Sauna (2008)

Director:

Antti-Jussi Annila

Writer:

Iiro Küttner (written by)

Release Date:

24 October 2008 (Finland)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Wash your sins.

Plot:

As a 25-year war between Russia and Sweden concludes, two brothers who are part of an effort to outline new border accords become undone by their actions, and their mistreatment of a young woman during their journey. |

Plot Keywords:

Border | Border Region | Gothic Horror | Wreck A Movie | Eyeglasses

Awards:

4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Ville Virtanen	...	Eerik
Tommi Eronen	...	Knut
Viktor Klimenko	...	Semenski
Rain Tolk	...	Rogosin
Kari Ketonen	...	Musko
Sonja Petäjäjärvi	...	Poika
Vilhelmiina Virkkunen	...	Tytär
Taisto Reimaluoto	...	Isäntä
Ismo Kallio	...	Kylänvanhin
Kati Outinen	...	Eukko
Dick Idman	...	Roukkula
Ivo Kubecka	...	Munkki
Elena Leeve	...	Isännän tyttären ääni (voice)
Elena Spirina	...	Rogosinin äidin tuutulaulu (voice)
Peter Holmlund	...	Ruotsalaisten tulkki
Asko Vainio	...	Ondrei Suurinen
Timo Halonen	...	Ruotsalainen knihti
Eero Jaakkola	...	Ruotsalainen knihti
Aleksei Kettunen	...	Venäläinen streltsi
Juha Linna	...	Venäläinen streltsi
Stefano Pallanza	...	Venäläinen streltsi
Antti Eskola	...	Pohjalainen talonpoika
Markku Salo	...	Pohjalainen talonpoika
Heikki Tuomaala	...	Karjalainen talonpoika
Ari Wirta	...	Kaatamolainen talonpoika
Tarmo Leppänen	...	Kaatamolainen talonpoika
Kari Nurmi	...	Kaatamolainen talonpoika
Olavi Kari	...	Kaatamolainen talonpoika

Directed by
Antti-Jussi Annila		(as AJ Annila)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Iiro Küttner		written by

Produced by
Jesse Fryckman	....	producer
Filip Hejduk	....	line producer
Tero Kaukomaa	....	producer
Anna Konttinen	....	post-production producer
Heikki Leikola	....	associate producer
San Fu Maltha	....	associate producer
Artturi Mutanen	....	associate producer
Martti Ylöstalo	....	post-production producer

Original Music by
Panu Aaltio

Cinematography by
Henri Blomberg

Film Editing by
Joona Louhivuori

Casting by
Tutsa Paananen		(as Tutsa Virtanen)
Pia Pesonen
Ivan Vorlícek

Production Design by
Béda Vladimír Dvorák		(as Vladimir Bedrich Dvorak)
Antti Nikkinen
Ville Vauras

Costume Design by
Anna Vilppunen

Makeup Department
Martina Janotova	....	assistant makeup artist
Linda Kopecka	....	assistant makeup artist
Tereza Pracharova	....	assistant makeup artist
Laura Rantaniemi	....	assistant makeup artist
Salla Yli-Luopa	....	makeup designer (as Salla Mäntymaa)

Production Management
David Promberger	....	production manager
Essi Suomela	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Shakir Hafoudh	....	second assistant director
Antti Lahtinen	....	assistant director

Art Department
Ellinoora Aro	....	assistant art director
Timo Hyppönen	....	graphic designer
Jiri Maran	....	set decorating stand-by
Jiri Navratil	....	property master
Ahti Pursiainen	....	assistant art director
Saara Salmi	....	assistant art director
Riina Sipovaara	....	graphic designer
Frantisek Sloup	....	set decorating stand-by
Petr Votava	....	prop buyer

