The Harvest Month (1956)
Overview
The title of the Finnish film Elokuu translates to August. Directed by Matti Kassila, one of Finland's premiere filmmakers, Elokuu was adapted from a novel by Nobel prize winning finnish author F.E. Sillanpää. Simply put, the story concerns the decline and fall of a once-proud family, thanks to the alcoholism of its paterfamilias. Toivo Makela delivers a powerfully effective performance as the inebriated protagonist, avoiding the usual "drunken" cliches. The overlong running time, coupled with the downbeat nature of the subject, limited the film's worldwide appeal.
Cast
Toivo Mäkelä
Viktor Sundvall
Emma Väänänen
Saima Sundvall
Rauni Luoma
Maija Länsilehto
Aino-Maija Tikkanen
Tyyne Sundvall
Rauni Ikäheimo
Iita
Senni Nieminen
Hanna Nieminen
Heikki Savolainen
Mauno Viljanen
Pentti Irjala
Mies saunalla
Olavi Ahonen
Mies saunalla
Matti Kassila
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Tommi Rinne
Juhlija (uncredited)
Leo Jokela
Juhlija (uncredited)Recommendations
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