Kun isä tahtoo…

The film depicts Finland's actions in the Winter War and Continuation War using a compilation of material collected from narrators, map images, and TK photographers.

Jarvala's daughter Aliina and the miller Jalmari Hurttia are in love with each other. Jarvala's father does not approve of the miller as a son-in-law, because he wants his daughter to marry into wealth. The wealthy widower Elias Horha proposes to Aliina, who eventually agrees to marry the old man.

A successful doctor moves back to her home village and notices severe flaws in its health services.

Liisa Harju, a lively and quick-witted teacher from Savo, gets her first job in Latomeri, Ostrobothnia. She falls out of favor with the local women when the eligible bachelor, doctor Eino Korpinen, takes a liking to her.

Arvo Raitamo, a surgeon from Helsinki, is focused on his career. At home, his wife, who suffers from loneliness with their young son, is kept company by Rolf Brenner, an engineer known as a ladies' man. When the family's son dies in an accident, Arvo, broken with grief, flees to the wilderness of Lapland, where he collapses in the snow. Arvo is saved by the folk healer Aslak and his niece Maaret. Maaret falls in love with Arvo, but Arvo cannot escape his past for long.

A story about Meeri who is going through a divorce. She is hiding the relationship with a boxer. After seeing an advertisement in a magazine, she then hires a cavalier from an ad agency to escort her home from an upper-class party.

Helsinki judge Wilhelm Thorén arrives to investigate the financial mess at Niementaustan Manor. The estate of the declining Carenius noble family is on the verge of bankruptcy and should be put up for sale.

A nobleman in 1830's Finland has to contend with stuck-up relatives, his daughters' suitors, dark secrets from his family's past, mistaken identities and a haunted wing of his mansion.

Blind since birth, Antreas Tuurio earns a meager living selling brushes at the Market Square. Despite his disability, he is a cheerful and optimistic person. Kind high school girl Martta loves Antreas, while office worker Jolanda is the fulfillment of his dreams. The blind and poor man's feelings are not reciprocated, but when he inherits millions, even the flighty Jolanda seeks Antreas' company.

Tornionjokilaakso at the end of the 19th century, Paloniemi's landlord Heikki tries to get out of his financial difficulties with the help of his son Juhan and Nuottaniemi's only daughter Hanna. The happiness of Hanna, who has fallen in love with Antti of Rehti Koskenalusta, is threatened by the evil and dangerous Korpikoski.

Irmeli wants a certain job as a secretary but finds out that she would have to be married in order to get the vacancy. She lies that she has recently married and then gets a stranger from a nearby restaurant to pose as her husband. Complications arise when they have to continue their charade.

Poor but ambitious country girl Hulda arrives in the country's capital and gets a job as a maid for a bachelor Member of Parliament, Judge Soratie. She works hard, never loses her common sense, and starts taking evening classes. Keeping her studies secret from her employer for years, she eventually graduates from the university and becomes candidate in the parliamentary election, stressing women's and working people's rights. Romance with Judge Soratie finally ensues.

Tuulikki Tenho, who lied about her marital status to get a job as a secretary at a timber company, has to pretend that she is married to Yrjö Aaltonen, an architect she has just met. A romance begins to blossom between the couple, but it is revealed that Yrjö is already engaged to Virva Lieki, a dancer returning to Finland from abroad.

Katri Vesa, a young woman from Helsinki, has fallen in love with Erkki Kovalinna, an ambitious young official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is prepared to do anything to win his affection. At her friend's suggestion, Katri leaves the city to make Erkki miss her and finds her life's mission in the countryside in Kari Tuulos, a scientist who lost his sight in an explosion.

A young man arrives in the village. He becomes a miller and delights the girls in the village, which evokes bitterness in others. He is subject to moralistic criticism, even though he is in fact only in love with the tailor's daughter.

Baron Metter is threatening to evict a crofter family from their home. Lauri Vaara a student passing by, falls in love with Marja the family's daughter, and promises to help save their home. Baroness Olivia Metter falls for the young student and helps him with the rescue plan.