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Shermer High School, Saturday, March 24th, 1984. Five students have been sentenced to detention, under the supervision of Principal Vernon, for the entire long day. Claire Standish, Andrew Clark, John Bender, Brian Johnson, and Allison Reynolds are completely different young individuals who have had no interaction with each other, but the long day changes everything, turning them into best friends.
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The year is 1933. In the aftermath of the First World War, wounded war veteran friends, Dr. Burt Berendsen, who employs unconventional methods, and attorney Harold Woodsman find themselves accused of murder when their shared clients, a United States senator and his daughter, die. The duo must uncover the true culprit behind the deaths and clear their names. “Amsterdam” is loosely based on real events surrounding the Business Plot conspiracy, where an attempt was made to overthrow U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and replace him with a dictator.
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An uplifting story follows a group of five girls from their teenage years into adulthood. The highlight of their youth in the 1990s is a concert by the boy band they admire, and 25 years later, the friends get another opportunity to go see their favorite band. Over the years, their lives have changed in various ways, but an epic concert and the band that once bound them together help them realize that perhaps the finest moments of their friendship are yet to come.
The film is a timeless tale of the power of friendship and is based on the Take That hit musical “The Band,” featuring all the band’s greatest hits. Members of the legendary boy band, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald, have been involved in the making of the movie.
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“Joulutarina” is a Finnish Christmas film released in 2007. The film was directed by Juha Wuolijoki. The story is set in a small Finnish village during Christmas and revolves around a family struggling to find the joy and meaning of Christmas amidst difficulties.
The main character in the film is Nikolas, a young boy whose parents have passed away. Nikolas lives with his grandmother and her daughter Luovi. The village is going through tough times, with many families facing financial difficulties. Nikolas decides to do something special by giving a gift to every child in the village for Christmas.
Nikolas embarks on a snowy journey towards the north, encountering various people and adventures along the way. He receives help from a mysterious character named Iisakki, who shows him the way to the magic of Christmas. Nikolas shares his gifts during his journey, bringing joy to everyone he meets.
The film’s atmosphere is warm and Christmassy, emphasizing community, generosity, and helping others. Watching “Joulutarina” has become a part of many Finnish families’ Christmas traditions, and it has received praise for its visual beauty, touching story, and atmospheric music.
Jussi Awards:
Best Cinematography: Mika Orasmaa
People’s Choice Award
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The title “Paradise’s Children” tells the story of three generations of women: Eva, her mother, the laundress Hartikainen, and her daughter Päivikki. The central character in this lighthearted comedy is the forty-year-old businesswoman Eeva Salminen. Strong-willed and ambitious, Eeva is a Sunday child who determinedly climbs the social ladder. Her dream is the construction of the ultimate building, the spa hotel Paradiso Baltica. Along her journey, Eeva encounters greedy bureaucrats and other predators who want their share of the project, but Eeva has means she is willing to use without asking for a price.
The film is directed by Rauni Mollberg.
Starring:
Tatjana Vasileva
Helge Herala
Heikki Kinnunen
Pertti Sveholm
Taru Valkeapää
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During the interim peace, a medical examination is carried out in the machine gun company of the Eastern Finnish wilderness garrison, and training is conducted for future battles. In June, the departure order arrives towards the unknown, and the company is transported to the eastern border. Officers listen solemnly to the Minister’s speech on the radio about the final victory, and in captured Petrozavodsk, Finnish victory celebrations have already begun. In the summer of 1944, the Soviet Union launches a major offensive, and the Finnish forces begin to retreat. Author Väinö Linna fully supported Rauni Mollberg’s film project and was initially involved in its scriptwriting. Although Edwin Laine’s direction held its ground, new perspectives were sought for the remake of ‘The Unknown Soldier.’ The actors are younger because the main idea is the path of a young person into war and its absurdity. At the same time, it is a tribute to those who have gone through it all.
The film was directed by Rauni Mollberg based on Väinö Linna’s novel ‘The Unknown Soldier.’
