Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Kivenpyörittäjän kylä (The Last Wedding)
1995
***½
Director: Markku Pölönen
Cast: Martti Suosalo, Esko Nikkari, Henrika Andersson, Jarmo Mäkinen, Matti Varjo, Pertti Koivula, Pekka Huotari, Esko Hukkanen

Pekka, who lives in Sweden with his estranged wife and daughter, returns to his home village of Jerusalem in eastern Finland for a summer wedding. Following the hour-long Onnen maa, Markku Pölönen's first long feature is an enjoyable and beautifully shot rural drama comedy. At its best, it's a funny and moving depiction of a man who is afraid to word what he really wants. At its worst, it's a shouting match between a group of drunken characters. The wordy dialogue in thick dialect reveals that this is based on Heikki Turunen's 1976 novel.