Ohh: IMPERATIVE to add in another review on this, as - somewhat surprisingly for a Finnish entry - this is an uplifting, feel-good and fun frolic, which will surely move your spirits superbly. (And so I've found out, knocks spots off (leaves it in the farmland mire!) its precursor: see end!)
Playing on a nice variation of not only sun and moon / spring / autumn opposite ages gelling through diversity, but also a mixed matched pair who come up good against the odds, this is simply a thoroughly delightful watch and nobody who can run across it should miss it or pass it up (the dvd box cover is not so enticing! Sorry about that Heikki - which is a pity coz ...*);
Director, scriptwriter Lymi deserves heaps of praise for not only directing, but especially scripting / adapting with the source novels' author, Tuomas Kyrö ** (plus a third, too) this sweet and sorrow in almost equal doses concoction, so much so that it's long time (if ever) I've watched a film that can get equal laugh out loud, along with also such moving tear jerking, moments. Throwing in some very Finnish character observations - the laconic (elder) Finn - (watch out for the upcoming 'serious business discussion' between protagonist Gramps and his neighbour***, who realises instantly such demands he "get two chairs", then unperturbed by the stinging mosquitoes..: priceless, and more true of the stoic Finnish character than you could guess) - but also from the other side of sophistication divide, the cosmopolitan rejecting the parochialness of his very own remote country (the parental pair now live in far more sophisticated Brussels, Belgium), it could be unfortunate that some of the superb famed Finnish deadpan throwaway lines written in get (literally) lost in translation. For example, as one I can / want to share here (which will not plot spoil), is that you have to know that an "S Kortti" is a store loyalty card ('S Card', see?), so that then knowing of the dated (but pristine condition looking kept!) seventies car make (a Ford ESCORT, right?) the Gramps / 'Grump' proudly still drives, then his outburst at the 'S' chain supermarket cashier always asking about his 'car', is simply fabulous punning observation. (So much so that I think that joke deserves a 'Jussi' all of its own, Tiina / Juha / Tuomas ****!)
Of course, much kudos does rightly go to the young Satu Tuuli (Karhu) playing supposedly just seventeen Sophia, although in reality, actually then in her (early) twenties, coz she got recognised with the country's national acting honours Oscar equivalent (the 'Jussi' = as the American, this a Finnish man's name) - for best actress; and she does go through a lot of emotions (but high-jumping into a lake? Did she bring her swimsuit with her expecting top do that ...)
* but for me the stand out - and so, 'he wuz robbed' (only nominated=didn't win=shame!) - performance is from main star, Heikki Kinnunen, whose character arc development (and past reminiscences wistful gazes) is really utterly stupendous; wait 'til near the end with the
[OPPS: PLOT SPOILER COMING: READ NO FURTHER IF ...]
newly born, is beautifully moving, and so along with directorship kudos to Lymi, goes too, in this viewer's appreciation for then a lingering shot of, surely made in homage to Kubrick's '2001' Star Child scene. (Although perhaps the forest loving Orientals were rather underdeveloped - usual foreigners come good for the usually Finns suspicious (resentful?) of them all trope, sorta got lost ...)
Moving, uplifting, laugh out loud: what more could you want from a - literally, too - life affirming story and watch. Wonderful contribution to cinema all round. ** I think you can just about see him in a cameo at the outdoor grill in the town centre scene. *** Sulevi Peltola also should not be overlooked with his solitary country neighbour with fabulously life grizzled features, delivering one liners to utter perfection ("I can't get you to the hospital, I've had some beers - (pause / beat) - seven"!)
**** N. B. the English titling also doesn't help: misses the audience come on by some margin: literal translation is something like, yes, "Happy Times", but the rest somehow means someone who easily takes umbrage (I believe source novelist Kyrö coined it with his book?): basically, it's become a known Finnish personality type, so sorta resentful, misery (not grumbler, coz he's laconic); and 'Grump' - being even worse, then seeming reminiscent of the Stateside yuletide, 'Grinch' character - just misleads and really, doesn't work to attract a foreign audience as to what to expect. But, of course, 'Grump' is easier and more memorable; I suppose. ADDENDUM: OHH: apparently, it's a sorta sequel with the 'Grump' character already established; But oh, dear, who can know as even though it turned up as the Finnish entry into the 'Toronto International Film Festival' ( that's in its 'proud' credits), so I'm gonna guess somebody somewhere surely sometime translated it (English? French?) for such audience, it didn't come with any subtitling for any other than the given native Finnish dialogue / (mandatory in 'bi'-lingual Finland) Swedish subtitling: so well done (NOT!) there, distributors ('Solar films'?): Obviously an international audience no longer wanted, much less expected, presumably... but in any case, does it matter? For reading body language (etc.), the 'Grump' in this one, besides being a different actor - (as are all to the one reviewed here) - is not in the least typically Finnish laconic, but rather au contraire, constantly gabbling on, and apparently as a miserable ol' git, rather than 'grumpy'. SO: in short, don't waste / expect much of (if anything) your time on the 'prequel' .. (Yup, 'Let it go, let ..')! Just stick with the "Happy Times" update, and you will have. P. S. Oi: and how did his car get fixed for this one, then?!
