Vuosaari

Just saw this at the Los Angeles Scandinavian Film Festival.

Wonderful movie that follows the stories of several very different people who are only connected by the fact that they live in the same part of town and are all struggling through a difficult time in their lives. This film examines some very intense and dark times in these people's lives, that will probably change them forever, but also shows real warmth and humanity. The characters are all very relatable in the sense that they're all experiencing the types of struggles that people deal with every day. It's a very real examination of what it's like for people to go through life and how each struggle is relative to a person's personal experience.

Watch it.

A powerful and well balanced film in any aspect; excellent acting, great directing, script and photo. See it, you won't be disappointed! From the very beginning it strikes a chord that hold you and gets deeper into your heart shot by shot. "We want to feel, we want to be touched...." The first lines epitomize the theme in this great film and connects to these epic lines by the Swedish writer Hjalmar Söderberg (Doctor Glass):

"We want to be loved, failing that, admired; failing that, feared; failing that, hated and scorned.

We want to instill some sort of feeling. Spirit shudder void and want contact at any price."

Incredible film! I sat and watched the film and couldn't believe a film as such came out of Finland?! Many of the performances were unexpectedly great. I've seen many foreign films over the years; mainly horror films, but 'Naked Harbour' in my opinion rivals many 2012 American dramas. Some may find the film boring and uneventful, but those sort of people are the ones who'll flock to films like 'Transformers and Twilight' and will never understand the purity of such a film as this. If the Oscars ignore this film I will be shocked and amazed. I recommend this film to all those who acknowledge that there are films like this in the world, to those who simply love...good films.

Lots of Helsinki people having it rough it seems, particularly in that eastern suburbs region (very very far from the actual city) called 'Vuosaari'. Sex, violence, exploitation, drug abuse and so on and again and again and once more for the road (out of the theater that is, preferably asap).

So why our great film auteurs such as Louhimies always make these "real"-life dramas and very little else? The answer is simple: they require almost no talent or skill (especially scriptwise) whatsoever. None. And the actors are only allowed to show any emotions while they are intoxicated or otherwise crazy; once again no talent needed because whatever action is possible. The story of the whole Finnish film industry.

Well, just returned from cinema and after seeing this movie and Im sure I will keep this movie in my mind for a long time. Despite all the scenes were in winter Finland - Im sure such a stories can happen anywhere...and to anybody. In some life stories could find parallels to my own life - so enjoyed that the director actually described - just normal life. Some parts were really touching my heart- especially that ones where kids were acting. I liked the way of describing everydays life and troubles - and promised myself to enjoy my actual life more and be more happy what I have now. I will definitely look around for other movies from this director, hopefully see more of them in cinemas...