Starring:
Risto Tuorila
Pirkka-Pekka Petelius
Paavo Liski
Mika Mäkelä
Jussi Awards:
Best Actor – Paavo Liski
Best Actor – Risto Tuorila
Best Direction – Rauni Mollberg
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“Milka – A Film about Taboos” tells the story of a young girl awakening to her sexuality in a village community in Lapland. The film is based on Timo K. Mukka’s story “Tabu” (1965). On a personal level, Milka narrates the relationship between two women: a mother and her daughter. Ojanen, also known as Kristus-Perkele (Christ-Devil), a widowed mother’s helper, is a headstrong, independent laborer and skilled carpenter whom Milka admires. By impregnating Milka and making her a mother, he simultaneously ends both the girl’s childhood and the mother’s hopes of marriage with a new carpenter. When Ojanen disappears, a man takes his place in Milka’s life—a stable figure symbolized by a dark green overcoat and horn-rimmed glasses—the church organist, whom the mother has reluctantly accepted due to a lack of better options. With the arrival of the child and a new life, Milka’s relationship with the village community also undergoes changes.
Starring:
Irma Huntus
Matti Turunen
Leena Suomu
Jussi Award:
Best Producer – Rauni Mollberg
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“Pretty Good for a Human” takes viewers into the midst of life in a Finnish small town in the 1920s. By following the diverse inhabitants of a wooden block, the film constructs a humorous and heartwarming portrayal of an era as seen through the eyes of ordinary people.
Starring:
Olavi Ahonen
Lauri Arajuuri
Jussi Awards:
Best Producer: Rauni Mollberg
Best Actor: Toivo Mäkelä
Best Actress: Raili Veivo
Best Actress: Irma Seikkula
Best Direction: Rauni Mollberg
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The film based on Timo K. Mukka’s controversial novel is simultaneously a naturalistic and lyrical depiction of life in Lapland, as well as a broader exploration of humanity and its absence. In “The Tenant,” a farmhand is stabbed at a dance, and the village holds a funeral. Martta takes care of the funeral’s coffee service and immediately becomes infatuated with Oula, a Lapp reindeer herder. During winter, the son of the Kurkela household courts Martta and persuades her to spend a night together. Disappointed by the experience, Martta cannot forget Oula. During the reindeer separation period, she meets Oula again, but their happiness faces several obstacles. The son of the Kurkela household is jealous, and Martta’s father believes Oula is an unworthy man with a string of illegitimate children with different women. Oula lures Martta into running away from home.
Jussi Awards:
Best Producer: Rauni Mollberg
Best Actor: Aimo Saukko
Best Direction: Rauni Mollberg
Best Cinematography: Kari Sohlberg
Starring:
Maritta Viitamäki
Pauli Jauhojärvi
Aimo Saukko
Milja Hiltunen
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A windy summer for a trackmaster. The trackmaster works amidst great forces, heavy machinery, and unpredictable animals, mastering them all. However, one summer involved greater forces – the emotions, both his own and others’.
The driver, played by Matti Laine, lives a quietly steady life: he works at the racetrack, is married, and enjoys sauna sessions at the cottage. After the summer, a move is on the horizon, and the man should train Marita (Elina Ylisuvanto), a vibrant woman, to be the new driver of the starting car. Emotions run high at the racetrack, but having two women in his life becomes overwhelming, leaving an undeniable choice before him.
The movie, executed in every aspect with elegance, unfolds at the Pilvenmäki racetrack. It portrays both the mundane and dramatic setting for the protagonist’s subtly depicted internal struggle.
Towards the end, a revelation in the story offers a new, unexpected perspective on the man’s situation. Passi and Laine navigate stylishly to the resolution, where emotions and reason grapple. Humor and wisdom are brought into the film, especially through the character played by Tapio Aarre-Ahtio.
Director: Jarkko T. Laine, J-P Passi
Starring:
Matti Laine
Elina Ylisuvanto
Tapio Aarre-Ahtio
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