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La vie de bohème

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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Laitakaupungin valot

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.

Available on DVD (not Blu-ray).

Viiksipartio elokuvan juliste

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Cats in the Museum

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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Heroes of the Golden Masks

Charlie and the Golden Mask (originally titled Heroes of the Golden Masks) is an animated adventure film released in 2023, specifically aimed at families and children. The film was directed by Sean Patrick O’Reilly.

The story follows a tough teenager from the streets of Chicago named Charlie, who, through a series of strange events, finds himself traveling back in time. He ends up in the ancient Chinese city of Sanxingdui, where he encounters five heroes fighting against an evil ruler named Kunyi. To become one of the heroes of the Golden Mask, Charlie must face his own fears and past. This adventure is filled with action, humor, and valuable lessons, appealing to both younger and older audiences.

The main voice actors in the film include Ron Perlman, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, and Patton Oswalt.

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EPUT

EPUT is a film about a giant of Finnish rock, whose music everyone knows, but the stories behind the songs are known by few. The film takes the viewer through the band’s history, starting from their childhood years. Through the film, Eput take the audience to places where cameras have never been allowed before and openly share their history, including its difficult subjects. EPUT is not just a fan film about the band. It is also a touching depiction of brotherhood, as two very different brothers try to fit into the same band. Above all, it is a portrayal of a passionate desire to play, the fierce drive to make music that, in the beginning, overcame even their playing skills.

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Ordinary Love

Joan and Tom have been married for years. They are an ordinary couple whose love has been refined into a tight and harmonious bond over their long journey together. When Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer, the couple’s unwavering love and loyalty to each other only deepens. As they face the crisis together, they discover even more humor and compassion in their relationship, which helps them navigate through the challenges of the year ahead.

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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Harold Fry is an ordinary man who has made mistakes in all the important aspects of life: as a husband, father, and friend. Now, well into his sixties, he resigns himself quietly to fading into the background of life. One day, Harold hears that his old friend Queenie is dying. Harold leaves home and walks to the post office to send her a letter. On a whim, Harold decides to continue walking all the way to Queenie’s hospice, which is 450 kilometers away.

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Kerron sinulle kaiken

Maarit (played by Leea Klemola) is going through a major transition in life, as she recently underwent gender reassignment surgery and corrected her gender to female. However, Maarit must navigate the pitfalls of her past to move forward in life. She wants to reconcile with her ex-wife, build a relationship with her teenage daughter, and help other people. Maarit also longs to share the joys, sorrows, and her bed with someone. When Maarit meets Sami (played by Peter Franzén), who is struggling with a marital crisis, at the psychiatrist’s office, she believes she has found the right one.

Director:
Simo Halinen

Starring:
Leea Klemola
Peter Franzén
Ria Kataja
Emmi Nivala

The film was awarded the Jussi Award for Best Screenplay and Best Leading Actress.

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Nimby

The events kick off when the urbanized Mervi takes her girlfriend Kati to the countryside to visit her parents for the first time. Mervi is worried that her parents will have a hard time accepting the couple – especially since Kati’s mother is Iranian and her father is German – but it turns out that Mervi herself has a lot more to digest once they arrive. The parents’ peculiar, open relationship, Mervi’s ex-boyfriend involved with neo-Nazis, her semi-religious godparents, and the conflicts arising from the refugees who have moved to the area don’t exactly make the visit easier.

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Vuosisadan häät

“The Wedding of the Century” is a comedy where the groom’s former partner takes center stage at the wedding. Celebrity psychiatrist Viima Von Ausgezeichnet, known from television and enjoying fame, is at the center of his own life but secretly experiences loneliness. When his former partner gets married, Viima must find a high-profile companion for the wedding to show that everything is going well for him. His search for a companion in the Helsinki night between Friday and Sunday is filled with expensive wines and unpleasant hangovers. However, anyone could land the role of their dreams as Viima’s escort – and unforgettable wedding of the century awaits.

Director:
Marja Pyykkö

Starring:
Outi Mäenpää
Mikko Leppilampi
Matleena Kuusniemi