Lapin kullan kimallus (1999) User Reviews

Lapland is more than just tundra, Sami and reindeer

[alan-467 · 6/10 · 16 November 2010]

I think Tuukka's review is unduly harsh. As a foreigner who is curious about Finland, but who is not an expert on the country, its history or culture, the movie provides several features of interest. After all, Lapland is more than just tundra, Sami and reindeer. Many features were beautiful - in particular, the colouring of the vegetation in the opening scene is amazing, together with the river scenes. On the other hand, there was no attempt to hide the millions of flying insects (how did the actors managed to ignore them?!!!) I did know (though many foreigners wouldn't know) that Finland was not an autonomous nation at the time of the movie's setting, but this was emphasised by the fact that the senior administrators shown were all Swedish - also that the Swedish governor had a British wife.

The plot itself was fairly predictable, but the dialogue was OK for the most part, the acting was more than adequate, and the photography was superb.

Smooth, but empty

[Tuke · 5/10 · 13 September 1999]

Åke Lindman's "Gold Fever in Lapland" is a finnish film made also for international distibrution. But beware, because I really can imagine how especially foreigners will find this movie boring and insignificant.

It's a story about the massive gold fever in 19th century northern Finland. Lindman clearly tries to say something about the greed, primitiveness and the everlasting search for better life in human nature, but fails.

In the end, the film is very empty, and watching it can be compared to hiking in the cold woods of Lapland with a bunch of swearing gold-diggers, which it actually really much is about.

Good try, Åke, but I don't think this will do well in the international markets. Well, older finnish people might like it and the scenery is beautiful, but that's pretty much it.