Kirsti Suonio

Rural comedy of the intrigues and stratagems involving a country wedding. From a comedy by Alexis Kivi.

The romantic musical comedy Kaikki rakastavat is a key work in Finnish film history since it was the first feature film of Valentin Vaala as the house director of Suomi-Filmi and the film which launched the most beloved screen couple of Finland, Tauno Palo and Ansa Ikonen.

Esko makes a bet that he will marry the first young woman he encounters. This turns out to be Kirsti, who promptly turns down the proposals. But when she finds about the bet, she agrees to marry him in order to get her revenge.

“Tukkijoella” (Log River – 1928). Films of this genre gave the Finnish cinema and the viewing public one of its most popular characters – the lumberjack (tukkijatka, tukkipoika, tukkilainen) who at his most heroic hour becomes the log-roller or the shooter of rapids (koskenlaskija). The significance of this character in Finnish film is comparable to that of the Cowboy on American cinema. He is the pioneer, the wanderer, the adventurer. He negotiates the frontier, he is an embodiment of the conflict between wilderness and civilization.

Olli, the spoiled young heir of the Koivumäki manor, is separated from his family and brought to Sweden by his cousin. After running away to Finland, he ends up in an educational institution, from where he escapes with the help of his friend Ränni Pelle and returns to his parents.

The film is set in the small village of Nuottaniemi wherein lives Herr Iisakki and his daughter Hanna. Herr Iisakki has grudge against Herr Heikki, blaming him for the death of his son in a raft accident. To make things worse Herr Heikki's son, Herr Juhani, wants to marry Frau Hanna but she only has eyes for a lumberman named Herr Anti Koskenalustan.

After Matti is stabbed to death at his own wedding, Eero of Ojelmiston becomes a suspect, presumed to have avenged his recently deceased wife. Eero escapes with the help of a court judge but surrenders after his mother gets into trouble. At the courthouse, the priest admits that Vieremä Jaska confessed to the crime on his deathbed. The film has survived, but without subtitles.

Polyteekkarifilmi