The Saimaa Gesture

1981 2h 8m FI

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 12

DocumentaryMusic

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A documentary film about a tour of three Finnish rock bands around Saimaa lake system in a steam boat in 1981. The bands (Juice Leskinen Slam, Eppu Normaali and Hassisen Kone) are shown playing songs in their gigs and, in between, the members give intimate interviews or just act plain silly and have a good time.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Juice Leskinen
Self - Juice Leskinen Slam
Vesa Sytelä
Self - Juice Leskinen Slam
Safka Pekkonen
Self - Juice Leskinen Slam
Petteri Salminen
Self - Juice Leskinen Slam
Ila Louenranta
Self - Juice Leskinen Slam
Jari Yliaho
Self - Juice Leskinen Slam
Ismo Alanko
Self - Hassisen Kone
Jussi Kinnunen
Self - Hassisen Kone

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mika Kaurismäki
Writers: Aki Kaurismäki, Mika Kaurismäki
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 / 7

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Mika Kaurismäki, shot by Timo Salminen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Juice Leskinen and Vesa Sytelä and Safka Pekkonen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0083022 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 12 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mika Kaurismäki directs. Timo Salminen behind the camera. Hassisen Kone scores. Antti Kari cuts. Produced in Finland. Dialogue in Finnish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

145 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Mika Kaurismäki, shot by Timo Salminen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Hassisen Kone. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Antti Kari shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Juice Leskinen and Vesa Sytelä and Safka Pekkonen carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0083022 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 12 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.