Badding (2000)

The life of Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki, a Finnish singer.

Director:

Markku Pölönen

Writers:

Heikki Metsämäki, Markku Pölönen

Stars:

Janne Reinikainen, Karoliina Blackburn, Peter Franzén

4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Janne Reinikainen	...	Rauli 'Badding' Somerjoki
Karoliina Blackburn	...	Mari
Peter Franzén	...	Ossi
Puntti Valtonen	...	Arde
Ilkka Koivula	...	Albert Hilton
Pertti Koivula	...	Frans Hilton
Vappu Jurkka	...	Äiti
Hannu Virolainen	...	Yli-Laakio
Jenni Rautawaara	...	Viettelijätär
Orvokki Mäkinen	...	Naapurin mummo
Petri Manninen	...	Radiotoimittaja
Mari Pölönen	...	Sisko
Akseli Sveholm	...	Nuori Badding
Ahmed Riza	...	Divarin myyjä (as Ahmad Reza)
Sue Lemström	...	Työkkäri

Storyline

Perpetually bothered by stage-fright, singer Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki runs away from a gig in Helsinki. One of his old friends is sent to do a story on him for a newspaper, and they travel to their former home village in the country. The characters' interaction and memories illustrate the singer's life and feelings.

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Plot Keywords:

gig | stage fright | 1980s | part fiction | popularity | 

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Taglines:

Tämä ei ole totta. Tämä ei ole valhetta. Tämä on satu.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Buena Vista International

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Release Date:

18 August 2000 (Finland)

Filming Locations:

Helsinki, Finland

Box Office

Budget:

FIM 7,500,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$1,438,848 (Finland) (24 November 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fennada-Filmi

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Mielitauti-rock"
Courtesy of G.A. Johanssonin perikunta, Oriveden kenkätehdas
Courtesy of Warner/Chappell Music, Love Records 1970

User Reviews

A nice, warm-hearted movie of one man's music

Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki (1948-1987) is obviously of no importance internationally, but for Finns he is one of the most beloved rock/pop musicians of all time. As so many other celebrated musicians, he lived a slightly controversial life. Alcohol, depression and lack of self-esteem practically destroyed the last years of his career.

In the Finnish films industry the trend of the first years of the new millennium has been making movies of national heroes, like Jean Sibelius. Most of them are of mediocre quality, really providing nothing new on the subject. There are two exceptions, "Aleksis Kiven elämä" and Badding. I'm saying this because I think movies like these should provide something more than a documentary. These two films do.

This film tells one story of Badding. It is not even trying to stick to reality. Many of the things happening in the movie never actually happened in any form. Does it really matter? Badding was a musician, his importance is in his music, not his life. As the movie includes many of his best songs, the movie must really follow the way of the music, not reality. Maybe some of the people who actually knew Badding might feel that this kind of method is dishonest, but I can't see that as a problem, as long as the movie doesn't have some disrespectful purposes, like some political issues etc. But here Badding is presented as a musician, an ordinary but talented man, and nothing else.

So Markku Pölönen took some of Baddings's music and his personality, an actor that looks ridiculously lot like Badding and made up a nice, warm-hearted story around this. It is not a great masterpiece of art, but it works. The audience is kept satisfied by playing some Badding classics, it doesn't need anything spectacular.

And the story is not that bad either. I admit it is not that original, but I still think it is realistic in a way. I like the spirit, one just has to remember that this is just entertainment. 7/10