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Despicable Me 4

The movie continues the fun adventures of the Gru family and the Minions, delivering action and comedy. This time, the story introduces Gru’s son, Gru Junior, who brings even more chaos to the family. Gru’s arch-nemesis, Maxime Le Mal, and his girlfriend, Valentina, force the entire family to go on the run.

The film is directed by Chris Renaud and features English voice talents such as Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig. The Finnish voice cast includes well-known names like Ville Haapasalo and Katja Aakkula.

If you enjoyed the previous installments, this sequel offers a familiar blend of warm family dynamics, humor, and the Minions’ crazy energy!

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A Christmas Carol

Scrooge (1984) is a television movie based on Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale A Christmas Carol. This version is especially known for George C. Scott’s strong and highly praised performance as Ebenezer Scrooge. The film stays faithful to Dickens’ original story, highlighting themes of Christmas spirit, moral lessons, and personal transformation.

Plot:
The movie is set in Victorian England and tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an aging and cold-hearted businessman. Scrooge despises Christmas, viewing it as a wasteful festivity, and his heart is hardened against both the poor and his own family. On Christmas Eve, however, he receives unexpected visitors – first, the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, and then three Christmas spirits (the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come) who take him on a journey through his own life.

This journey reveals to Scrooge the mistakes of his past, the impact of his current actions on others, and the grim fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Through these encounters, Scrooge undergoes a profound inner transformation, learning about generosity, friendship, and the true meaning of Christmas.

Themes:
The central themes of the film are remorse, forgiveness, the possibility of change, and love for one’s fellow man. It illustrates how one person’s actions can affect others and that it is never too late to correct mistakes and become a better version of oneself.

Cast:
George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge
David Warner as Bob Cratchit
Susannah York as Mrs. Cratchit
Frank Finlay as Jacob Marley

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Calvary

Irish drama film directed and written by John Michael McDonagh. The film is known for its profound themes, dark humor, and strong performances. Calvary explores deep subjects such as faith, forgiveness, guilt, and the meaning of life. The title refers to Golgotha (Calvary), the place where Jesus was crucified, which emphasizes its symbolism of sacrifice and suffering.

The film also addresses scandals within the Catholic Church and their impact on communities, particularly cases of clerical abuse. These themes, however, are handled subtly, and the story focuses more on personal soul-searching and the complexities of human relationships.

Calvary tells the story of Father James Lavelle, a Catholic priest working in a small Irish village. One day in the confessional, someone threatens to kill him in a week’s time. This person does not want revenge for James’s sins but for the past wrongdoings of the Catholic Church. Under the shadow of this death threat, Father James tries to carry on with his life and help the villagers, though his own faith and purpose are put to the test. The film focuses on Father James’s journey toward his potential fate and the moral choices he faces along the way.

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Näkemiin, hyvästi

The film tells a comedic story about a brief phase in the lives of two people, focusing on single mother Tuula (Aino Seppo) and her ex-husband Jorma (Juuso Hirvikangas).

When a new man enters Tuula’s life, Jorma can’t bear the thought and begins to long for his ex-wife. This leads to a situation where both are faced with a major decision that will have far-reaching consequences for the rest of their lives. Adding to the mix is Tuula’s father, Lauri (Lasse Pöysti), who works as a doctor, making the decision even more difficult. Both are forced to break ties that have previously been very important to them.

Starring:
Aino Seppo
Juuso Hirvikangas
Lasse Pöysti

Production company:
VLMedia Oy

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Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan

A domestic historical adventure film based on Paavo Haavikko’s book of the same name. The story is set in future England, on the brink of a new ice age, fighting against total freezing as all energy sources have been depleted. Desperation spreads, and a young king decides to use his last resort to prevent the loss of power and the spread of anarchy. He declares war on France and sets out to follow in the footsteps of King Edward, who made a similar campaign six hundred years earlier. Initially, the campaign progresses smoothly, and Calais is conquered without much difficulty. Eventually, however, the ice age catches up with the troops, who suffer from the cold and thirst, and even the frozen wine offers no comfort.

The film emphasizes humanity’s recurring historical mistakes and how people fail to learn from history, repeating the same errors over and over again. It portrays the absurdity of human behavior, violence, and the abuse of power, along with the destructive consequences of these actions.

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Viimeiset rotannahat

The main character of the film, the Man in the White Suit, is by no means an ordinary Finn. On the contrary, he is a Marxist-bearded, Bukowski-like drifting romantic, wandering through the streets of Helsinki, in bars, cars, beds, and in a song. After the entire cast of “The Last Rat Skins,” it is even easier to agree with Buñuel’s statement that human life is, in principle, no more valuable than the life of insects.

Director:
Anssi Mänttäri

Starring:
Kauko Laurikainen
Anssi Mänttäri
Sarina Röhr

Anssi Mänttäri’s low-budget films with their intimate content have become classics. In this black comedy set in summer Helsinki, the main character (Mänttäri himself) jumps from one bar and bed to the next. The film contains especially crude black humor.

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The Garfield Movie

Garfield, the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving house cat, is about to embark on a wild adventure! After unexpectedly reuniting with his long-lost father, a scruffy street cat named Vic, Garfield and his dog friend Odie must leave their perfectly pampered lives to help Vic in a hilarious heist with high stakes.

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Risto

The beloved actor Risto Kaskilahti becomes quadriplegic in a work accident. As a result of the accident, he receives substantial financial compensation and a massive outpouring of sympathy from the public. Suddenly, there’s money for everything Risto’s young and beautiful wife has ever wished for. Thus, the wife quits her dull job and becomes an artist.

What happens when Risto gradually realizes he is starting to recover? The star adored by the public is healing, but how can he announce this publicly? Will the favorite actor have to portray a paralyzed man for the rest of his life to avoid losing everything?

Director:
Tuomas Summanen

Starring:
Risto Kaskilahti
Krista Kosonen
Aku Hirviniemi
Jaakko Saariluoma

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A Quiet Place: Day One

Sam is a terminally ill poet living in a hospice, suffering from cancer, who has not yet accepted his fate. He is angry, rude, and mean to everyone at the facility. The hospice nurse persuades him to join a group outing to the theater in Manhattan, promising him a trip to Harlem to eat at his favorite pizzeria. Suddenly, explosions start raining down from the sky, and strange beings arrive to spread death and destruction. Insect-like killers mow down most of the city and its inhabitants, and only a small group of residents survive the initial attacks.

Amid the apocalypse, Sam encounters a quiet British student named Eric. Together, they head towards the evacuation point and Sam’s mythical pizzeria. The duo must learn the hard way how the aliens hunt with extreme efficiency, detecting even the slightest rustle or clatter. Sam wants to die on his own terms, fulfilling his final wish without surrendering to the murderous extraterrestrial invaders.

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A Beautiful Mind

Awarded with four Oscars, the film tells the story of Nobel Prize-winning economist John Nash, who suffers from schizophrenia. The brilliant mathematician stood out from his peers during his studies and began to develop his groundbreaking game theory. After graduating, Nash starts teaching at a technical university, but gradually, mental health issues and severe paranoia begin to take control of him.