Kari Väänänen
Also Known As: Kari Kyösti Väänänen, Teddy-Boy Dalton, Karl Vaananen, Kari Vaananen
Biography: Kari Kyösti Väänänen (born 17 September 1953 in Ivalo) is a Finnish actor and director. Domestically he is a member of the Ryhmäteatteri group of actors. He was introduced to international audiences by Aki Kaurismäki; and belongs to the list of his "trusted" stable of actors. His most challenging role has been the eponymous mafia hitman of Rosso, for which he learned all his lines phonetically, without previously speaking a word of Italian. Kari Väänänen was featured in Star Wreck, a Finnish sci-fi parody where he played the Russian president. He also starred in Jim Jarmusch's 1991 film Night on Earth. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Department: Acting
Place of Birth: Ivalo, Finland
Birthday: September 17, 1953
Adult: No
Gender: Male
Popularity:
Known For:
Backwood Philosopher
Overview: Self-taught philosopher Konsta Pylkkänen guides a group of researchers through Finland's Kainuu wilderness in the hopes of having a "sinistä ajatusta", idea out of the blue. While firing upon a hybrid of the hazel grouse and the western capercaillie, kinds of birds, he indeed makes a scientific discovery.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2009-12-25
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Night on Earth
Overview: An anthology of 5 different cab drivers in 5 American and European cities and their remarkable fares on the same eventful night.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1991-12-12
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Underwater Iceland
Overview: Marko Röhr's film crew takes the viewer to Europe's last unexplored area: Iceland's unique underwater world. We explore the geysers of boiling waters and the crystal clear lakes off the coast of Iceland. We dive under the icebergs, into the tears between the continental plates and into the deep caves.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1997-05-09
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Apinan vuosi
Overview: A young student seeks direction in his life to counterbalance the studies through female adventures.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1983-11-11
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Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Overview: The Leningrad Cowboys, a group of Siberian musicians, and their manager, travel to America seeking fame and fortune. As they cross the country, trying to get to a wedding in Mexico, they are followed by the village idiot, who wishes to join the band.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1989-03-24
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Drifting Clouds
Overview: The ever-poker-faced Ilona loses her job as a restaurant hostess, as her tram driver husband, Lauri, also finds himself out of work. Together they must hit the streets of Helsinki, facing up to hardship and humiliation in their quest for survival, guided through the gloom by a ray of hope.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1996-01-26
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Hamlet Goes Business
Overview: When Hamlet discovers his father’s deceased body, he finds himself pulled into a power struggle as his scheming uncle attempts to secure a monopoly on the Scandinavian rubber duck industry. Will Hamlet avenge his father? Will he become the king of rubber ducks? Does any of it really matter?
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1987-08-21
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The Missile
Overview: Niina, a single mother working for a small-town newspaper, is drawn into an investigation into the fall of a Soviet missile that upends her life and that of her small northern village.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2024-02-02
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La Vie de Bohème
Overview: Three penniless artists become friends in modern-day Paris: Rodolfo, an Albanian painter with no visa, Marcel, a playwright and magazine editor with no publisher, and Schaunard, a post-modernist composer of execrable noise.
Genres: Comedy Drama Romance
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1992-02-27
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The Unknown Soldier
Overview: Second silver screen adaption of the Finnish war book by Väinö Linna. The story is based on Linna's experiences as an infantry man in the Finnish army during the so called "Continuation War" (1941-1944).
Genres: Drama War
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1985-12-06
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V2: Dead Angel
Overview: The tough Detective Vares, get hired by a friend accused of murdering a girl. His job is to find the real killer, but people aren't talking. Before he can get traction another homicide takes place- and things move toward a dire conclusion.
