Figure 1.-- After 2 years of peace, the country was again convulsed, this time by World War II beginning with the Soviet Winter War invasion (1939-40) and then the Finnish Continuation War (1941-44). Right in the middle of the two wars, 'Suomisen Family' (1941) was produced showing a family reyrning to normality after the Winter Wr. hree months after release, Finland plunged into the Continuation War (June 1941). Some films like 'Casablanca' come out at just the right time. 'Suomisen Family' and a return to normalcy could not bhave been more unfortunately timed.
Almost as early as the first movie screening (1895) we note Finns experimenting with film (1896). The first Finnish film, hoewever was not profuced until a decade later (1907). Very few films followed and therewere periods in which no films were produced. Finland at the time was an autonomous part of the Tsarist Empire. We are not sure how Tsaris officials viewed national film industries as Russification was a part of Tsarist policy. The overall Russian film industry, however was not heavily censored in sharp contrast to what followed in Soviet times. Most Russian Tsarist era films were lost or destroyed by the Bolseheviks. Finnish films seem to have fared better. Theis was of course during the silent era. We assumne the subtuitles were done in Finnish but do not have details. The Tsarist Empire was convulsed by World War I (1914-18) and the Russian Revolution (1917). Finland declared its independence (1917) and had to fight a war with the invading Bolsheviks (1918). All of which affected economic and cultural activity like film making. The situatiin stabilized (1920s). Finnish society and cultural activity could thaen freedly develop without Tsarist or Communist constraints. Movie making increased and were part of Finish cultural and popklar life. As withn other small countries, the talkies (1930s), meant that Finish novies could not easily be marketed abroad, except perhaps in Sweden and Estonia. Three main studios began to doninate Finnish films (1930s). After 2 years of peace, the country was again convulsed, this time by World War II beginning with the Soviet Winter War invasion (1939-40) and then the Finnish Continuation War (1941-44). Right in the middle of the two wars, 'Suomisen Family' (1941) was produced showing fmily reyrning to normality. Three months after release, Finland plunged inyo the Continuation War. The countty was devestated and only slowly recovered. The three studios made several filns, competing with each other (1940s-50s). With the advent of television, film making declined (1960s). Most screenings as a result were foreign films. Studios closed down. Domestic films were heavily political and artistic which had little appeal to most movie goers. The creative community seeking high artistic expression and becoming disdainful of the mass audience seeing them as low-brows unwirthy if high-art. The creative community lost interest in film making. A few film makers produced popular films for the mass audience which was hungary for Finnish-language entertainment. These films were strongly criticused by disdainful critics, but proved popular successes. One of the best regarded Finnish films is 'The Unknown Soldier' directed by Edvin Laine (1955). It has become a tradition to broadcast it on television on Independence Day. 'Beneath the North Star' is a another Finnish classic, based on a triolgybby Väinö Linna. The film version was also directed by Laine (1968). It shows the Finnish Civil War from the perspective of the Red Guards. It appeared as Finland was breaking away from the Soviet orbit. Some but not all of the film's content would appeal to Soviet censors, but the film was entered in the Moscow Film Festival. A crime comedy, 'Inspector Palmu's Mistake' directed by Matti Kassila and sequals were made (1960s). They are generally condidered the most popular Finnish films. Over time, the artistic community changed its condescending attuitude toward film bringing about a revivl in Finnish film (1990). Some 15–20 full-length feature films are mow being made annually. Foreign influences such as action films and wuxia (martial arts) have proven popular. The Finnkino company is the primary theater operator.
Tsarist Era
Almost as early as the first movie screening (1895) we note Finns experimenting with film (1896). The first Finnish film, hoewever was not profuced until a decade later (1907). Very few films followed and therewere periods in which no films were produced. Finland at the time was an autonomous part of the Tsarist Empire. We are not sure how Tsaris officials viewed national film industries as Russification was a part of Tsarist policy. The overall Russian film industry, however was not heavily censored in sharp contrast to what followed in Soviet times. Most Russian Tsarist era films were lost or destroyed by the Bolseheviks. Finnish films seem to have fared better. Theis was of course during the silent era. We assumne the subtuitles were done in Finnish but do not have details. The Tsarist Empire was convulsed by World War I (1914-18) and the Russian Revolution (1917).
