Subject: music

Published: November 24, 2023

Miss Farkku Suomi

The story follows 17-year-old Välde, who aims to secure a spot in a band, pursue fame, experience his first drunkenness, and fall in love with Pike, the most beautiful girl in the class. Välde is a teenager without a father, living in a one-bedroom apartment with his mother. He loves gritty music, Lou Reed’s lyrics, the New York Dolls, and David Bowie. While others spend time at discos, Välde cycles alone in the outskirts, capturing images in his mind of factory chimneys, deserted beaches, and rusty dumpsters.

Though Välde wants to fix the world’s injustices, he understands that he must first resolve his own life’s problems. Välde finds Sasu, and together they form a band called Torttu. They share the same taste in music, read “Musa” and “Soundi” music magazines, and notice the rise of punk in the world. But an unexpected turn occurs when Pike wins a beauty pageant, becoming “Miss Farkku-Suomi”. Things don’t go as Välde had hoped…

The movie received two Jussi Awards for Best Costume and Makeup Design. It’s based on Kauko Röyhkä’s autobiographical novel of the same name.

Published: November 24, 2023

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby tells the story of Nick Carraway, a young man who moves to Long Island, New York, in 1920s America. Nick’s neighbor is the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, who hosts extravagant parties but whose past and true identity are kept as secret.

Nick soon discovers that Gatsby is in love with his cousin, the beautiful yet carefree Daisy Buchanan, who is married to the wealthy and unfaithful Tom Buchanan. Gatsby endeavors to win back Daisy’s love, using all his means to lure her back to him.

The story revolves around themes of love, wealth, and deceit, revealing the superficiality and moral decay of 1920s American society. Ultimately, the tale ends tragically as plot twists and conflicting passions lead to a fatal conclusion for the main characters.

The film received two Oscars for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.

Published: November 24, 2023

Risto Räppääjä ja Liukas Lennart

The highly popular ten-year-old, red-haired Risto Räppääjä and his friend Nelli Nuudelipää dive into new adventures. Aunt Rauha thinks she has a brilliant idea: they need to find a man who would be a suitable father figure for Risto. Risto is not excited about the idea at all, and neither is their neighbor Lennart, who is himself interested in Rauha. Therefore, Lennart tries to create the perfect man who would meet Rauha’s constantly changing expectations of what a decent man should be.

Lennart soon realizes that trying to be many different people at once is not easy. When even Aunt Elvi falls for one of the father figures created by Lennart, things hilariously get tangled up. Unforgettable summer is full of incredible twists and lively misunderstandings.”

Published: November 23, 2023

Greatest Showman

“The Greatest Showman” is a musical film that tells the story of P.T. Barnum. He was a famous American showman and pioneer in the entertainment industry. The movie follows Barnum’s life starting from his youth. Barnum’s dream was to create a unique entertainment experience that brings together different people and gives them a chance to shine on stage.

Barnum (played by Hugh Jackman) puts together his own circus by gathering a group of diverse and unique performers, including acrobats, singers, dwarfs, and others who were traditionally discriminated in society. His attempt generates a lot of interest and captivates the audience, but it also faces resistance and criticism.

The film follows Barnum’s struggle for acceptance, success, and his family, all while trying to create a world where everyone can feel accepted and valued. Through the power of music, the movie emphasizes the uniqueness of individuals and encourages them to take pride in their differences.

Published: November 22, 2023

Blinded By The Light

The movie is based on true events and follows a young British-Pakistani boy named Javed living in the town of Luton in the late 1980s. Javed is passionate about music, but his parents don’t understand his dreams. The town is plagued by unemployment and racism, complicating Javed’s life even more.

However, everything changes when Javed discovers the music of Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen’s lyrics deeply resonate with him and inspire him to pursue his dreams. Javed’s passion for music gets a new boost through Springsteen’s music, and he starts writing his poems and lyrics.

The movie depicts Javed’s journey towards independence, self-discovery, and the pursuit of his dreams through the power of music. It also shows how music can be a strong resource in times of difficulty, helping to find strength and inspiration in life.

Published: October 30, 2023

Armotonta menoa – hoivatyön lauluja

Armotonta menoa – hoivatyön lauluja (transl. “Ruthless Times – Songs of Care”) is a documentary musical film infused with dark humor that looks into the state of elderly care in Finland: The people who provide care, and those who receive it in the care market. Through documentary episodes and songs, the film sheds light on the everyday crisis of elderly care.

Published: October 30, 2023

Hassisen Kone 40 vuotta myöhemmin

“Hassisen Kone 40 Years Later” is a documentary film about a band that, despite its short lifespan, is still remembered as one of the most iconic Finnish rock bands of all time. The film tells the story not only of the band’s 40th-anniversary concert and its preparation but also of the band’s history and its members’ journey from young celebrities to adults.

Published: October 19, 2023

Barbie

Barbie is separated from Barbieland because she began to exhibit human-like symptoms. The journey to uncover everything that has happened begins, with consequences that Barbie would have never believed could occur.

Published: September 14, 2023

Ghostbusters

“Ghostbusters” is an American comedy film released in 1984, which follows the story of a company founded by four men specialized in paranormal phenomena, known as Ghostbusters.

The story begins with Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), a former professor at the New York University’s Department of Parapsychology, working alongside his colleagues Raymond “Ray” Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis). When they lose their jobs at the university, they decide to start their own business called Ghostbusters, with the purpose of investigating and capturing paranormal phenomena.

Ghostbusters equips themselves with unique proton beams and traps to capture ghosts and other supernatural entities. The business starts to thrive when they are hired for their first job, investigating paranormal activity at the New York Public Library. From then on, they encounter many ghosts and other supernatural threats in the city.

The plot of the film also introduces the threat of Gozer The Gozerian, an ancient Sumerian deity. To prevent Gozer’s return, the Ghostbusters must join forces and confront great danger to save the city.

“Ghostbusters” is a comedy that blends humor, horror, and supernatural elements, and it has become a classic thanks to its hilarious plot and the iconic theme song, “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr. The movie was a massive hit and remains popular over the years.

In 1985, the film won a BAFTA Award for Best Original Song.

Published: August 14, 2023

Tár

In the film “Tár,” written, produced, and directed by Todd Field, Cate Blanchett portrays the role of Lydia Tár, a prominent German symphony orchestra’s innovative conductor. Tár has reached the pinnacle of her career and is preparing to release a book along with the long-awaited live performance of Mahler’s 5th Symphony. However, over the course of a few weeks, amidst these significant events, her life starts going downhill in a highly modern way. The movie delves into the exploration of power, its impacts, and its permanence in contemporary society.