Rantasalmen Sulttaani is another one of 50's Finnish light entertainment movies. Unlike other such comedies of the time, which are simple-minded yet light-hearted, this piece plays out like an awful children's play. Even though I am most certain that this level of imbecility and offensiveness can only be a product of adults. Among it's sins are complete objectification of women, racist and cultural stereotypes, and what seems to be a lack of anything resembling a script. Could it be that they just went to Spain and Algeria and fooled around enough to fill a feature's duration of film?
The paper-thin plot is to be expected, but here we really have nothing to salvage. No laughs, unless the few nervous laughters let out during those sudden rushes when one is overcome by the shame of actually devoting any attention to what is transpiring on the screen. The musical numbers are nothing special, and shorter than usual, thus not offering enough distraction from this... what ever should I even call this?
Amateurish, chaotic, offensive at worst. Confusing at best. What were they thinking? I suggest that you, dear reader, think, and do your best to avoid this mess of a movie. Luckily the film is short, but then again, life is too short to waste any time on this.