Genres: Crime Action
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2007-01-12
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The Breakthrough
Overview: A student film.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1981-09-18
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Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning
Overview: Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning begins with Captain James B. Pirk of the starship Kickstart shipwrecked on the 21st century Earth with his crew. Originally from the distant future, Pirk and his crew traveled back in time to save the Earth from hostile aliens, but lost their ship and became stranded. Pirk's daily routine consists mainly of stuffing his face at the local fast food restaurant, and he is finding it difficult to convince the ladies he is, in fact, an intergalactic space hero from the future. As the prospects for humanity's conquest of space look increasingly bleaker, Pirk comes up with a questionable plan to save mankind's future...
Genres: Science Fiction Action Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2005-08-20
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The Clan: Tale of the Frogs
Overview: Young Alex Sammakko has seen his brothers defy the law in a series of deeds that first land them in jail, and then, after they escape and return to their rural home, land them back in the lap of their locally notorious family. Alex wants nothing to do with them. He is in love with Mirja, whose family is not that different from the Sammakko's, but who shares Alex's viewpoints and feelings. Not helping matters is a police department convinced that all Sammakkos are bad, and the family itself, pressuring Alex to follow in their murky footsteps.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1984-11-30
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Lapland Odyssey 3
Overview: In the third instalment of the franchise, Janne embarks on an epic hike, a journey of self-discovery. His dreams of a tranquil retreat into nature are quickly shattered however, when Räihänen and Kämäräinen both decide to come along for the trip. Meanwhile Janne’s spouse Inari gets the chance to go back to work, but only if she can prove she’s “management material” and a real leader. Inari enters the Swamp Soccer tournament, where to her horror she finds out her ex Little Mikko is also competing.
Genres: Comedy Adventure
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2017-08-23
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Siriuksen vieraat
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1987-04-09
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Ambush
Overview: It is the summer of 1941 and the Finnish army has been mobilized along the border with Russia. A platoon led by Lt. Eero Perkola is waiting for orders to go on the offensive. The platoon receives orders for a recon mission through the wilderness around the Lieksa lake to search for possible Russian defensive positions.
Genres: Drama War
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1999-01-22
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Land of Love
Overview: A comedy of a Finnish man who falls in love, gets tangled deeper into a circle of lies and finds out that he has suddenly changed his name, nationality and skin colour for the sake of love.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2003-12-19
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Honey Baby
Overview: An American, with a past as a successful musician, makes a living by playing at weddings and the likes in Germany. Then he gets an offer to tour in East Europe. During his travels he gets insight and finds true love.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2004-06-26
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Highway Society
Overview: The mechanic Jack tries to get rid of his criminal background.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: de
Release Date: 2000-12-07
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Näkemiin, hyvästi
Overview: When a new man appears in Tuula's life, Jorma does not tolerate the idea and begins to yearn back for his ex-wife. They drift into a situation where both face a big choice that has far-reaching implications for the rest of their lives.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1986-12-19
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Trench Road
Overview: After his wife leaves him, a man becomes obsessed getting his family back together by buying an old house.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2004-08-27
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Amazon
Overview: Widowed and broke Finnish businessman Kari takes his two teenage daughters with him to Brazil. A bush pilot introduces him to the idea of gold mining in the jungle, but a beautiful and educated local woman warns him about the possible consequences to the rain forest. Kari has mixed feelings about the project, until an accident puts him in the care of a local Indian tribe.
Genres: Adventure Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-12-14
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Dirty Hands
Overview: A political drama set in the fictional country of Illyria between 1943 and 1945, the story is about the assassination of a leading politician. The country, an ally of Nazi Germany, is on the verge of being annexed to the Eastern Bloc. Kaurismäki's TV adaptation of Jean-Paul Sartre's play Les Mains Sales (Dirty Hands) tells the story of Hugo (Matti Pellonpää) who has just been released from prison. Before going to prison, he has worked as a journalist at his party's newspaper. This timid journalist, who uses the pseudonym Raskolnikov, wants to advance in his career and gets his chance when Hoederer (Sulevi Peltola), the leader of the party, has to be eliminated.
