The Earth Is a Sinful Song (1973)

An earthy, naturalistically erotic and blood-soaked tale of young Martta's ill-fated affair with Oula, a womanizing reindeer herdsman in the Finnish Lapland of the late 1940s. When the 19-... See full summary »

Director:

Rauni Mollberg

Writers:

Pirjo Honkasalo, Rauni Mollberg

Stars:

Maritta Viitamäki, Pauli Jauhojärvi, Aimo Saukko

5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Maritta Viitamäki	...	Martta Mäkelä
Pauli Jauhojärvi	...	Juhani Mäkelä
Aimo Saukko	...	Old man Mäkelä
Milja Hiltunen	...	Alli Mäkelä
Sirkka Saarnio	...	Elina Pouta
Niiles-Jouni Aikio	...	Oula
Veikko Kotavuopio	...	Kurki-Pertti
Jouko Hiltunen	...	Hannes
Osmo Hettula	...	The preacher
Maija-Liisa Ahlgren	...	Aino Liinukorpi
Kauko Jauhojärvi	...	Antti Lanto
Irja Uusisalmi	...	Anna Kurkela
Eelis Tiensuu	...	Poudan isäntä
Elsa Kellinsalmi	...	Poudan emäntä
Toivo Lampela	...	Outakodan vanhaisäntä

Storyline

An earthy, naturalistically erotic and blood-soaked tale of young Martta's ill-fated affair with Oula, a womanizing reindeer herdsman in the Finnish Lapland of the late 1940s. When the 19-year-old girl turns up pregnant, her alcoholic father is outraged and a series of tragic events follows.

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Plot Keywords:

lapland | male frontal nudity | village | sexuality | sami people | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish Saami

Release Date:

2 November 1973 (Finland)

Also Known As:

The Earth Is a Sinful Song

Filming Locations:

Finland

Company Credits

Production Co:

RM-Tuotanto

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mollberg and Rajala met the original author Timo K. Mukka in his home in Pello, Finnish Lapland, when they were still preparing the screenplay. The eccentric author was reserved at first but eventually got along with Mollberg. In the autumn of 1972 Mukka also visited in the village of Kätkäjärvi, Kittilä, where the film was shot on location. He died roughly six months later and never saw the finished film (he saw only excerpts).

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Connections

Referenced in Ammatti: elokuvaohjaaja - Pirjo Honkasalo (2012)

User Reviews

Captures the authentic culture of many of the immigrant Finns to our small Town (USA)

I'm hoping to get some information on how to buy/rent this excellent Finnish film (or video version-VHS). I have seen it, and sent my mother, and several other second generation Finns to see it when it was shown many years ago in the USA. (Finnish w/ English subtitles) They were amazed at how "familiar" the characters and events portrayed were to their own transplanted experience. Even the dialect was understandable, and they suddenly realized that they didn't need to read the subtitles for their "native tongue". It's particularly important that such films be made available to these fast disappearing immigrant "niches" in the USA. There is a growing awareness,among the descendents of these immigrant cultures, of the loss of an important identity that belies all of the American myths of "the melting pot". Films such as Rauni Mollberg's "Maa on syntinen laulu" (The Earth Is a Sinful Song) (1973) would, I'm sure become a vital part of this "reparation movement"-- much as the Kalevala Epic did for the Finnish national identity. The Finns who immigrated to America instilled a passionate pride in their offspring, which deserves the kind of nourishment that Mollberg's film can provide. Can anyone help me find out how it can be brought back to our "Finn Village"? Thanks (Kiitos)