The Harvest Month

The Harvest Month

1956 · 94 min · ★ 6.7 · Drama

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.

Directed by Matti Kassila · Written by Matti Kassila

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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
Tauno Kajander Taave
Sylvi Salonen Actress
Topi Kankainen Alpertti
Pentti Irjala Mies saunalla
Olavi Ahonen Mies saunalla

Make it a double feature

3h 13m together

The Harvest Month

Gas, Inspector Palmu!

Both from Matti Kassila.

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