Sauna (2008)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Antti-Jussi Annila

Writer:

Iiro Küttner (written by)

Release Date:

24 lokakuu 2008 (Finland)

Genre:

History | Horror

Tagline:

Wash your sins.

Plot:

As a 25-year war between Russia and Sweden concludes, two brothers who are part of an effort to outline new border accords become undone by their actions, and their mistreatment of a young woman during their journey. |

Plot Keywords:

Border | Closeted Gay | Religious Differences | Girl Pretending To Be Boy | Bathing Scene

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Ville Virtanen	...	Eerik
Tommi Eronen	...	Knut
Viktor Klimenko	...	Semenski
Rain Tolk	...	Rogosin
Kari Ketonen	...	Musko
Sonja Petäjäjärvi	...	Poika
Vilhelmiina Virkkunen	...	Tytär
Taisto Reimaluoto	...	Isäntä
Ismo Kallio	...	Kylänvanhin
Kati Outinen	...	Eukko
Dick Idman	...	Roukkula
Ivo Kubecka	...	Munkki
Elena Leeve	...	Isännän tyttären ääni (voice)
Elena Spirina	...	Rogosinin äidin tuutulaulu (voice)
Peter Holmlund	...	Ruotsalaisten tulkki

Also Known As:

Filth (International: English title) (pre-release title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

Finland | Czech Republic

Language:

Finnish | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Finland:K-15

Filming Locations:

Finland

Company:

Bronson Club

Finally a surprise.

When I saw people were comparing this movie with Tarkovski's work, I thought it was yet another exaggerated overstatement. I was wrong. While watching this I had Stalker flashbacks. It also reminded me of Guillermo del Toro's El labirinto del fauno. Antti-Jussi Annila knows his thing. Photography, sets, acting, editing were all at the highest level. I only had a problem with a subtitling mistake at the beginning. Some ignorant wrote: "war between Finland and Russia". lol The movie portrays events from the 16th century. You have to know some history in order to watch this movie. I would suggest consulting wikipedia, or some other source of information, about the Swedish- Russian conflict or you might get a little bit lost. This is not a movie for everyone and it's definitely not easy viewing. It asks a lot but gives everything back with interests. It is not a horror movie. It's narrative points more towards Bulgakov's Master and Margarita than the Stephen King novels. If you understood Tarkovski's work, exception made for Zerkalo, then you should have no problems with this one. Great questions demand great answers. Stay away from those that know the answers because they are lying. As Tarkovski said: "The goal of art is to give answers to difficult questions. If not that then, at least, it should pose the right question." That's exactly what this movie does. A must see for those that appreciate quality cinematography and witty film making. It's 9 out of ten because I'm expecting a lot more from Annila who is only at his second full feature length movie.