Kummeli Alivuokralainen / The Subtenant

Matti Grönberg: Kummeli Alivuokralainen / The Subtenant (FI 2008).

Kummeli – underhyresgästen

    FI © 2008 Solar Films. P: Jukka Helle, Markus Selin. 

    D: Matti Grönberg. SC: Timo Kahilainen, Heikki Vihinen based on their play. DP: Jari Mutikainen – shot on HDTV (Sony CineAlta F23) – distributed on digital and 35 mm – 1:2,35, color. 

    Starring Heikki Silvennoinen (Pauli Bergström), Mikko Kivinen (Lauri Mustonen), Timo Kahilainen (Robban), Heikki Hela (John Molotov / Josef Molotov), Tuija Ernamo (Lydia Molotova), Ritva Jalonen (Marketta), Leea Klemola (Rautiainen), Risto Korhonen (Rafu), Jussi Lampi (Hirvonen), Oiva Lohtander (Pena), Taneli Mäkelä (man at service station), Jasper Pääkkönen (Roger / Kikke), Jukka Rasila (host), Mari Turunen (Inkeri Sortavala). 

    A digital projection at Tennispalatsi 2, Helsinki, 20 September 2008.

A bright and pleasant HD digital look. – The fourth Kummeli film. – The Kummeli is a popular Finnish comedy team with a comedy series of their own. The dvd releases of their comedy episodes have tremendous success. The team consists of Heikki Silvennoinen (1991–), Timo Kahilainen (1991–), Heikki Hela (1992–), Heikki Vihinen (1995–), Olli Keskinen (1991–1994, 1999–2000), Mari Turunen (1995–), Miia Selin (2003–), Mikko Kivinen (2003–) (thanks to Wikipedia for this list, the complete Kummeli-graphy can be found in the Finnish Wikipedia). – I have seen all the Kummeli cinema films, and this I liked best. – Pauli and Lauri have been living on a very affordable rent in a spacious apartment (the actual apartment used is in Ullanlinna, Kapteeninkatu 20-22), but when the rent is updated by a sergeant major inheritor, they need a subtenant, and promptly there is a young gay nobleman. – The farce is largely based on the prejudices against gays. It would be interesting to hear what gays think about it, but to me it seemed it presented gays as men who are confident with their identity and not afraid to have fun with it. – It felt strange to have many children in the audience. I would not recommend it to under-teenage viewers.

The Celluloid Closet

Robert Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman: The Celluloid Closet (1995).

/ / US / 1995 / Epstein, Robert etc. / documentary
    Celluloid Closet, The / Luuranko kaapissa.
    US 1995 © Reflecting Image Ltd. D: Robert Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman. Based on the book by Vito Russo. Narration written by Armistead Maupin. M: Carter Burwell. Theme song: ”Secret Love” performed by k.d. lang.
    CLIPS: Their First Mistake, Morocco, Queen Christina, Red River, Calamity Jane, Rebecca, The Maltese Falcon, Ben Hur, Victim, Advise and Consent, A Walk On the Wild Side, Cruising, Making Love, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Color Purple, Thelma & Louise, Boys On the Side, Philadelphia, Parting Glances, Desert Hearts, Pillow Talk, Caged, Silkwood.
    FEAT: Tony Curtis, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Dyer, Gore Vidal, Farley Granger, Stewart Stern, Shirley MacLaine, Tom Hanks, Ron Nyswaner, John Schlesinger, Susan Sarandon. 101’.
    Telecast by Yleisradio TV2 ”25th Hour” on 27 January 1998 (PAL). Finnish commentary and subtitles by Petri Griinari, Tuija Westerholm. Below average transmission quality. Viewed in Helsinki on VHS on Saturday 31 January 1998. ****

A first rate compilation film about the hidden story of homosexual love in the history of the American cinema. The clips are marvellous and put in context get new resonance. The international dimension is completely missing. The first feature film depicting homosexuality was Wings (1916) directed in Sweden by the Helsinki-born Mauritz Stiller.