Genres: TV Movie Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1989-10-05
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Rock'n Roll Never Dies
Overview:
Genres: Drama Comedy Music
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2006-12-22
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Dolly and Her Lover
Overview: Detective Karisto releases Auno 'Räpsy' Pirilä from prison, who in turn has to calve his childhood friend Börje from criminal activities. Alcoholic Dolly takes Räpsy to live in Kallio, Helsinki, and hopes to move to Paris with her in the spring.
Genres: Comedy Romance Crime
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1990-02-02
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Lakeuden kutsu
Overview: Businessman Erkki Hakala returns to Ostrobothnia after years in Florida and buys a metal workshop in Jalasjärvi from the unknown Partanen brothers with his business partner Taisto Matsomppi. Erkki misses his wife Kaisu, who back in the day stayed in Finland, and his child, but will the man be forgiven for years of absence?
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2000-01-14
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Helsinki Napoli All Night Long
Overview: Alex is a Finnish taxi driver in Berlin. One evening pits two men feel comfortable in his taxi with a briefcase full of money, but unfortunately for Alex's money stolen and a group of gangsters are at the nape of the two. Soon it comes to shooting, and when the two men being killed, is good advice costly for the beleaguered driver.
Genres: Comedy Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1987-11-13
Popularity:
Jon
Overview: Story of Jari, a misfit and coward who, after hitting his girlfriend escapes to a fish factory in Norway. There he meets Heikki, who works for the same company. However, the violence follows Jon in Norway too.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1983-02-25
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Harmagedon
Overview:
Genres: Drama Science Fiction Fantasy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1986-03-28
Popularity:
Ripa Hits the Skids
Overview: A week-long glimpse into the wretched existence of Ripa, a long-haired, hard-drinking lug. He is also a filmmaker-wannabee, whose last two projects were condemned for their sex and violence. A Parasite Deluxe, who barely recalls his previous night, Ripa cruises the bars and meets bank-teller Tiina.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1993-02-05
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Kuoleman hellä kosketus
Overview:
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1982-10-21
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Sambolico
Overview: A short directed by Mika Kaurismäki.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1996-06-04
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Train Birds
Overview: Hannes is a beer truck driver in Dortmund. His biggest dream is to win the first prize at the International Timetable Contest in Inari (Finland). When his new boss cancels his extra holidays to go there, Hans goes mad… On his journey to Finland by train, followed by the police, he meets lot of folks and the love of his life.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: de
Release Date: 1998-01-01
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Cha Cha Cha
Overview: A lawyer pays a visit to Matti Ojanperä, a bum living under a bridge in the Helsinki harbour, to inform him that he is about to inherit an American aunt of his. The sum 1,000,000 Fmk would be his, if only he meets the qualifications set by his aunt. He must show that he is capable of 'living properly' and possessing a 'respectable occupation and a family he can support'. Otherwise the money would go to a foundation the chairman of which the lawyer himself happens to be!
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1989-01-20
Popularity:
Spy Games
Overview: A romantic suspense-comedy about CIA agent Harry (Bill Pullman) and SVR agent Natasha (Irene Jacob) fighting to save the world, their lives and secret love in the post cold war Helsinki
Genres: Action Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1999-09-10
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Pedon merkki
Overview: Set during the Second World War in the Finnish war zone.
Genres: Drama War
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1981-09-25
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We Are the Pirates of the Roads
Overview: The Rosvola family – The Robbersons drive around the country in their pirate car robbing bypassing cars of their sweets, extra food and consumer goods. Life changes for the Rosvolas when they accidentally kidnap 10-year-old Vilja, a diligent school girl. Will Vilja succeed in escaping or will she become friends with the Rosvolas´ children Hele (12 years) and Kalle (9 years)? We are the Pirates of the Roads is a funny and crazy adventurous road movie for children.
Genres: Adventure Family Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2015-03-27
Popularity:
The House of Branching Love
Overview: A sort of "Divorce Finnish Style," Mika Kaurismäki's rambunctious comedy, The House of Branching Love , recounts the breakup of a thirty-something professional couple - Juhani, a family therapist, and his wife, Tuula, a successful business trainer.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2009-08-21
Popularity:
Kiwi Christmas
Overview: Fed up with the materialism of Christmas, Santa runs away to New Zealand for a summer holiday. When two Kiwi kids figure out who he is, they have to find a way to get him back to the North Pole in time for Christmas.
