Red Line (1959 film)
Red Line (Finnish: Punainen viiva) is a 1959 Finnish drama film directed by Matti Kassila. It is based on the 1909 novel of the same name by Ilmari Kianto.[1] The film was entered into the 1st Moscow International Film Festival;[2] however, the reception at the film festival was poor due to the exaggerated character of a social democratic agitator (played by Jussi Jurkka) and weak quality of the film's subtitles.[1]
| Red Line | |
|---|---|
Finnish film poster | |
| Directed by | Matti Kassila |
| Written by | Ilmari Kianto Matti Kassila |
| Produced by | Mauno Mäkelä |
| Starring | Holger Salin Liisa Nevalainen Jussi Jurkka |
| Cinematography | Esko Nevalainen |
| Edited by | Ossi Skurnik |
| Music by | Osmo Lindeman |
Production company | Fennada-Filmi |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | Finland |
| Language | Finnish |
| Budget | FIM 25,415,861[1] |
In 1959, the film won five Jussi Awards in the following categories: Best Screenplay (Matti Kassila), Best Original Score (Osmo Lindeman), Best Actor (Holger Salin), Best Supporting Actor (Jussi Jurkka) and Best Supporting Actress (Rakel Laakso).[1]
Plot edit
The film dates back to critical points in Finnish history, until 1906, when a new law guaranteeing universal and equal suffrage was enacted, and until 1907, when the Finnish people went to the parliamentary election for the first time to draw a "red line." The main characters are Romppainen's couple, Topi and Riika, who live in a backwood cottage with their five children. The knowledge of the election and the hope for change will bring faith to the future of the poor family at Christmas.
Cast edit
- Holger Salin as Topi Romppanen
- Liisa Nevalainen as Riika Romppanen
- Petri Tanner as Sake
- Jukka Eklund as Vesteri
- Marianne Eronen as Petti
- Terhi Virtanen as Iita Linta Maria
- Tiina Jokela as Pirjeri
- Jussi Jurkka as Agitator Puntarpää
- Rakel Laakso as Kunilla
- Tarmo Manni as Simana Arhippaini
- Pentti Irjala as Shoemaker Raappana
- Tyyne Haarla as Cupper Kaisa
- Toivo Mäkelä as Jussi Kettuvaara