Movies: Erkki Saarela

Based on Franz Kafka's famous novel, director Jaakko Pakkasvirta created this interpretation of the woebegone Josef K., who is trapped in an ever-increasing labyrinth of double talk and bureaucratic nonsense in his efforts to reach the castle. As Jos...

Without money, without papers, and without language skills, Pena manages to get by in Fuengirola, whether on the beach, in restaurants, or at pig festivals....

The very first American-style Post Office robbery in Finland. In the midst of the 60's a gangster quartet led by Hilarius Ruokonen splits up and go into hiding after the heist....

The King Without a Heart is a fairytale about of a happy king who has a young daughter and a lovely wife. After the sudden death of his wife, the king becomes so sad that he wants his heart taken out of his chest. The kingdom is turned into an effect...

Minister Korkolainen happens to bump into his ex-girlfriend from years ago. They end up spending the night together, discussing the past and politics....

A story of one unlucky man's descent into disaster, a dramatic, human-destiny thriller with contemporary social undertones....

A Finnish adaptation of Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky....

Masochists are in for a treat when Spede Productions' most vulgar folk farce hits the screen. Created by no fewer than three first-time directors, the film tells the story of the village of Pölhölä, "where people are even more foolish than in Hölmölä...

The Torniainen are a couple consisting of Raija, a flight attendant, and Hanski, a civil engineer. They have long wanted to have a child. Tests show that Hanski is infertile, and the doctor offers little hope....

Anni wants a new mommy for herself and a new wife for her dad. But dad has forgotten how to find a wife and needs Anni's help....

Matti turns 16 and becomes a man, at least in his father's eyes. Matti wanders around Helsinki, and strange people cling to him like flies to sticky flypaper. At the same time, Matti's girlfriend Leila waits for him somewhere....

Little girl finds a teddy bear from the seashore. Reeta and Teddy Uppo form a deep friendship with each other, but what happens when Uppo meets an old hermit?...

TV play about the legend of Lalli....

Anssi Mänttäri’s low-budget movies with their intimate content have become classics. In this black comedy that takes place in Helsinki in summer the main character (played by Mänttäri himself) jumps from one bar and bed to the next. Especially vulgar...

Is love eternal? Or ideology? When erstwhile communists meet at a food course the result is quite the concoction....

During one spring day, nine people dreaming of life or running away from it, plus a dog on the run, either meet, pass or collide on a certain road. Sisters Seija and Sanna are on their way to the airport because Seija is moving to Canada. Silja and V...

A well-known Finnish man is found murdered in a popular Sicilian resort, and a Finnish police officer who happens to be there begins to investigate the case on his own....

Hanhivaara investigates the murder of an Olympic champion....

Erkki ponders the aesthetics of a political revolution....