The movie begins when Johan Ludvig Runeberg (Eino Kaipainen), our national poet, moves from Helsinki to Porvoo in the year 1837.There he works as a master at Porvoo Gymnasium.He's married to Fredrika (Anni Hämäläinen).Still he starts having some strong feelings for the young and beautiful Emilie Björksten (Ansa Ikonen), who also writes poems.Especially Emilie has to struggle with her feelings.People don't approve their relationship and she's told it's a sin what she's doing.T'J.Särkkä's Runon kuningas ja muuttolintu (1940) is mighty good historical movie.For me the relationship between Runeberg and this woman was unknown and it was nice to learn about that love story.The movie tells the story well, even though pretty theatrically, but it was only typical to that time.Eino Kaipainen makes a good Runeberg.Ansa Ikonen is perfect as Emilie.Not only was she beautiful she was also highly talented.It's nice to watch her first arrival to Porvoo in a carriage, smiling and looking all happy.The camera loved her.Siiri Angerkoski does the part of Ralla and is great as always.Laila Rihte does really sweet role work as Sofi.Evald Terho portrays Elias Lönnrot, the author of our national epic Kalevala.Jalmari Rinne portrays Captain Long.Unto Salminen is Robert Bastman.Hannes Häyrinen is Student in classroom.Sakari Jurkka is in his first movie role portraying Ludvig Runeberg.Also the old Porvoo has a big part in this movie.It's nice to see all those wooden houses.Makes me want to visit that town.Of course it wouldn't look quite the same now.Horses have been replaced with cars and many other things are different now.This movie has captured wonderfully the spirit of Porvoo in the 19th century.
