The Moonlight Sonata

1988 1h 26m FI

😐

5.8

MID

★5.8TMDB · 33

HorrorComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A female fashion model Anni Stark takes leave from the fashion business and goes to Finland's Lapland for a vacation. Little does she know that there's a totally lunatic bunch of local hillbillies living in a nearby farmhouse. The plot thickens as one of the residents begins to harass Anni, who is left alone in the wilderness with only her dog to protect her. Too bad for her that her dog turns out to have divided loyalties.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Tiina Björkman
Anni Stark
Kari Sorvali
Arvo Kyyrölä
Mikko Kivinen
Sulo Kyyrölä
Kim Gunell
Johannes
Soli Labbart
Äite Kyyrölä
Ville-Veikko Salminen
Carli
Risto Salmi
Motellin isäntä
Toivo Tuomainen
Kauppias

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Olli Soinio
Writers: Olli Soinio
Languages: Finnish
Countries: Finland

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

86 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Part of the "Kuutamosonaatti" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Olli Soinio, shot by Kari Sohlberg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Antti Hytti. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Irma Taina shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Tiina Björkman and Kari Sorvali and Mikko Kivinen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0095473 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Olli Soinio directs. Kari Sohlberg behind the camera. Antti Hytti scores. Irma Taina cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Finland. Dialogue in Finnish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

186 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
238 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Part of the "Kuutamosonaatti" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Olli Soinio, shot by Kari Sohlberg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Antti Hytti. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Irma Taina shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Tiina Björkman and Kari Sorvali and Mikko Kivinen carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0095473 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 33 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Kari Sohlberg
Original score: Antti Hytti
Editing: Irma Taina
Production design: Torsti Nyholm
Costume design: Marjatta Nissinen
Makeup / hair: Petri Salo
Sound: Paul Jyrälä
Runtime: 86 min · 1h 26m
Status: Released
Original language: FI
Certification (US): 18
IMDB: The Moonlight Sonata (1988)

Part of

Kuutamosonaatti

This film collection centers on interpersonal relationships, hidden dangers, and navigating precarious situations. Set in diverse locations like the fashion industry and Finland's Lapland, each film reveals a darker side of seemingly benign environments. Characters include a fashion model who becomes a victim of malevolent locals and a trio dealing with loyalty and friendship. These stories highlight the fragility of relationships, societal shifts, and the thin line between serenity and peril. Blending thrillers, mysteries, and dark fantasies, the films evoke a range of emotions, building suspense and challenging notions of safety and trust. The collection's immersive storytelling captures the audience's imagination, appealing to those who enjoy nuanced storytelling and psychological exploration. These films offer thought-provoking narratives, encouraging reflection on human behavior.