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A movie based on an inspiring true story about salesman Michael Spurlock, who changed careers and became a pastor. When he is assigned to close his small church, where he shelters refugees from Southeast Asia, they come together and put everything on the line to create a better future.
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The Roman centurion Marcellus Gallio, played by Richard Burton, oversees the crucifixion of Jesus and wins his robe in a dice game at the foot of the cross. Marcellus, who has never been a man of faith, begins to experience disturbing visions and feels guilty for his actions when his slave Demetrius flees with the robe. Convinced that destroying the robe will free him from his torment, Marcellus sets out to find Demetrius – and in the process, discovers his Christian faith. This biblical epic, one of the greatest on the silver screen, was nominated for five Academy Awards in 1953, including Best Picture and Richard Burton’s nomination for Best Actor. The film went on to win two Oscars.
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The film is a fantasy-comedy directed and written by John Krasinski. It tells a unique story about imaginary friends and how these friends impact people’s lives. The film explores themes such as the power of imagination, childlike wonder, and the connections that stay with us from childhood. It delves into the importance of imagination in human development and how we can retain a part of our childhood throughout life. The movie combines fantasy, comedy, and heartwarming moments, making it suitable for a wide audience.
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Aki Kaurismäki’s adaptation of Henri Murger’s novel Scènes de la vie de bohème, filmed in France and in French, tells the story of three artists – Albanian painter Rodolfo (Matti Pellonpää), writer Marcel Marx (André Wilms), and composer Schaunard (Kari Väänänen) – and their struggles and friendship amidst the complexities of the bohemian artist’s life and poverty. Rodolfo falls in love with Mimi (Evelyne Didi), but is later deported when his residence permit expires. Later, Rodolfo returns illegally and reunites with Mimi, but the often harsh realities of bohemian life continue to challenge their romance. Mimi falls gravely ill, and the three artists do everything they can to raise the money needed for her care. During a visit to Mimi in the hospital, she asks Rodolfo to go outside and pick some flowers. When Rodolfo returns to the room, Mimi has already passed away. Rodolfo informs his waiting friends outside that he wants to be alone and walks away.
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Starring:
Matti Pellonpää
André Wilms
Kari Väänänen
The film won the 2007 Jussi Award for Best Direction.
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The first part of Aki Kaurismäki’s Finland Trilogy, Drifting Clouds, dedicated to the memory of Matti Pellonpää, tells the story of head waitress Ilona (Kati Outinen) and her husband Lauri (Kari Väänänen), who works as a tram driver. Both suddenly lose their jobs and are forced to rebuild their lives and social dignity from scratch. The resilient couple eventually decides to open their own restaurant with the help of their friends, and after many challenges, their shared dream becomes a reality. The opening night is filled with tension as they await their first customers, who soon start to arrive. Their risky venture succeeds. The happy Lauri and Ilona step outside in front of their restaurant with their family dog and look up at the sky, where the clouds drift freely.
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Starring:
Kati Outinen
Kari Väänänen
Elina Salo
The film won Jussi Awards for Best Direction, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, and Film of the Year.
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In the modern industrial setting of Ruoholahti, Koistinen (Janne Hyytiäinen), a lonely man working as a night watchman, is relentlessly bullied by his coworkers. He dreams of starting his own business and shares this aspiration with Aila (Maria Heiskanen), who runs a sausage stand by the waterfront. Unbeknownst to Koistinen, Aila harbors deeper feelings for him.
One day, Koistinen meets Mirja (Maria Järvenhelmi), who is secretly working for the criminal boss Lindström (Ilkka Koivula). Mirja pretends to be infatuated with Koistinen, but at the opportune moment, she drugs him and steals his keyring to assist Lindström and his gang in robbing a diamond store. Koistinen refuses to implicate Mirja and is sentenced to two years in prison.
After his release, Koistinen tries to rebuild his life from almost nothing. By chance, he encounters Mirja and Lindström in a restaurant. Seeking revenge for the betrayal, he later attacks Lindström with a knife, but is subdued by the gangster’s henchmen. Lindström spares his life, though Koistinen is beaten nearly to death and left on the shore. Aila hears of his condition and finds him, bloodied and lying on the ground. ‘I won’t die from this,’ Koistinen promises her as their hands meet for the first time. (Text by Lauri Timonen)
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Starring:
Janne Hyytiäinen
Maria Järvenhelmi
Maria Heiskanen
Ilkka Koivula
The film won the 2007 Jussi Awards for Best Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Set Design.
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How to Fix the World is a comprehensive and informative documentary about direct action in the 1990s and 2000s, directed by Jouko Aaltonen. In the documentary, anarchists, climate activists, and squatters openly share their experiences and link them to mainstream societal issues. Extensive archival material sheds light on the continuum of direct action in Finnish society. What do the free city, community, and agency mean? The documentary extensively explores various forms of citizen movements, from squatting to riots and nonviolent civil disobedience. The film portrays critiques of global capitalism, opposition to the discrimination of the Roma population, the downfall of the Stop the Graffiti movement, and today’s climate movement.
Note: The documentary is available only on Yle Areena; no physical copies are in distribution.
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Created by the writers of “Toy Story,” this story is about an unlikely friendship and takes the audience on an imaginative adventure in New York’s Central Park.
The story follows a clever puppet named Don, who is tired of playing the fool in a puppet theater. He dreams of being a hero, especially in real life. Don decides to escape the theater and heads to Central Park in search of heroic tasks. There, he meets a rapping stuffed dog named DJ Veli Hau, and they begin working together.
When Don learns that his puppet friends in the theater are in danger, he and DJ Veli Hau decide to rush to their rescue. Together, they embark on a grand adventure in the heart of New York, facing challenges and discovering the power of friendship.
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“Kung Fu Panda 4” is a sequel to the popular “Kung Fu Panda” film series and continues the adventures of Po, a panda who has become known as a legendary Kung Fu master.
Po faces new challenges both on a personal level and in battle. He must confront a new, powerful enemy while also finding a way to pass on his teachings and legacy to future generations. The film features familiar characters like Tigress, Monkey, and Mantis, but also introduces new allies and enemies.
The film’s themes are strongly tied to passing down traditions, finding one’s place in the world, and the importance of personal growth. It includes epic battle scenes, vibrant animation, and touching moments.
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A cat named Vincent and his mouse friend Maurice escape a flood by riding in an old piano and end up in a museum. There, they encounter an elite group of cats that have been guarding valuable artworks from rodents and other pests for years. Vincent dreams of finding a real cat family for himself, but he doesn’t want to lose his friend Maurice, so he has to hide him. The situation becomes more complicated when the famous artwork Mona Lisa is brought to the museum. Vincent, Maurice, and the other museum cats don’t know that someone is planning to steal it, and now Vincent must gather his courage and wits to save the masterpiece.
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