A genre in itself, the lumberjack film boasted heroes that could steer logs through rapids and split trees in half. This survey of Finnish lumberjack films organized by Dr. Vito Adriaensens (Columbia University | University of Antwerp), created during the 1920s onward, showcases Finland’s rich history of the logging tradition, and its importance in developing a national identity following Finland’s 1917 independence.
Loosely based on the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic poem, this genre-bending film follows a witch who steals the sun in order to spite a community of peaceful loggers who refuse to build her a magic mill. In addition to beautifully colored cinematography, the film features trolls, swans, and sorcery. Directed by Aleksandr Ptushko (1959).
1549045800
1549051200
FRI—February 1—6:30 PM
$12 ($7 ASF Members)
67 min. In Finnish with English subtitles.