Finnish Cinema
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Finnish Cinema The Finnish cinema began almost at the same time as others Europeans countries. One year later, after the first showing in France, the Finnish people started to enjoy this breathtaking invent to make still images move, an invent brought to the country by the entrepreneur K.E. Ståhlberg. K.E. Ståhlberg, founded the first Finnish production company and in 1907 released the first ever ‘made in Finland’ movie: The Moonshiners. The company focused later in producing documentaries. A decade later, the first important production company was created: Lyyra Filmi, which built an impressive film studio in Helsinki. |
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Teuvo Puro |
The first twenty years of the 20th century witnessed the steps of cinema in different Europeans countries, and Finland wasn’t the exception. Thanks to Erkki Karu’s keen spirit Suomi Filmi appeared in the scene to start producing films on regular basis and became a key player in the industry development. As the others countries, the first movie treated the common topics like dramas, joys and hurdles in the forgotten countryside towns. However, by the late 20s, Finnish cinema ventured into new genres such as terror with Evil Spells (1927) by Teuvo Puro. |
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The next two decades were a golden era for Finnish cinema. The two leader production companies were challenging for the best actor, a fact that contributed to produce the extraordinary amount of 20 films per year. The two companies were Suomi Filmi and Suomen Filmiteollisuus, also founded by Erkki Karu who was previously dismissed from Suomi Filmi. The fighting for success between the two companies catapulted the Suomi Filmi’s director Valentin Vaala, a romantic films genius who filmed a series of rural movies called Countryside Women. On the other side, Tovio Särkkä, who worked at the rival company, found to become the most prolific director and producer in Finland. The Bad Boy of the Regiment (1938) was the most popular within his 200 movies. |
Erkki Karu |
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Aki Kaurismäki |
Despite of decades of creativity lack and social realism movies, the Finnish cinema experiences a rebirth since the 80s with a new generation of filmmakers such as Aki y Mika Kaurismäki. |
