Musta rakkaus (1957) User Reviews

Väinö Linna's novel as a terrific movie

[Petey-10 · 9/10 · 10 April 2010]

Pauli Haantie is a lonely student who lives with his uncle's money.Marjatta Salmela is a poor girl living with his workman father.These two find each other and get engaged.The father has high hopes for the relationship, believing Pauli is the right man to support his daughter.But then the jealousy comes between them.A drunken man brags how he seduced Marjatta.After this nothing is the same.Edvin Laine is the director of Musta Rakkaus (1957).It's based on the second novel of Väinö Linna.I read the book before I saw the movie and liked it very much.This is a great adaptation.The acting work is very good.Eeva-Kaarina Volanen gives a brilliant performance as Marjatta in her last feature film.Jussi Jurkka is terrific as Pauli.Director Laine is fantastic as Arttu Salmela.Veikko Sinisalo is marvelous as Unto.Elsa Turakainen is wonderful as the neighbor Mrs. Saariska.Eero Roine portrays Alpre Vaarila.Aku Korhonen is Doctor.Aarne Laine is Evert Haantie.Ismo Kallio is Man at the Ball.Also Vili Auvinen is in the movie.I really liked this movie, more than modern critics give it credit for.It portrays loneliness and jealousy in a terrific way.The ending is really intense.Pauli goes to Unto's apartment and ends up killing him with an iron.This are some differences between this movie and the novel.In the novel Marjatta dies, but in the movie she survives.I'm not against that solution.Both the book and the movie work brilliantly.