Sound Department
Joonas Jyrälä	....	sound recordist
Vesa Meriläinen	....	boom operator
Vesa Meriläinen	....	sound designer
Miia Nevalainen	....	foley editor
Miia Nevalainen	....	foley mixer
Olli Pärnänen	....	sound mixer
Panu Riikonen	....	sound designer
Panu Riikonen	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Erkki Feodoroff	....	special effects technician
Jarno Jernström	....	special effects technician
Jiri Maran	....	special effects
Jukkis Nissilä	....	special effects foreman
Jonas Nourisson	....	special effects technician
Mikko Sarkkinen	....	special effects coordinator
Terhi Silenius	....	special effects assistant
Frantisek Sloup	....	special effects
Ilkka Vanhamäki	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Juha Jokinen	....	visual effects
Pasi Kaarto	....	visual effects coordinator
Lasse Kilpiä	....	animator: titles
Sakari Leppä	....	visual effects
Timo-Pekko Nieminen	....	visual effects
Antti Peltoranta	....	visual effects
Eric Raunio	....	animator: titles
Carlos Santos	....	animator: titles
Olli Leppänen	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Pavel Bezdek	....	stunt coordinator
David Matousek	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Sari Aaltonen	....	first assistant camera
Antti Härkönen	....	first assistant camera: 2nd unit
Jindra Kares	....	lighting technician (as Jindrich Kares)
Aleksi Koskinen	....	still photographer
Kosti Lehikoinen	....	key grip
Jarkko Liikanen	....	second assistant camera
Sami Mäntymaa	....	lighting technician
Harri Naarajärvi	....	key grip: 2nd unit
Juha Niska	....	best boy
Joel Siitonen	....	grip assistant
Sami Toro	....	key grip
Anne Vahlsten	....	second assistant camera: 2nd unit
Henry Wacklin	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Frantisek Petrak	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Katka Coufalikova	....	assistant costumer (as Katerina Coufalikova)
Henrik Heiskanen	....	seamstress
Onerva Hemmilä	....	costume cutter
Onerva Hemmilä	....	head of sewing room
Apolena Krotka	....	assistant costumer
Emmi Leeve	....	assistant to costume designer
Katja Rautapohja	....	seamstress
Susanna Tekkala	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Giuseppe Di Giorgio	....	digital transfer
Pentti Keskimäki	....	color timer
Outi Kinnunen	....	film scanner
Joonas Kiviharju	....	film scanner
Kari Manns	....	color timer
Mikael Palsio	....	editorial trainee
Antti Reikko	....	assistant editor
Ville-Matti Vasama	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Panu Aaltio	....	musician: synthesizer
Panu Aaltio	....	orchestrator
Niall Acott	....	music recordist
Dave Daniels	....	musician: solo cello
Matt Dunkley	....	conductor
Mark Forster	....	assistant music recordist
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra coordinator
Charlotte Matthews	....	assistant orchestra coordinator
Perry Montague Mason	....	concert master (as Perry Montague-Mason)
Mikko Oinonen	....	music mixer
Anna-Kaisa Pippuri	....	musician: English horn

Transportation Department
Lubomir Dopita	....	driver: makeup bus
Juha-Antti Heikkinen	....	transportation
Petr Hybner	....	transportation
Jiri Kotan	....	transportation
Timo Lahtinen	....	transportation
Jirí Malek	....	driver: production trailer
Jirí Marek	....	driver: off-road vehicle
Kamil Zimmer	....	transportation

Other crew
Jenni Ahlbom	....	horse keeper
Anne-Mari Antila	....	horse keeper
Ladislav Benetka	....	genny
Jana Bukovska	....	finances
Susan Heiskanen	....	translator
Kati Helander	....	marketing intern
Niina Honkasola	....	marketing intern
Vladimir Horak	....	minibus hire
Sini Hormio	....	script supervisor
David Hysek	....	minibus hire
Hannu Iso-Herttua	....	horse keeper
Sinikka Iso-Herttua	....	horse keeper
Petr Jelinek	....	runner
Sini Jääskeläinen	....	production assistant
Ukko Kaarto	....	marketing manager
Marketa Kaderkova	....	finances
Aleksei Kettunen	....	translator: Russian dialogue
Jenny Kilpi	....	horse keeper
Jiri Krejcir	....	set properties
Lotta Lanamäki	....	production assistant
Martti Lehelä	....	cars
Tuomas Lius	....	translator
Marika Mäkelä	....	horse keeper
Veli-Matti Mäkolä	....	finances
Maija Nurmio	....	double: Tytär
Sico Plosiny	....	cherrypicker operator
Olli Rinne	....	marketing intern
Pavel Rizek	....	genny
Michael Rossler	....	location manager
Inari Sainio	....	caterer
Barbara Sarochova	....	production coordinator
Valtteri Simonen	....	translator: Russian dialogue
Martin Stanék	....	base camp runner (as Martin Stanek)
Essi Suomela	....	finances
Juha Säkkinen	....	location manager: second unit
Jaakko Toppari	....	double: Musko
Ville-Matti Vasama	....	film printing
Petri Österlund	....	location manager

