vjaervinen

Contrary to what some have suggested, Kalteva torni, by Timo Koivusalo, is not a bad movie at all. While it may be disappointing to a viewer expecting an intensely thrilling drama, to most others it should serve as a greatly entertaining depiction of man living on the border between the real and unreal.

Kalteva torni is not an action-packed movie about a loony let loose in Italy; instead, it's a soft, gentle and empathetic story about humanity, affection and caring. The value of the movie is not to be found in the plot, nor in the visual realisation. Instead, it offers surprisingly deep portrayals of human beings and their relationships. Much of this is owed to the lead actor Martti Suosalo, a much-experienced and highly talented performer.

When watching this, be sure to expect a peaceful and slow-paced, yet touching account on the backward Finnish mentality put to test in unfamiliar surroundings. If you like movies by such directors as Aki Kaurismäki or Tapio Piirainen, you should be able watch this movie without losing interest.

Uskottu mies, a TV mini-series produced and aired in 1985, is a story about the Finnish society and politics in the rolling 80's.

While the series is not about high quality when it comes to the plot, acting or production in general, it is an entertaining and valuable satire on the Finnish politics at a time when the country was experiencing some of its fastest progress in history.

It tackles the political system of the time and its key players with a twist of greyish humour, and mocks the naivety of the people looking up to their leaders while closing their eyes to the reality.

Uskottu mies is a good depiction of the Finnish society and mentality. While the events in the story may be outdated, the lessons it tries to teach and the criticism that it issues are still very relevant today. Most importantly, it offers a great flashback to the past and makes beautiful presentations of the Finnish landscape, customs and culture.