Variety Is the Spice of Finnish Cinema
The three Finnish films at this year’s edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will have you laughing, pondering, and sitting on the edge of your seat.
Prolific Karukoski Returns to Toronto
Photo: ses.fi
Antti Litja as the Grump
The premiere-driven TIFF has programmed two world premieres and one North American premiere from Finland with two directors returning. Dome Karukoski is already a TIFF veteran with some name recognition with Toronto movie-goers due to previous festival appearances with Lapland Odyssey (Napapiirin sankarit) in 2010 and Heart of a Lion (Leijonasydän) in 2013.
Karukoski’s The Grump gets its world premiere in Toronto on September 4, which just happens to also be the opening night for the festival. The film is based on the wildly popular novels in the Mielensäpahoittaja (Taking Offence) series by Tuomas Kyrö, who co-wrote the screenplay with Karukoski. Antti Litja plays the lead, the constantly aggrieved elderly gentleman from the Finnish countryside, whose mission in life is to be upset about every little thing. He has to confront city living with his son and family with hilarious results.
Multinational Big Game
Finland’s contribution to the action film genre is the world premiere of Jalmari Helander’s Big Game in the Midnight Madness programme. Samuel L. Jackson plays the president of the United States, who survives the downing of the Air Force One in the middle of wilderness with the help of a 13-year-old boy. Apparently, during the filming, Samuel L. Jackson became fast friends with Onni Tommila, who plays the role of the youngster and also starred in Rare Exports, Helander’s debut at TIFF in 2010. Back in 2010, Helander was given a rock star welcome by the audience - hopefully Big Game will again please and increase his fan base in Toronto.
Edgy and Engaging
J-P or Juha-Pekka Valkeapää will be coming to Toronto via the Venice Film Festival's Venice Days, with They Have Escaped (He ovat paenneet), marking his first appearance at TIFF. An intense portrayal of troubled youth, the film has resonated well with audiences, and will appropriately be screened in the Vanguard programme showcasing films that push the envelope.
As in previous years, the 2014 edition of TIFF offers a truly varied selection for any film fan interested in Finnish Cinema and our talented directors.
More information at the festival web site: tiff.net(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)
Text: Laura McSwiggan