Handcuff King (2002)
"Kahlekuningas" (original title)

In the 1970s, a 12-year-old boy Esko lives in Tornio, northern Finland, a town bordering Sweden across the river. Esko befriends a Swedish boy, Pate, and learns to share his obsession for ... See full summary »

Director:

Arto Koskinen

Writer:

Arto Koskinen

Stars:

Miikka Enbuske, Maija Junno, Heikki Hela

3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Miikka Enbuske	...	Esko
Maija Junno	...	Aino, Eskon äiti
Heikki Hela	...	Toivo, Eskon isä
Sulevi Peltola	...	Isoisä
Arttu Kapulainen	...	Juhani
Emil Lundberg	...	Patrick
Lina Hofverberg	...	Helene
Ralph Carlsson	...	Patrickin isä
Joe Hamari	...	Sauli
Mikko Lamminen	...	Eskon kaveri
Joonas Lipponen	...	Eskon kaveri
Petteri Siimes	...	Eskon kaveri
Ville Kotajärvi	...	Eskon kaveri
Mika Koski	...	Kenneth
Jouni Alasaukko-oja	...	Ruotsalaisen jengin jäsen

Storyline

In the 1970s, a 12-year-old boy Esko lives in Tornio, northern Finland, a town bordering Sweden across the river. Esko befriends a Swedish boy, Pate, and learns to share his obsession for Harry Houdini, the legendary escape artist. While standing handcuffed on the railway bridge, contemplating a stunt jump into the icy river, he reminisces the dramatic events of the summer before. For the viewer, his problems are presented with warm humour # gang fights, feeling guilty for lying, Father losing his job, Mother losing her nerves, not to mention Grandfather having lost his willingness to speak since a traumatic war experience 30 years earlier.

---

Plot Keywords:

1970s | harry houdini | family relationships | friendship | death | 

---

Taglines:

Elämässä pitää oppia tekemään asiat silleen oikealla tavalla väärin

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [fi]

Country:

Finland Sweden

Language:

Finnish Swedish

Release Date:

4 October 2002 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Handcuff King

Filming Locations:

Haparanda, Norrbottens län, Sweden

Box Office

Budget:

FIM 10,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kinoproduction, Eurimages, Filmpool Nord

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Rommel, Desert Fox (1951)

---

Soundtracks

"Miehen kunnia"
Written and arranged by A.W. Yrjänä
Lyrics trad.
Alans Apartmen ja Timo Lindholm

User Reviews

A Sentimental Education

"The Handcuff King" is another entry in the "nostalgic yet painful adolescence in rural Scandinavia" genre. This film has its share of sweet moments, but there are more painful ones as the central character, a young Finnish boy named Esko, has to deal with a dysfunctional family living in poverty. At the same time he is abused and shunned by his classmates and former buddies. The only redeeming feature in his other dismal life is the tenuous friendship he forms with a nice Swedish lad from across the border. Esko is appealingly imaginative, but the film is marred by some technical flaws, as well as by its descent into emotional manipulation. At the end, I couldn't help feeling that what Esko and his family really needed was a very good therapist and access to a steady supply of anti-depressants.