Genres: Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2017-11-30
Popularity:
Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan
Overview: A new ice age is coming to England. All energy sources have been depleted and despair is taking over the earth. The young king decides to use his last trump card before his power collapses and anarchy reigns over the island kingdom.
Genres: Drama Comedy History
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1986-09-19
Popularity:
Viimeiset rotannahat
Overview: Anssi Mänttäri’s low-budget movies with their intimate content have become classics. In this black comedy that takes place in Helsinki in summer the main character (played by Mänttäri himself) jumps from one bar and bed to the next. Especially vulgar black humour.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1985-01-18
Popularity:
Rosso
Overview: Giancarlo Rosso, a professional assassin from Sicily, is sent to Finland to kill a very specific target. When he reaches the country, he discovers that the target is one of his past loves.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1985-10-11
Popularity:
Paper Star
Overview: Anna Kelanen is an ex-model, who just has been released from prison. She thinks back on her life, when she was a rather successful model, and on the things that went wrong.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1989-09-29
Popularity:
Fingerpori
Overview: Live action comedy about a fictional town and it's uncommon people, based on a comic strip 'Fingerpori', by Pertti Jarla.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2019-10-16
Popularity:
Iron Horsemen
Overview: Bad Trip, a biker who has been freshly inducted into a gang, flees from them after stealing one of their bikes.
Genres: Action Thriller Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1995-01-27
Popularity:
Master Cheng
Overview: Cheng, 45, a restaurant owner from China, has travelled with his young son halfway around the world to a remote village in Finland. His wife died recently in an accident, and Cheng wanted to have a break from everything by traveling with his son to see an old Finnish friend who lives on a farm in the countryside of Finland. It’s the most remote place Cheng can imagine with endless forests, thousands of lakes, a country with entire population of one-fifth of Cheng’s home town, Shanghai.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2019-09-27
Popularity:
Bad Luck Love
Overview: A shocking crime forces a man to re-evaluate his life, only to find that going straight is more complicated than he imagined. Ali is a low-level criminal who spends much of his spare time working out at a gym with his brother Pulu. Ali spends most of his day stoned on marijuana, while Pulu is known to drink cleaning products when he's run out of booze. Ali has fallen in love with Inka, a bright woman with a mind of her own, and her independent nature occasionally throws him into a fit of jealousy.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2000-09-29
Popularity:
Calamari Union
Overview: A group of men all called Frank—except for one named Pekka—have had enough of life in their working-class neighborhood, so they set off for a better existence in the magical seaside district of Eira. But the way is long, and the group face many hurdles including stray dogs and defunct streetlights.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1985-02-08
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Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Overview: After years of fame and misfortune in Mexico, the members of the Leningrad Cowboys decide to return to their native village. Their former manager Vladimir, who now calls himself Moses lead them on their way home.
Genres: Comedy Adventure Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1994-02-17
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Älä itke Iines
Overview: Älä itke Iines is an absurd comedy about an eccentric community that lives on the roofs and attic of an apartment building, struggling to improve their living conditions. The dialogue is entirely improvised by the actors.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1987-02-20
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Christmas Story
Overview: Hundreds of years ago in Lapland, a little boy named Nikolas loses his family in an accident. The villagers decide to look after the orphaned boy together. Once a year - at Christmas - Nikolas moves to a new home. To show his gratitude, Nikolas decides to make toys for the children of the families as good-bye presents. Over the years, Nikolas's former adoptive families become many, and soon almost every house has presents on its doorstep on Christmas morning. At thirteen, Nikolas is sent to live and work with Iisakki, a grumpy old carpenter, who forbids Nikolas to continue making presents for Christmas. Gradually, however, Nikolas wins Iisakki's trust. Together they begin to look after the Christmas traditional that Nikolas has begun. When the aged Iisakki has to leave Nikolas and move away, the tradition of Christmas presents is once again at risk. Thankfully, Nikolas comes up with a solution that brings children joy every Christmas, even continuing to today.
