The Last Knit: dealing with a personal inner hell of addiction and compulsion
Laura Neuvonen, “The Last Knit” (2005) Technically this digital animated short is well done but the very simple plot of a woman addicted to knitting a…
Finnish Films
Tom of Finland: a film of hope, sympathy for underdogs and inspiration to others suffering hardship and oppression
Dome Karukoski, “Tom of Finland” (2017) As a general introduction to the life of gay icon Tom of Finland, real name Touko Laaksonen, for a general…
French and French-language Films, Northern European Films
Le Havre: emotionally deep and heartwarming film about the value of community, love and friendships
Aki Kaurismäki, “Le Havre” (2011) A heartwarming comedy drama that focusses on deception and the plight of illegal migrants, “Le Havre” features characters, a plot and…
Northern European Films, Russian and Soviet Films
The Sampo: good-looking film with a moral let down by watered-down story and wooden acting
Risto Orko and Alexander Ptushko, “The Sampo” (1959) A joint Finnish-Soviet fantasy production aimed at a family audience, “The Sampo” is a very loose retelling of…
The Man without a Past: heart-warming comedy about need for “identity” to survive in modern society
Aki Kaurismäki, “The Man without a Past” (2002) A heart-warming comedy about a man who is beaten up and left for dead but survives only to…