It is the time of Continuation War in Finland.Private Joose Keppilä finds a piece of manila hemp and decides to smuggle it home by tying it around his body.The rope is tied tightly around his body, and in the train he turns blue ands feels nauseous.Manillaköysi (1976) is made for TV and it's directed by Veli-Matti Saikkonen.It's based on the novel written by Veijo Meri in 1957.I have not read the book, but the movie is terrific.Erkki Pajala is outstanding in the lead.He won a Jussi award for his performance as the suffering private Joose Keppilä.Leila Itkonen is marvelous playing his wife Elviira.Vesa Mäkelä does great job as Fiksu.You have to like the performance of Esko Hukkanen, who plays Vääpeli.Martti Kuningas is great as Iso.Hannu Kahakorpi is amazing as Seonnut alikersantti.Iris-Lilja Lassila does fine job playing Sylvia.Mikko Nousiainen is marvelous as Keittiömies.Kari Franck is very good in his role as Hullu katolla.Harri Tirkkonen is great as Lääkäri.Martti Kainulainen gives a funny performance as Asemamies.Jaakko Nuotio plays Poika.Antti Hytti is Soittaja and Henri Kapulainen plays his player friend.Asko Sarkola and Pirkka-Pekka Petelius in his debut movie play Sotapoliisi.Heikki Nousiainen is Korpraali.Manillaköysi shows the absurdity of war in a brilliant way.The scene where the corporal shoots towards his own men claiming they're Russians is most memorable.Vääpeli goes to him, trying to use some psychology, but gets shot.The dream sequences are surreal.There's the big pig slaughter, when the soldiers find those animals eating the corpses.And when the mad man is about to jump off the roof of the asylum.Vääpeli threatens to topple the house if he doesn't come down.He comes down.Humor has a big role in this movie.Laughing is one of our few privileges when death comes near us.
Review of Manillaköysi
