Koirankynnen leikkaaja (2004)

Director:

Markku Pölönen

Writers:

Veikko Huovinen (novel)
Markku Pölönen (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 February 2004 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Bright young soldier Mertsi suffers a permanent brain injury in the Second World War. In the late 1940s...

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Lumber Camp | War Veteran | Post WWII | Lumberjack

Awards:

8 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Peter Franzén	...	Mertsi Arhippa Vepsäläinen
Taisto Reimaluoto	...	Eetvi Manninen
Ahti Kuoppala	...	Ville Kuosmanen
Ville Virtanen	...	Foreman Luti
Risto Salmi	...	Horseman Turpeinen
Timo Lavikainen	...	Leinonen
Leo Lastumäki	...	Old Man
Simo Tamminen	...	Doctor
Vieno Saaristo	...	Taimi Kuosmanen
Hannu Virolainen	...	Station-Master
Riitta Piironen	...	Teacher
Seppo Timonen	...	Humu
Aimo Räsänen	...	Driver
Sami Haapala	...	Log Driver
Reino Janhunen	...	Worker

Also Known As:

Dog Nail Clipper (International: English title)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Joensuu, Finland

Company:

Fennada-Filmi

Movie Connections:

Featured in Jussi Gaala 2006 (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Säkkijärven polkka

A great story about the hidden humanity

"Koirankynnen leikkaaja" is a great movie, one of the best ever made in Finland. The great basic story is followed by a gigantic roles by Peter Franzen, who is playing the handicapped Mertsi Vepsäläinen, and also Taisto Reimaluoto as his former war companion. Shortly saying the whole movie is full of warmth, some kind of an hidden humanity which, unfortunately, some people might have already forgotten these days. It's a story about what is important in life and what values do we need to REALLY be happy and proud of ourselves (nothing to do with ecomonical values, is the main point of Markku Pölönen and Veikko Huovinen). It's a story about friendship and about this "friend won't be left" -attitude, which - unfortunately - might have been forgotten on this globalization-time world. This is definitely an excellent movie. It also gives to its watcher a very different view to war in general. After all, who is the biggest hero: a man, who has killed 20 russkies in Winter War or a man, who takes his responsibility about his companions and treat them as a human? Watch "Koirankynnen leikkaaja" - the answer is clear, according to Markku Pölönen and Veikko Huovinen. A great movie, really.