Jäniksen vuosi (1977)

Young advertising executive Vatanen suddenly quits his job and his whole life in Helsinki, and decides to spend a while in the Finnish wilderness. A wounded hare hit by a car becomes his ... See full summary »

Director:

Risto Jarva

Writers:

Risto Jarva, Kullervo Kukkasjärvi,

Stars:

Antti Litja, Kauko Helovirta, Markku Huhtamo

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Antti Litja	...	Kaarlo Vatanen
Kauko Helovirta	...	Desk Sergeant
Markku Huhtamo	...	Taxi Driver
Paavo Hukkinen	...	Taxi Driver in Heinola
Juha Kandolin	...	Photographer Miettinen
Kosti Klemelä	...	U. Kärkkäinen
Anna-Maija Kokkinen	...	Lawer Leila Heikkinen
Martti Kuningas	...	Hannikainen, former rural police chief
Ahti Kuoppala	...	Kaartinen
Hannele Lanu	...	Kiosk Vendor
Hannu Lauri	...	Advertising Manager Huhtinen
Heikki Nousiainen	...	Tourist guide Toropainen, "Mr. Toro"
Esa Pakarinen	...	Police Officer #2 (as Esa Pakarinen Jr.)
Martti Pennanen	...	Hunter #1
Tuija Piepponen	...	Irja (scenes deleted)

Storyline

Young advertising executive Vatanen suddenly quits his job and his whole life in Helsinki, and decides to spend a while in the Finnish wilderness. A wounded hare hit by a car becomes his travel companion. Together they find reclusion in the Finnish Lapland, soon to be disturbed by a noisy group of foreign tourists and their pretentious Finnish hosts. When the hare gets ill and needs to see a vet, Vatanen must return to the city and finally face the choice between his new and former life.

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Plot Keywords:

lapland | wilderness | advertising | forest | animal in title | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish English

Release Date:

23 December 1977 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Harens år

Filming Locations:

Helsinki, Finland

Box Office

Budget:

FIM 1,830,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filminor

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

1,770,000 viewers in it's first TV screening.

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Quotes

Photographer Miettinen: I lost my pal in the woods.

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Connections

Referenced in Sininen laulu - Suomen taiteiden tarina: Osa X Liekehtivä aika 1966-1972 (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Kauppaopiston naiset"
Composed and Lyrics by Kari Peitsamo
Performed by Kari Peitsamo and Ankkuli
© Warner/Chappell Music Finland Oy
Love Records

User Reviews

amazing film. an all-time favorite - looking for DVD

A wonderful film in the best Scandinavian eldritch magic tradition, with very far sighted analysis of much of the big issues we are just starting to face.

Should be compulsory viewing for all politicians.

Take your pick from privacy, nuclear sustainability, global climate change, quality of life.

Reminiscent of Thoreaus' Walden, but with modern twist, and considerable humour.

I'm not Finnish, although I've travelled there and have good Finnish friends, but I found it totally accessible, and also culturally informative.