Juho Puls

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

“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.

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.

Niilo, a son of a rich estate owner, is in love with a poor crofter's adopted daughter Heleena. However, on his father's orders, Niilo instead becomes engaged to Loviisa, a daughter of a wealthy landowner. When Niilo wants to call off the engagement, his proud and rejected bride begins to interfere with the lovers' relationship with the help of Penttula, who is said to be able to perform miracles.

In northern Finland in the fall of 1916, Saima Niva rescues a man drifting in the river, who turns out to be a German lieutenant Braun. Braun and his six comrades have managed to escape the prisoner of war at the Muurmann railway station, but the lieutenant has had to get rid of the lost group. While Braun is recovering, under the good care of Saima, Niva's neighbor and henchman of the gendarmes, the greedy policeman Simpura, gets a tip about the refugees camped in the desert.