Thanks
Antti Hukkanen	....	thanks
Timo-Pekko Nieminen	....	special thanks
Pekka Ollula	....	thanks
Jarmo Puskala	....	thanks
Timo Vuorensola	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Bronson Club
• Etic Pictures
• Yleisradio (YLE)

Distributors

• NonStop Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (theatrical)
• 8-Films (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Another World Entertainment (2009) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Filmfreak Distributie (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• IFC Films (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Matchbox Films (2011) (UK) (DVD)
• Njutafilms (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• WVG Medien GmbH (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• WVG Medien GmbH (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Blastwave

Other Companies

• Dakota Music Services  music preparation
• Digital Film Finland Oy  post-production facilities
• E. D. A. Catering  catering
• EVTEK-ammattikorkeakoulu  visual effects
• Elokuvamuonitus Nakki  catering
• Finnlab  film lab
• Helsinging Tilikeskus Oy  financing
• Meguru Film Sound  sound post-production
• PRO3  extras casting
• Roolituspalvelu Oy  casting
• Scandia Rent  cars
• Set 4 You  set building
• Soundtrack Studio  music studio
• Suomen Elokuvasäätiö  funding

Also Known As:

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

Finland | Czech Republic

Language:

Finnish | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | Netherlands:16 | UK:15 | Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Finland

Company:

Bronson Club

Trivia:

The word 'Poika' means 'Boy' in Finnish. However, the character 'Poika' is played by a girl 'Sonja Petäjäjärvi'.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Modern day fillings are visible in the mouth of one character.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Eerik:[Eerik just brutally killed a man with a knife] 73...
Knut:73 what?

Horror Movie, not quite

If someone told me "hey, watch this movie about a haunted sauna, its a really scary horror movie!".. I guess I'd stay as far away from the movie as possible. Luckily I saw some pictures of this Finnish movie and they looked really great.

Everyone looking for a horror movie should stay away from this. Its pretty laughable that so many people focus on the sauna and some ghosts in this movie as typical horror clichés while the director works so obviously on making every single piece and image in this movie a symbol for guilt.

"Sauna" or "Filth" (which is the far more fitting title referring to a statement by one of the Russian soldiers in this movie) is placed after the Russian/Swedish war around 1600 when a group of Russian and Swedish soldiers are setting for the new borders. The opening of the movie with the drawing of borders in blood and then the first shots of water turning red already indicate where this movie is going. Everything is carried by some great cinematography and the lead characters, 2 brothers of a very different kind. One is Knut, a mapmaker with high goals, the other is Erik, a soldier with a grim past who has his problems adjusting to the new peace.

Erik constantly looking for trouble soon gets the group of soldiers into problems when messing with a family. The town the group soon finds in the middle of a swamp becomes a clear symbol of Erics previous atrocities with as many inhabitants as victims on Erics list, a strange girl reminding them of recent wrongdoings (also involving a sauna) and animals and people who clawed out their eyes. The whole issue of not being able to face your past is present throughout the movie that is more like a fable. There is plenty of interesting historical information as well as philosophical dialog including the story about the king and filth or the thoughts if hell is just a place that god turned his back on. The place is soon presented and the irony is that yet everyone is fighting for the land soon there is a place that no one wants to take but rather wants to give to his enemy.

"Sauna" is full of these abstract images and the finale is far from a clear resolution. After all the director clearly tries to make the viewer have his own thoughts. Actually I am still working on figuring the closing images out but however this is a damn interesting and different movie with great cinematography, acting and an interesting setting. There sure are some horror elements in this movie, but I'd rather consider this a mix of art-house movie and drama and its definitely worth giving a chance.