Monday, April 11, 2005

Patarouva (1959) / Queen of Spades


Patarouva. Kastehelmi Seppälä, the Queen of Spades (Elina Salo), and judge Kaius Kannisto (Pehr-Olof Sirén).

Spaderdam / Queen of Spades. FI 1959. PC: Kurkvaara-Filmi. P+D+SC+DP+ED: Maunu Kurkvaara – based on the novel by Oiva Paloheimo (1956). PD: Olavi Hänninen. M: Leonid Bashmakov.
    Starring Pehr-Olof Sirén (judge Kaius Kannisto), Sinikka Hannula (Pia Tiensuu, queen of clubs), Liana Leskinen (Katriina, queen of diamonds), Leni Katajakoski (Eeva, queen of hearts), Elina Salo (Kastehelmi, queen of spades), Santeri Karilo (Julius Kannisto). 96 min.
    Swedish subtitles by Bengt Pihlström.
    Viewed at Domino, Turku Festival of Finnish Film, 10 April 2005.

One of the early films of the Finnish new wave, produced with a light touch and a light production team, designed by Olavi Hänninen. Free love in a way unseen in traditional Finnish cinema. The story of the playboy lawyer and his four flames. The women are very attractive while the lawyer is smug and boring. Technically, the playback sound has an unintentionally alienating effect.

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