Pearls and Pigs (2003)

When their bootlegging father ends up in jail, four twenty-something brothers need money to pay his debts to local crooks. Next, their 9-year-old half-sister is dumped on their doorstep by ... See full summary »

Director:

Perttu Leppä

Writer:

Perttu Leppä

Stars:

Mikko Leppilampi, Laura Birn, Amanda Pilke

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mikko Leppilampi	...	Läde
Laura Birn	...	Laura
Amanda Pilke	...	Saara Mäkinen
Unto Helo	...	Timo
Timo Lavikainen	...	Ruho
Jimi Pääkallo	...	Poju
Pekka Valkeejärvi	...	Erkki 'Ukko' Valtteri Hirvonen
Outi Mäenpää	...	Saara's Mom
Antti Reini	...	Laura's Boyfriend
Antti Virmavirta	...	Sika
Tomi Salmela	...	Limppu
Sakari Kuosmanen	...	Lehikoinen
Matti Onnismaa	...	Mom's Boyfriend
Risto Salmi	...	Liquor Store Vendor
Marko Tiusanen	...	Bailiff

Storyline

When their bootlegging father ends up in jail, four twenty-something brothers need money to pay his debts to local crooks. Next, their 9-year-old half-sister is dumped on their doorstep by her prostitute mother. A karaoke set helps reveal that the little girl is quite a singer, just as a talent contest for children is coming up on national television offering more than enough money to the winner. If only the kid weren't so hopelessly shy...

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Plot Keywords:

pubic hair | male pubic hair | male frontal nudity | male nudity | male rear nudity | 

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Taglines:

Naurat tai itket ja naurat!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

During the credits the main characters are seen answering questions in a police interrogation.

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Connections

References A Case for Two (1981)

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Soundtracks

Tyhjä arpa
Written by Jiri Nikkinen and Luri Luokkala
Lyrics by Jaana Rinne
Performed by Clifters
Manus / One Inch Rock / Warner Music

User Reviews

You'll laugh...or cry and laugh. Probably the latter

If you want some serious fun, this is not for you. It is impossible to apply the word serious to this film in any way. This is hilarious fun, but it probably doesn't appeal to foreigners. As a Finn, I laughed my ass off though, so that tears came into my eyes. The tagline said: "You'll laugh. Or cry and laugh", meaning that you will laugh, or you will be compelled to do it. It is a much used Finnish saying, and it was true.

The problem about Finnish films is that they are rarely understood by foreigners. Foreigners seem to have a problem with direct nudity, especially I've heard remarks of masculine nudity. Not one single scene showed nakedness in the way Hollywood films usually do (I will not go into details, you know all about it). But I won't generalise, go and see for yourself. Finnish people just have a very different approach and attitude towards nakedness...

Exaggeration is the key that builds the humour in this film. Saara's song was lovely, but the way it was filmed was really over tragic, making it in fact funny. And sweet. The reveling of the brothers is also very tragicomic. Just like in Pahat pojat or Pitkä, kuuma kesä.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Release Date:

29 August 2003 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Pearls and Pigs

Filming Locations:

Rantakylä, Joensuu, Finland

Box Office

Budget:

EUR1,300,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,799,636

Company Credits

Production Co:

Talent House, Pohjois-Karjalan Ammattikorkeakoulu

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1