Kulkuri ja joutsen

This movie is one of my favorite's. The man Tapio Rautavaara is true a legend. Superb athlete(Olympic Gold medalist and world champion), great musician and charismatic actor.

Tapio Liinoja suits very well in his role as Rautavaara, but the best part is his musician-partner Reino Helismaa. This is Martti Suosalo's best performance what i have seen and he adopts perfectly Reino Helismaa's role as touring comic and fantastic songwriter. Timo Koivusalo is not my favorite directors, but he really does it this time. And i think he really uses the old methods like in SF movies very well and it makes it like good old time Finnish entertainment. Only bad thing to say about this movie is that you have to know quite much about Finnish movie history. But very good that my hero "Tapsa" Rautavaara is remembered this way.

Film is basically drama made of true story of Tapio Rautavaara (kind of post-WW2 national hero (Olympic champion and singer), who made himself known as romantic hobo (kulkuri) in many films) and Reino Helismaa (who was very skilled song & play maker, making mostly light popular music. He performed also, but was not as popular).

Years following WW-2 they made tours around Finland together, but at some point separated with hard feelings, and stayed separate untill near death of Helismaa. Film is basing mostly on this two friends false pride, which prevented them to ask forgiveness for each others mistakes, thus shadowing some 20 years of their lives.

Film also displays some other popular Finnish performers from '50 - '70, and is quite good insight to their mostly sad stories. (As far as I know any facts.)

I liked film much, mostly because it gave kind of unique insight of recent past of Finland, in totally different viewpoint than I have seen before this. Film ads well to 1998-1999 published Finnish films, which have been well made (especially comparing to funding) and where actors have really done good job.

I don't like all Finnish movies, but I like this one. This movie isn't a modern avant-garde "all life is crap" movie like some ("Pitkä kuuma kesä" etc.) but a genuine, smooth story which just flows along. The main characters (Tapio Rautavaara and Repe Helismaa) looked and acted very much like the real people they're based on, even though I am too young to have seen them in real life. The story was good, mainly because it was possible to do the entire movie without any real violence. If you are a Finn, or otherwise like Finnish movies, you can't go wrong with this one.

Do you know where I can get this DVD? I live in the United States and can't seem to find the DVD anywhere. Anyone living in Finland or any where over in the United kingdom please e-mail me if you have a copy of this hard to find film since I am living in the united states. Also if you know of any online store that sells this film please let me know where I can find this film! Thank you, Chad Collins If you need any of my info please e-mail me right away if you have this DVD! Thanks. Also if you know any Finnish DVD sites to where I can purchase them in the United States that would be great! Thanks Again!<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Once again please let me know if you have this title on DVD at all!

This story takes place in Finland during 1949-1965.It tells about singer-songwriters Tapio Rautavaara and Repe Helismaa.And sure Esa Pakarinen has some role in the story, too.Kulkuri ja Joutsen (1999) is directed by Timo Koivusalo.This was his debut as a director, and before this he was mainly known as the comical character Pekko Aikamiespoika.Like the Rillumarei movies, also his movies have lacked the critical success.There are some really good actors in this movie.Tapio Liinoja plays Tapio Rautavaara while Martti Suosalo is Reino Helismaa.Heikki Nousiainen is Esa Pakarinen.Pertti Koivula plays the part of Kauko Toivonen.Anna Haarala is Repe's wife Lempi.Heidi Herala plays Tapsa's wife Liisa.Her mother Marja Korhonen plays Kreeta of Kallo.This is he last movie the ailing actress has done.Martti Katajisto gives his last performance as T.J. Särkkä.Ari Wirta plays Masa Niemi.Matti Mäntylä is Toivo Kärki.Raimo Grönberg plays Olavi Virta.Ilkka Koivula portrays Jorma Ikävalko.Tuija Piepponen is Siiri Angerkoski.Kai Lehtinen is Lj Liimatainen.Esko Nikkari is Veikko.Maritta Viitamäki is Mimmi.Juha Laitila plays Teukka.Taneli Rinne is Civil Servant.Kalevi Haapoja is Constable.Aarre Karén is Doctor.Risto Salmi is Ironmonger.Antti Majanlahti and Mika Nuojua are soldiers.Kalle Wallin is seen as Lasse Pöysti.The movie won a Jussi award for Best Actor (Martti Suosalo), and a well deserved one.It tells the story of these Finnish legends truthfully.You find it most amusing how Repe makes those unbelievable rhymes.And it's touching when Esa finds his friend Masa lying dead on the bed.Watch this movie if you want to learn something about Finnish cultural history.