Finnish Republic
Finland declared its independence (1917) and had to fight a war with the invading Bolsheviks (1918). All of which affected economic and cultural activity like film making. The situatiin stabilized (1920s). Finnish society and cultural activity could thaen freedly develop without Tsarist or Communist constraints. Movie making increased and were part of Finish cultural and popklar life. As withn other small countries, the talkies (1930s), meant that Finish novies could not easily be marketed abroad, except perhaps in Sweden and Estonia. Three main studios began to doninate Finnish films (1930s). After 2 years of peace, the country was again convulsed, this time by World War II beginning with the Soviet Winter War invasion (1939-40) and then the Finnish Continuation War (1941-44). Right in the middle of the two wars, 'Suomisen Family' (1941) was produced showing fmily reyrning to normality. Three months after release, Finland plunged inyo the Continuation War. The country was devestated and only slowly recovered. The three studios made several films, competing with each other (1940s-50s). With the advent of television, film making declined (1960s). Most screenings as a result were foreign films. Studios closed down. Domestic films were heavily political and artistic which had little appeal to most movie goers. The creative community seeking high artistic expression and becoming disdainful of the mass audience seeing them as low-brows unwirthy if high-art. The creative community lost interest in film making. A few film makers produced popular films for the mass audience which was hungary for Finnish-language entertainment. These films were strongly criticused by disdainful critics, but proved popular successes. Over time, the artistic community changed its condescending attuitude toward film bringing about a revivl in Finnish film (1990). Some 15–20 full-length feature films are mow being made annually. Foreign influences such as action films and wuxia (martial arts) have proven popular. The Finnkino company is the primary theater operator.
Individual Movies
One of the best regarded Finnish films is 'The Unknown Soldier' directed by Edvin Laine (1955). It has become a tradition to broadcast it on television on Independence Day. 'Beneath the North Star' is a another Finnish classic, based on a triolgybby Väinö Linna. The film version was also directed by Laine (1968). It shows the Finnish Civil War from the perspective of the Red Guards. It appeared as Finland was breaking away from the Soviet orbit. Some but not all of the film's content would appeal to Soviet censors, but the film was entered in the Moscow Film Festival. A crime comedy, 'Inspector Palmu's Mistake' directed by Matti Kassila and sequals were made (1960s). They are generally condidered the most popular Finnish films.
'Suomisen Perhe' was the first fil bersion of the long running radio show about a well off Finnish family (1938-58). This appears to have been the Finnish version of the Swedush radio series, 'Familjen Björck' which was first broadcast (1936). Based on the radio series, six films were made after the Winter War and during World War II (1941-45) and a final film (1959). The radio show and films have the feel of a German Heimat film. The first film was made just before the launch of the Continuation War (1941-44) -- Finland's failed attempt to regain the territory taken by Stalin in the Winter War. After 2 decades of peace, the country was again convulsed, this time by World War II beginning with the Soviet Winter War invasion (1939-40) and then the Finnish Continuation War. Right in the middle of the two wars, 'Suomisen Family' (1941) was produced. The film shows a family trying to return to normality. Three months after release, Finland plunged into the Continuation War. Is the story of an upper-middle-class family from Helsinki in pring 1940, just after the end of the Winter War. It is set in their countryside house. The movie shows normal family activities and a some special events. We see the arrival of the grandmother and the children who have not had e a regular school year due to the War, the elder daughter preparing themself for university and who fell in love, the father having made poor financial investments.
The Unknown Soldier (1955)
One of the best regarded Finnish films is 'The Unknown Soldier' directed by Edvin Laine (1955). It has become a tradition to broadcast it on television on Independence Day.
Inspector Palmu's Mistake (1960s)
A crime comedy, 'Inspector Palmu's Mistake' directed by Matti Kassila and sequals were made (1960s). They are generally condidered the most popular Finnish films.
'Beneath the North Star' (Täällä Pohjantähden alla) is is a another Finnish classic, based on a triolgy by Väinö Linna of the same title (1968). The film follows the first two volumes of Linna's trilogy. The third volume was later adapted into a film ntitled 'Akseli and Elina' (1970). The film 1968 version was also directed by Laine. It shows the Finnish Civil War from the perspective of the Red Guards fighting to impose Bolshevik rule. The film appeared as Finland was breaking away from the Soviet orbit. Some but not all of the film's content would appeal to Soviet censors, but the film was entered in the Sixth International Moscow Film Festival. The movie starts with the beginning of the the Koskela family croft (rented farm) (1880). It focuses on the Koskela family and their neigbots in fictional Pentinkulma village. The central theme is the precarious condition of the rofters and their effots to improve their lives. The author touches on the various segments of the population, lncluding the poor whose living standaeds were worse than those of the crofters. The story of the film goes all the way to independence (1917) the Finnish Civil War between the Red Guards (Crofters) and the Whites (Government).
