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:

sami | male frontal nudity | village | sexuality | religious sect | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Mollberg met the 19-year-old ship waitress Maritta Viitamäki in the Port of Mikkeli. Viitamäki needed parental permission by law to be part of the film since she was underage (the age of majority in Finland at the time was twenty years of age). Her parents were concerned since the role of Martta Mäkelä included several scenes of nudity. Author Timo K. Mukka was also 19-year-old when his debut novel "Maa on syntinen laulu" was released.

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Connections

Referenced in Ammatti: elokuvaohjaaja - Pirjo Honkasalo (2012)

User Reviews

Absolute Gem!!

What a movie. The first thing that came to my mind when the end credits started rolling over a gorgeous waterscape was how beautifully the film justifies it's title and lives up to it, capturing all of the Finnish rural life in all its majestic scope and gory details. The movie unfolds in a poetic manner, weaving a really melancholic and sinful song in its course, and laying bare the intricacies of Lapp (indigenous people of Lapland) lives and the most carnal of human behaviors. The village life is portrayed with utter honesty and is so brutally natural in its narrative that it will surely grip you and exert an air of morbidity mixed with beauty. Disbelieving, you will watch their lives and realize that deep inside, you too are like them, ruled by instincts, and whilst they acted as they felt, we, the modern men, devise new ways to achieve the same through deception and slime. Even if each character has morals that won't match up to our (fake) standards, you, as a viewer cannot help but admire the toughness and gut in their lives. Conservatism versus Desires leads to a fate that is bleak but yet optimist and stoic and cyclical in its anti-climax. The story revolves around Martta, a promiscuous girl in love with a womanizing herdsman, and how their love ripples through a family. The Padre, an intentional insertion by the director, does not fail to burn the imagination as he delivers fear unto the villagers with his poisonous and twisted sermons, and drives them into an orgy to purge sins. The movie always tries to explore contradictions and honestly speaking, what is life without contradictions? In giving no answers and taking no sides, Mollberg is able to capture life in its magnificence, and create a reflective and awesome movie experience. Totally recommended. Truly an allegorical film and a microcosmic representation of humanity under the sheen.

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