Juha

Juha is a traditional melodrama, where the life of a humble peasant couple is disturbed by a city slick. He seduces the poor wife and brings her to the city, but dumps her in a brothel once she falls pregnant. The synopsis may sound familiar – the film is based on Juhani Aho's classic novel by the same name. The book – written during a period of oppression and thus proposing a political undertone – has been translated into a film before by several directors, including Mauritz Stiller and Nyrki Tapiovaara. However, it seems that Kaurismäki was inspired more by American sob drama, and it's no coincidence that the Casanova drives a Sierck (which most likely is a part of the director's personal collection). (VpM) (Midnight Sun Film Festival)