Interwoven with scenes that are meant to grab attention by their stunning composition, this biographical look at Finland's violinist Arto Arsi is not so much a narration of his childhood and early years, as an attempt to artistically show what was happening inside his psyche during that time. Literally sold to a master teacher, Sergei Rippas (Tarmo Manni) by his mother when he was still a child, the violin prodigy was forcefully and strictly raised to practice, practice, and perfect his technique. Once an adult, Arsi finds a way to escape the rigors of a U.S. tour and drowns his overworked self in drink, or seeks out one-night stands, or otherwise lets off steam. The tightly-wound spring that has been coiled since he was forced into his grueling training and work sessions -- shown through symbolic images -- eventually snaps in a healthy way, freeing Arsi at last to continue on, simply for the love of music.
Justiina pushes Pekka and Pätkä to take painting lessons after realizing that art can be a way to earn a living. With the help of the yard children, a painting is created that wins first prize at a contemporary art exhibition. In the meantime, the men, along with their assistant Miss Kaihokielo, have been charged with art theft. After the misunderstanding is cleared up, the Puupääs use the art prize money to convert the house's bomb shelter into a children's clubroom.
For six hundred years Sweden had controlled most of Finland until the war with Russia that ended in 1809, when Finland became a Grand Duchy of the Russian Czar. This period drama is set during that early 19th-century war and focuses on one of its heroes, Sven Tuuva. Sven is a decent yet not too brilliant soldier, and his exploits are partly balanced here by the charms of a compatriot.
Office clerk Eero Koskinen prefers to spend his nights drinking and reminiscing the war with his friends, instead of taking care of his wife and two children. A two-week drinking spree gets him fired, and a new job is not easy to find because of his reputation. He goes to a rehab centre in the countryside for a couple of weeks, but with no permanent result. Meanwhile, his wife has to get a job and is employed by her old sweetheart, now a recently divorced successful businessman.
Trade counselor Lillukka leaves his entire fortune to Pekka Puupää, who, thanks to cartoons and films, has become closer to him than his immediate family, who are pursuing their own interests. Pekka starts running a toy factory and hires a freckle-faced bowling boy as the company's errand boy. Widowed trade counselor Gunilla Lillukka tries to get married to Pätkä, who has been promoted to assistant director.
A comedy about a social studies professor opposing a dockworkers strike ending up working at the docks by mistake and having his worldview turn upside down.
1892. Vappu Biörcke and Kaarlo Härkönen get to know each other during the summer in the countryside at the birthday of Vappu Jalle-sedä. In Helsinki, the young people continue their courtship under the supervision of Vapu's aunt, Moster Mella. However, Vapu's father, business advisor Ossian Biörcke, is not as accepting when his daughter's actions begin to be revealed.
A story set over one night in a small rural community we watch various relationships and actions among local people; these include birth, death, and conflicts fuelled by alcohol. The fates of various characters become interlaced over a long and light-filled summer night in the Finnish countryside. Lumberjacks, a deer-eyed young man Nokia, a family of poor farmers, a young girl and her lover. New life is born, old life dies, man is slain in his prime, and his widow continues her life.