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The group of four friends embarks on their book club’s unique girls’ pampering trip to Italy. When things go off the rails and secrets begin to unravel, what was meant to be a relaxing vacation turns into an unforgettable adventure across Italy.
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Emil is a young boy who moves from the countryside to the city with his mother. At the same time, elsewhere, a pelican lands on a beach. It finds clothes and puts them on, thus beginning its life as a human. Right away, it hitches a ride to the city. It moves into the house next to Emil’s, unaware that the caretaker is allergic to birds… As Emil adjusts to his new life in the city, the pelican takes its first steps in life as a human. Being a big lover of music, the pelican lands a job at the Opera House. There, it falls in love with a lovely ballerina. One day, Emil meets the pelican and immediately notices that it’s a bird in human clothes. Emil and the pelican get to know each other and become best friends. The pelican’s origin is their shared big secret. Then, a pretty girl Elsa, Emil’s age, appears in the yard. At first, Emil is jealous of the pelican, but then Emil and Elsa become friends too. Emil teaches the pelican to read, thus the pelican learns more and more about being human. But just when they’re having the most fun, the caretaker starts to suspect that something’s going on. Are the new tenant’s habits too strange after all?
Director:
Liisa Helminen
Starring:
Kari Ketonen
Roni Haarakangas
Inka Nuorgam
Jonna Järnefelt
The movie won two Jussi Awards:
Best Production Design: Jussi Halonen, Samuli Halla, and Petri Neuvonen
Best Sound Design: Paul Jyrälä
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Second grader Ella’s small village school is threatened with closure and demolition. The students are being transferred to a large and dreary new school. Behind the closure of the village school is Mr. One, who wants to build a race track in its place. With the support of her teacher, Ella and her friends come up with a way to save their own school.
Director:
Taneli Mustonen
Starring:
Eero Milonoff
Kari Ketonen
Armi Toivanen
Ville Myllyrinne
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“The Last of the Line” tells the story of change, upbringing, and the theft of identity. Set on the Jamal Peninsula during the Soviet era, the film is based on true events in director Anastasia Lapsui’s childhood environment.
A young Nenets girl named Neko is forcibly taken from her home to a boarding school in a Russian village against her will. Forced into a foreign culture and new customs, Neko rebels against Russification and becomes the target of bullying by her classmates and scrutiny from her teachers. Together with a Nenets boy from the same school, Neko escapes to return to the safety of her own family and familiar customs. However, their escape across the wintry tundra is short-lived, and the inevitable return to school and new Russian life is unavoidable.
The film’s story is told through the memories of an elderly Neko. School has taught her much new knowledge, and Russian culture has become a natural part of her. But something important has permanently changed; as the last representative of her family, Neko has grown estranged from her own roots and lost the ability to continue her family’s age-old traditions.
Directors:
Markku Lehmuskallio and Anastasia Lapsui
Starring:
Aleksandra Okotetto
Nadezhda Pyrerko
Anastasia Lapsui
Jevgeni Hudi
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The overall tone of the film is as energetic as punk itself. The movie depicts youth, specifically two generations of youth from the 1970s-80s and the present-day punk scenes. We follow a band formed by four young people from the Tampere region, witnessing their journey through gigs, successes, and setbacks. The film features both old and new punk music, along with intriguing archival footage from the early days of punk veterans. “Punk – A Disease That Doesn’t Kill” is a compelling and engaging documentary about Finnish punk, entertaining yet not toothless or bland.
Director:
Jouko Aaltonen
Starring:
Andy McCoy
Severi Helle
Pelle Miljoona
Pantse Syrjä
Note: The documentary is no longer available on Blu-ray or DVD.
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In the documentary “Madam President,” we follow the everyday life of Finland’s first female president for nearly a year and a half, up until the end of her term. “Madam President” is a film about Finland, about the president as a leader, and the brisk woman behind the institution.
The production team of the film accompanies President Halonen in Finland and abroad, in cabinets and leisure. The documentary captures the routine and celebration from November 2010 to early March, when President Halonen handed over power to her successor. In “Madam President,” the viewer is present in situations never seen before moments just before significant public events and afterward, journeys and transitions, and all the tasks that constitute the work.
Director:
Aleksi Bardy
Starring:
Tarja Halonen
Pentti Arajärvi
Eila Nevalainen
Heli Sariola
Note: No longer available on Blu-ray or DVD distribution.
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“The Emperor’s Secret,” completed in 2006, is Finland’s first full-length computer-animated film set in a fantasy world. Although the movie features caricatures of politicians from the “Itsevaltiaat” TV series, it is not directly related to the series’ plot. The story revolves around a small village’s battle against an evil emperor.
The film was directed by Riina Hyytiä, and among its voice actors are Mika-Ala Panula, Anna Bentley, and Jukka Puotila. There are many characters, with several recognizable as Finnish politicians. “The Emperor’s Secret” was produced by Helsinki Film and Anima Vitae Oy.
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Young poet Laura Eklund Nhaga is seeking meaningful ways to influence the surrounding world. She explores various forms of activism, understanding that each of them can be effective in its own way. Eklund Nhaga moves effortlessly from the steps of the Parliament House to British university poetry nights and to the Capitol. The documentary by Greenlit Productions examines some of the biggest questions of the present moment, such as global change, the rise of populism on social media, and grassroots movements. The film is audio-described. (Source: Yle Areena)
Note: Not available in DVD or Blu-ray format.
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Two curious toy bears, named Urpo and Turpo, reside on the bookshelf in the children’s room and greatly enjoy reading. They blend everyday life and fairy tales, creating amusing adventures. For instance, they find themselves on a deserted island and are saved by a breadfruit tree, bravely improve others’ appearances, search for clues, break rules, long for silence, and compete to be the best and strongest in the world.
Similarly to the toys in Toy Story, Urpo and Turpo come to life when the family isn’t watching. The Urpo & Turpo movie provides entertainment for both adults and the youngest members of the family. The film is easy to follow as it features good Finnish. It is based on Hannele Huovi’s popular storybooks and is now even more vibrant and lively on the big screen as it has been restored.
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Ella, a second-grader, and her classmates’ teacher insist that Pate, who dreams of a rock star career, must also learn multiplication tables. The friends come up with the idea that if Pete were a rock star, he wouldn’t need to know anything, as the manager would take care of everything. They form a band, and their goal is to perform at the mega concert of the singing star Elviira.
These characters are based on the book series “Ella ja Paterock” (Ella and Paterock).
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