Pikku Pietarin piha (1961)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Jack Witikka

Writers:

Aapeli (novel)
Aapeli (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 December 1961 (Finland)

Genre:

History

Plot:

In a small Finnish town in the 1920s, 12-year-old Pietari Jormalainen lives in a lively courtyard surrounded by wooden houses...

Plot Keywords:

Childhood | Mother Son Relationship | Small Town | Stepmother | Boy

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Leif Aaltonen
Aapeli	...	God (voice) (as Simo Puupponen)
Kaarlo Halttunen	...	Clocksmith
Eija Hämäläinen
Pia Hattara	...	Vetterantin Torotea
Hannes Häyrinen	...	Manager Palkeinen
Raili Helander	...	Liisi
Pentti Irjala	...	Caretaker Harakka
Tea Ista	...	Vetterantin Klory
Leo Jokela	...	Vennu Harakka
Leevi Kuuranne	...	Jormalainen
Irja Kuusla	...	Tattari's wife
Heimo Lepistö	...	Tattari
Eila Pehkonen	...	Hilma
Pekka Pentti	...	Henry
Nisse Rainne	...	Caretaker Kuikka
Saara Ranin	...	Vetteranska
Jouko Rikalainen	...	Osku
Leo Riuttu	...	Friman
Heikki Savolainen	...	Photographer Toivakka
Irma Seikkula	...	Clocksmith's wife
Eero Siljamäki	...	Immu
Olavi Suhonen
Tuukka Tanner	...	Pietari Jormalainen
Elsa Turakainen	...	Karoliina
Henny Valjus	...	Clocksmith's mother-in-law (as Henny Waljus)
Reino Valkama	...	Cloth merchant

Also Known As:

Little Presents (International: English title)

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Suomi-Filmi

Movie Connections:

Featured in Tähtien tarina: Hannes Häyrinen (2008) (TV)

Nostalgia in a Finnish way.

The 12-year old Pietari Jormalainen talks to God about his mother he has recently lost.He lives in a 1920's environment with wooden houses and fine personalities.One day he gets a new mother called Karoliina.Pikku Pietarin piha (1961) is directed by Jack Witikka.It's based on Aapeli's novel.The author himself gives the voice to God.Tuukka Tanner makes a perfect child actor to play Pietari.Leevi Kuuranne plays his father who sells goods at the market place.Elsa Turakainen is great as Karoliina.Heikki Savolainen is marvelous as Photographer Toivakka.Leo Jokela (Vennu Harakka) and Tea Ista (Vetterantin Klory) make a great couple.It's awfully funny to watch them go out on a date with a bunch of kids following.Pentti Irjala is fantastic as Caretaker Harakka with his harsh wisdoms to the kids.Other great actors include Kaarlo Halttunen (Clocksmith), Irma Seikkula (Clocksmith's wife), Pia Hattara (Vetterantin Torotea), Hannes Häyrinen (Manager Palkeinen),Saara Ranin (Vetteranska) and Leo Riuttu (Friman).Pikku Pietarin piha moves smoothly from touching to funny.It shows us Finland as it used to be.Now the yards have quiet down and the kids don't play there anymore.