La Mort dans les rapides

It's the late 19th century in Tornionjokilaakso.It tells about men working as loggers and two families sharing a wrath after an accident took place in the rapids.And there are also some romantic feelings happening.Koskenlaskijan Morsian (1937) is directed by Valentin Vaala.It's based on the novel by Väinö Kataja from 1914.The movie stars Jalmari Rinne as Iisakki.The lovely Ansa Ikonen is his daughter Hanna.Eino Heino is Niilo.Eino Jurkka plays Heikki.Tauno Palo portrays his son Paloniemen Juhani.Ossi Elstelä is the preacher Kero-Pieti.Vilho Auvinen is Kulku-Matti.The movie has some fine moments, like when those men fight for their lives in the rapids.This movie suffers from certain heaviness.Sure it offers some grand feelings, but that's all really.And of course it's always a joy to watch Ansa Ikonen and Tauno Palo in the same movie.

Based on Väinö Kataja's novel "Koskenlaskijan morsian" was a successful film from the "golden age" of Finnish movie. Suomi-Filmi had Valentin Vaala re-direct this classic story although Erkki Karhu had made a good silent version in 1923 already.

It's a melodrama of a village along rapids where Iisakki's (Jalmari Rinne) son gets drowned. He bears a grudge to his brother Heikki (Eino Jurkka) who he thinks could have saved his sons life.

In the beginning Vaala gets his best scenes indoors where people try to force confused Heikki to confess his indifference. Today 70 years later the movie's looks ain't that sharp anymore and its strongest passion is gone but still "Koskenlaskijan morsian" is a fine example of Finnish movie making from the 30's.