Genres: Fantasy Family
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2007-11-16
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Kymmenen riivinrautaa
Overview:
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2002-08-30
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Goodbye Gibraltar
Overview: Goodbye Gibraltar, directed by Ulrika Bengst, is a film about reconciliation, encountering different lifestyles and dreams.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: sv
Release Date: 1993-12-17
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Mestari
Overview:
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1992-03-06
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Ylösnousemus
Overview: A man fakes his own suicide in order to see how his close ones react.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1985-09-27
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Bohemian Eyes
Overview: Documentary about the life of Finnish actor Matti Pellonpää.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2011-01-26
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Kukunor
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1989-04-07
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Onni von Sopanen
Overview: 11-year-old Onni is struck with the idea that his parents aren't his biological parents.
Genres: Comedy Family
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2006-08-11
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The Last Border
Overview: One man's quest for revenge in a post-apocalyptic world
Genres: Science Fiction Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1993-08-20
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The Rise and Fall of a Friendship
Overview: The egocentric author Jalo Rautakumpu welcomes a visitor to his cabin in the Lappish wilderness. After sauna and a bottle of alcohol, the friendship is formed. But friends can be bad for business.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2012-03-23
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The Tough Ones
Overview: The Tough Ones tells a story of two friends who have a hard time finding their place in the society. Antti and Jussi are released from jail. While they were doing time for bank robbery, the third man involved in the robbery, the one who was not convicted, has become a policeman. He tries to help his friends to settle into the small town in Pohjanmaa, but the boys start a black market liquor business instead. The road seems to lead back to the jail.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1999-01-15
Popularity:
One Foot Under
Overview: Visa Vuorio, a 35-year old team leader at the Helsinki city gardening department, is suffering from a terminal neurological disease and only has a few months to live. Because of this, he is a member of a therapeutical support group for people suffering from terminal diseases. Visa's life changes when a young female reporter, Hanna Manninen arrives at the support group offering to write a series of articles about Visa's life story.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2009-03-20
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Zombie and the Ghost Train
Overview: Antti "Zombie" Autiomaa does two things well: play the bass guitar and drink. After several months' sleeping on the streets of Istanbul, he returns to Helsinki where he's called into the army but discharged on mental health grounds after adding turpentine to the officers' soup. Zombie lives bleary-eyed in an apartment off his parents' house where his lonely, unemployed father suffers from heart disease. His girl-friend Marjo has taken up with a hairdresser but comes back to Zombie. His friend Harri hires him as a roadie for his band "Harry and the Mulefukkers" then gives him a chance as a bass player. He has his girl and he has a gig, but can Zombie put the bottle down?
Genres: Drama Comedy Music
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 1991-07-26
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Ryhmäteatteri
Overview: Documentary on the history of Ryhmäteatteri theatre company.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2018-02-03
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Let My People Go !
Overview: Everyone knows that Ruben is Jewish, gay, half-French, half-Finnish, an ungrateful son and disappointing lover, a thief who can’t help himself, and possibly a murderer to boot. The only person who doesn't know who Ruben is is Ruben himself. When he comes to a major turning point in his life, Ruben cannot make up his mind which way to go. Should he follow his people or his heart?
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 2011-12-28
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The Grump: In Search of an Escort
Overview: Grump's life follows the same familiar routines: spring is here and the early potato harvest is ripening. But Grump crashes his beloved Ford Escort and the car has to be scrapped. A new, modern vehicle is no match for quality and the nearest Escort, a 1972 model, can be found in Germany. When the Grumps's sons refuse to help, he must travel to Germany alone.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: fi
Release Date: 2022-09-09
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Arne's Legacy
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: de
Release Date: 2013-11-13
Popularity: