle Viherpuu (Tolari), Lasse Pöysti (Pölhö-Kustaa), Ema Vinermo (rättäri), Anton Soini (the master of Pietola), Irja Viherpuu (Pahna-Maija), Kerttu Salmi (Poro-Pirkko), Ritva Putkonen (Lenkka-Leena), Leo Jokela (Oterma the lumberjack). 97 min. 16mm. Viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 3 June 2008. - A faulty 16mm print struck with dirt on the upper part of the gate, leaving a distracting veil on the image.
"Vielä niitä honkia humisee"
"Tukkilaisten laulu"
"Ei meitä suruilla ruokita"
"Tukkipoika se lautallansa"
"Tuulen henki, lemmenhenki" sung by Rauni Ikäheimo
"Turkan laulu"
"Tolarin laulu"
"Tukkilaisjenkka" sung by Tauno Palo
"Voi minun nuorta sydäntäni" sung by Palo, Ikäheimo
"Sun kanssasi kahden kun soudan" sung by Palo
"Hih, hih, huh, hei, meijän Maija keittää kahvit"
"Katkera on kahvia juoda ilman sokeritta" sung by Helge Herala and the girls
"Tuulan tei" sung by Palo, Ikäheimo
Oskar Merikanto is the favourite composer of the Finnish homes, where Sibelius is the favourite composer of the Finnish concert halls.
This all-time big favourite Finnish music play has been filmed three times, never very successfully, always interestingly. Hällström would have been the ideal director, but also he did a sloppy job with it. Maybe he felt the material was too obvious and familiar. Tauno Palo is not in top form, only very good. His song performances in this film are not absolutely brilliant, but still to be cherished, including the lovely duets with Rauni Ikäheimo. I would select their "Voi minun nuorta sydäntäni" and "Tuulan tei" to my Merikanto anthology.

Ylijäämänainen

Stulen kärlek / [Surplus Woman]. FI 1951. PC: Fennada. P: Mauno Mäkelä. D: Roland af Hällström. SC: Jussi Talvi. DP: Esko Töyri. M: Tapio Ilomäki. "Otshi tshorni" is the theme song. Starring Asta Backman (Laura Kari), Tauno Palo (Lennart Qvist), Kyllikki Forssell (Ella Qvist), Harri Sinijärvi (department manager Harri Suvanne). 77 min. A 16mm print viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 21 May 2008. - Ok for 16mm. - A poignant, satirical drama of a single woman with relevance to feminism. - Laura Kari's suicide attempt opens the life-story seen in flashback. - Tauno Palo as a ladies' man, for Laura, the great love of her life; for him, she is just one of his lovers. - She works in the Stockmann department store, sexually harassed by her department manager. - The lonely woman sees the happiness of others' families. There is a biting Mother's Day scene with the mothers' anthem "Maan päällä paikka yksi on" ("There is but one place on earth"). - Strong cinematography by Esko Töyri. - The flashback within the flashback takes us to 1939 and a montage of the war years. - Kyllikki Forssell is the frustrated wife of Tauno Palo; she takes the knowing risk of getting pregnant, with fatal results. - "Dark Eyes" is the theme song sung by Tauno Palo with a voice of velvet. - The solidarity of women at the department store. - "Welcome, aunt Laura", a sunny smile at the end of the film. The acceptance of singlehood and childlessness.

ROLAND AF HÄLLSTRÖM ERIKOISNÄYTÖS

Roland af Hällström specialvisning / Roland af Hällström Special Screening
Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 29 April 2008
In the presence of Arto af Hällström
Suomen ja Neuvostoliiton kulttuurisuhteet alkavat [The Finnish / Soviet Cultural Relations Start]. FI 1945. 9 min. Compilation quality. - With Vsevolod Pudovkin.
Jussit on jaettu ja juhlittu [The Jussi Awards]. FI 1948. Digibeta. 8 min. - With many stars.
Fennadan tarina I: Peruskalliona Roland af Hällström [The Fennada Story I: Roland af Hällström as the Foundation Rock]. D: Peter von Bagh. 57 min. Digibeta. - Excellent with interviews with Esko Töyri, Matti Kassila, Hannu Leminen, Ensio Suominen, Erkki Viljos, Kari Uusitalo, Lasse Pöysti, Rauni Ikäheimo, Maija Karhi, Aarre Elo, Matti Oravisto, Elina Salo, Eeva-Kaarina Volanen, Sylva Rossi, Leif Wager, Tarmo Manni, Kauko Laurikainen, Tapio Rautavaara, Tuija Halonen, Elvi Saarnio, Sylva Rossi. - He created an environment, where everything breathed. Before his time, realistic. Shot a lot late at night. Dangerous when drunk. A good knowledge of the countryside. - He died before his full bloom.
Kauneuden kuvastin [The Mirror of Beauty]. FI 1954. 15 min. The young Lenita Airisto already in command of the camera.

Vain kaksi tuntia

[Two Hours Only] / Från sex till åtta. FI (c) 1949 Fenno-Filmi. P: Yrjö Rannikko. D+SC: Roland af Hällström. DP: Esko Töyri. M+ED: Tapio Ilomäki. Starring: Regina Linnanheimo (senior nurse Magda), Liisa Tuomi (Mrs. Irja Kaarila), Eino Kaipainen (senior physician Kaarlo Kaarila), Leif Wager (assistant physician Alec von Wentell), Elvi Saarnio (Laila Niemikkö, a vagrant woman), Leena Häkinen (Tellervo Ritvala, a young bride), Martti Katajisto (Pelle Teiri, a young groom), Saara Ranin (nurse Varma), Kalle Viherpuu (police officer), Rauha Rentola (Mrs. Maj-Lis von Wentell). 103 min. A Digibeta (from a used film print) (alas!) presentation at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 27 Feb 2008. Two hours in the emergency room of a little town, full of drama, love and death. This is a multi-character film, but the core is the triangle drama between the frustrated wife (Liisa Tuomi), his devoted doctor-husband (Eino Kaipainen) and the consoling young assistant physician (Leif Wager). The cinematography of Esko Töyri is atmospheric, with interesting angles, camera movements and soulful close-ups of many of the main characters. A signature performance by Eino Kaipainen as the dutiful and devoted man cheated by his fickle wife. Regina Linnanheimo for once in a sober role. Liisa Tuomi gets to play the frustrated, unsatisfied lady, who has a near fatal crash overspeeding into a secret encounter in a notorious hotel. There is perhaps a bit too much excitement for two hours of supposedly real time.

Paimen, piika ja emäntä / [Katri, Girl of the Meadows]

Vi kämpa för fädernesgården / [Kleine standhafte Katri] / [Makiba no shouji Katori]. FI 1938. PC: Väinän Filmi. P: Väinö Mäkelä. D+ED: Roland af Hällström. SC: based on the novels by Auni Nuolivaara: Paimen, piika ja emäntä (1936) and Isäntä ja emäntä (1937). DP: Olavi Gunnari. PD: Lasse Elo. M: Alvar Andström. LOC: Orivesi. Starring: Martta Kontula (Ukonniemen Katri), Kaarlo Kytö (Ruuhiniemen Santeri), Kosti Elo (Vaakerlunti), Aili Tikka (Ukonniemen Leena, Katri's sister), Elna Hellman (the old mistress of Ruuhiniemi), Vappu Elo (Veikkolan Annastiina), Eino Haavisto (Rantalan Juuso), Hemmo Airamo (Ruuhiniemen Iivari), Eero Leväluoma (the merchant Ephraim Tervola), Eero Roine (Wahlgren). A low-contrast Betacam SP from worn source material. Viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 23 Jan 2008. A strong woman's story, which starts in the novel in the year 1852 but in the film in the beginning of the 20th century. The novels (successful also in Germany and Japan) had an important role in the development of the figure of the strong, independent woman in Finnish fiction. They tell the story of the maid of strong character who saves the big house. Martta Kontula carries the role of Ukonniemen Katri well. She belongs to the tradition of Selma Lagerlöf, and, in Finland, also the writer of popular entertainment, Hilja Valtonen. The landscapes of Orivesi are beautiful, the work montage sequences seem authentic. The only film produced by Väinän Filmi. There is a 49-episode anime series based on the novels (1984).
http://koti.phnet.fi/otaku/reviews/katori/katori.htm

Putkinotko

[Wild Chervil Valley] / 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 35mm print with Swedish subtitles. Viewed at Cinema Orion, 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.