A Summer by the River

A Summer by the River (Finnish: Kuningasjätkä) is a 1998 Finnish film written and directed by Markku Pölönen. The film is set in the 1950s Eastern Finland and tells the story of father Tenho (Pertti Koivula) and son Topi (Simo Kontio) after Tenho's wife — Topi's mother — dies and leaves the two men unable to pay rent. The two men move out of the family home and spend the summer working as lumberjacks in log driving, sleeping on the riverbank and growing closer together through the experience.

A Summer by the River
A Summer by the River theatrical release poster (Finnish)
Directed by	Markku Pölönen
Written by	Markku Pölönen
Produced by	Kari Sara
Starring	Pertti Koivula Simo Kontio Esko Nikkari Anu Palevaara Peter Franzén
Cinematography	Kari Sohlberg
Edited by	Jukka Nykänen
Music by	Vesa Mäkinen
Distributed by	Buena Vista International
Release date	9 February 1998 (1998-02-09)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	Finland
Language	Finnish
Budget	FIM6,275,088
Box office	$1.9 million (Finland)[1]

The film was a major success at the 1999 Jussi Awards winning in five categories including Best Film, Best Actor and Best Direction. The film was selected as the Finnish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 71st Academy Awards but was not accepted as a nominee.^[2][3]

Cast and characters

• Pertti Koivula — Tenho
• Simo Kontio — Topi
• Esko Nikkari — Hannes
• Anu Palevaara — Hilkka
• Peter Franzén — Kottarainen

See also

• 1998 in film
• Cinema of Finland
• List of Finnish films: 1990s
• List of submissions to the 71st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of Finnish submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

References

1. Buddrus, Petra (5 February 1999). "Finnish Box Office Ambushed". Screen International. p. 39.
2. Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
3. "45 Countries Submit Films for Oscar Consideration". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 19 November 1998. Archived from the original on 19 February 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2015.

External links

• A Summer by the River at IMDb