Natalia (1979) User Reviews

Travelling with a cow

[Petey-10 · 8/10 · 17 August 2010]

This story takes place in Pelkosenniemi, Lapland.Sammeli Näljänkä and Einari Haataja find a Russian cow called Natalia.Now they find it's their duty to take the cow back to Soviet Union.Things don't go as smoothly as planned, when the train takes the wrong direction to Helsinki.But they have fun, and it's all that matters.Natalia from 1979 is directed by Matti Kassila.Author Arto Paasilinna wrote the screenplay.Ola Johansson and Matti Mäntylä make a great leading team.Martti Järvinen is terrific as Jussi Holopainen, who helps the two men along the way.Marjukka Arasola is fantastic as his love interest Marja the vet.Kauko Helovirta is brilliant as Paavo Jyrkänne.Aarre Karén does a great job as Väinö Volontinen.Helge Herala is one of the kind as Häivä.You have to like Uljas Kandolin who plays Topi Taavitsainen.Same thing with Pentti Irjala who plays his old father.Ahti Kuoppala is great as Jooseppi Heikkinen.Sakari Jurkka gives a great performance as Kaarlo Manninen.Kalevi Haapoja is hilarious as Antti Ala-Riistola.Saara Ranin does excellent job as Mother Näljänkä.Matti Kassila himself does a solid job as Narrator and Secretary of Finnish UN-mission.Also his sons Taavi Kassila and Teemu are seen in the movie.The movie moves smoothly from comedy to drama.It's awfully funny when Einari gets water to the cow and the train leaves before he gets there.So he gets a ride from Antti Ala-Riistola who forgets his glasses.It's quite a ride.It's a beautiful moment when we hear the song Natalia by Martti Järvinen, sang both in Finnish and in Russia.This is a movie worth checking out.