Playing on a nice variation of not only sun and moon / spring / autumn opposite ages gelling through diversity, but also a mixed matched pair who come up good against the odds, this is simply a thoroughly delightful watch and nobody who can run across it should miss it or pass it up (the dvd box cover is not so enticing! Sorry about that Heikki - which is a pity coz ...*);
Director, scriptwriter Lymi deserves heaps of praise for not only directing, but especially scripting / adapting with the source novels' author, Tuomas Kyrö ** (plus a third, too) this sweet and sorrow in almost equal doses concoction, so much so that it's long time (if ever) I've watched a film that can get equal laugh out loud, along with also such moving tear jerking, moments. Throwing in some very Finnish character observations - the laconic (elder) Finn - (watch out for the upcoming 'serious business discussion' between protagonist Gramps and his neighbour***, who realises instantly such demands he "get two chairs", then unperturbed by the stinging mosquitoes..: priceless, and more true of the stoic Finnish character than you could guess) - but also from the other side of sophistication divide, the cosmopolitan rejecting the parochialness of his very own remote country (the parental pair now live in far more sophisticated Brussels, Belgium), it could be unfortunate that some of the superb famed Finnish deadpan throwaway lines written in get (literally) lost in translation. For example, as one I can / want to share here (which will not plot spoil), is that you have to know that an "S Kortti" is a store loyalty card ('S Card', see?), so that then knowing of the dated (but pristine condition looking kept!) seventies car make (a Ford ESCORT, right?) the Gramps / 'Grump' proudly still drives, then his outburst at the 'S' chain supermarket cashier always asking about his 'car', is simply fabulous punning observation. (So much so that I think that joke deserves a 'Jussi' all of its own, Tiina / Juha / Tuomas ****!)
Of course, much kudos does rightly go to the young Satu Tuuli (Karhu) playing supposedly just seventeen Sophia, although in reality, actually then in her (early) twenties, coz she got recognised with the country's national acting honours Oscar equivalent (the 'Jussi' = as the American, this a Finnish man's name) - for best actress; and she does go through a lot of emotions (but high-jumping into a lake? Did she bring her swimsuit with her expecting top do that ...)
* but for me the stand out - and so, 'he wuz robbed' (only nominated=didn't win=shame!) - performance is from main star, Heikki Kinnunen, whose character arc development (and past reminiscences wistful gazes) is really utterly stupendous; wait 'til near the end with the
[OPPS: PLOT SPOILER COMING: READ NO FURTHER IF ...]
newly born, is beautifully moving, and so along with directorship kudos to Lymi, goes too, in this viewer's appreciation for then a lingering shot of, surely made in homage to Kubrick's '2001' Star Child scene. (Although perhaps the forest loving Orientals were rather underdeveloped - usual foreigners come good for the usually Finns suspicious (resentful?) of them all trope, sorta got lost ...)
Moving, uplifting, laugh out loud: what more could you want from a - literally, too - life affirming story and watch. Wonderful contribution to cinema all round. ** I think you can just about see him in a cameo at the outdoor grill in the town centre scene. *** Sulevi Peltola also should not be overlooked with his solitary country neighbour with fabulously life grizzled features, delivering one liners to utter perfection ("I can't get you to the hospital, I've had some beers - (pause / beat) - seven"!)
**** N. B. the English titling also doesn't help: misses the audience come on by some margin: literal translation is something like, yes, "Happy Times", but the rest somehow means someone who easily takes umbrage (I believe source novelist Kyrö coined it with his book?): basically, it's become a known Finnish personality type, so sorta resentful, misery (not grumbler, coz he's laconic); and 'Grump' - being even worse, then seeming reminiscent of the Stateside yuletide, 'Grinch' character - just misleads and really, doesn't work to attract a foreign audience as to what to expect. But, of course, 'Grump' is easier and more memorable; I suppose. ADDENDUM: OHH: apparently, it's a sorta sequel with the 'Grump' character already established; But oh, dear, who can know as even though it turned up as the Finnish entry into the 'Toronto International Film Festival' ( that's in its 'proud' credits), so I'm gonna guess somebody somewhere surely sometime translated it (English? French?) for such audience, it didn't come with any subtitling for any other than the given native Finnish dialogue / (mandatory in 'bi'-lingual Finland) Swedish subtitling: so well done (NOT!) there, distributors ('Solar films'?): Obviously an international audience no longer wanted, much less expected, presumably... but in any case, does it matter? For reading body language (etc.), the 'Grump' in this one, besides being a different actor - (as are all to the one reviewed here) - is not in the least typically Finnish laconic, but rather au contraire, constantly gabbling on, and apparently as a miserable ol' git, rather than 'grumpy'. SO: in short, don't waste / expect much of (if anything) your time on the 'prequel' .. (Yup, 'Let it go, let ..')! Just stick with the "Happy Times" update, and you will have. P. S. Oi: and how did his car get fixed for this one, then?!
