Mato Valtonen
Encyclopedia
Mato Valtonen is a Finnish
actor, musician and entrepreneur. Valtonen has been a member of the Finnish band Sleepy Sleepers
since 1975 and the Leningrad Cowboys
since 1989.
He was the CEO
of WAPit telecommunications company from its inception in 1998 until it declared bankruptcy in 2001.
As an actor, Valtonen is best known for starring in Aki Kaurismäki
's films starting with 1985's Calamari Union
. In fact, all of Valtonen's film roles have been in films directed, written, and produced either by Kaurismäki or his older brother Mika
. In addition to acting in them, Valtonen also wrote the storylines for Leningrad Cowboys Go America
and Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
actor, musician and entrepreneur. Valtonen has been a member of the Finnish band Sleepy Sleepers
Sleepy Sleepers
Sleepy Sleepers is a Finnish pop/rock/punk band. The band released 19 albums between 1975 and 1989. Sakke Järvenpää and Mato Valtonen were the main members of the band...
since 1975 and the Leningrad Cowboys
Leningrad Cowboys
The Leningrad Cowboys is a Finnish rock band famous for humorously making rock and roll covers of popular songs, exaggerated pompadour hairstyles, long, pointy shoes, often featuring a Russian military band, the Alexandrov Ensemble.-Beginnings:...
since 1989.
He was the CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of WAPit telecommunications company from its inception in 1998 until it declared bankruptcy in 2001.
As an actor, Valtonen is best known for starring in Aki Kaurismäki
Aki Kaurismäki
-Career:After studying Media Studies at the University of Tampere, Aki Kaurismäki started his career as a co-director in the films of his elder brother Mika Kaurismäki. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment , Dostoyevsky's famous crime story set in modern-day Helsinki...
's films starting with 1985's Calamari Union
Calamari Union
Calamari Union is the second full-length film by director Aki Kaurismäki, 1984.-Plot:Calamari Union is an allegorical movie that tells the story of sixteen men all of whom are called Frank apart from a single confrere, Pekka...
. In fact, all of Valtonen's film roles have been in films directed, written, and produced either by Kaurismäki or his older brother Mika
Mika Kaurismäki
Mika Juhani Kaurismäki is a Finnish film director.He is the elder brother of Aki Kaurismäki, and the father of Maria Kaurismäki who graduated from Tampere School of Art and Media in 2008 with her movie Sideline.Mika Kaurismäki has lived in Brazil since approximately 1992 and has made several...
. In addition to acting in them, Valtonen also wrote the storylines for Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Leningrad Cowboys Go America is a 1989 road movie by Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki about the adventures of a fictional Russian rock band that travels to the United States to become famous...
and Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses is a 1994 film directed by Aki Kaurismäki. It is a sequel to the popular 1989 film Leningrad Cowboys Go America that introduced the fictional Russian rock band Leningrad Cowboys which, subsequently, became a notable real life rock band in Finland.-Plot:Picking up where...
.
Partial filmography
- Calamari UnionCalamari UnionCalamari Union is the second full-length film by director Aki Kaurismäki, 1984.-Plot:Calamari Union is an allegorical movie that tells the story of sixteen men all of whom are called Frank apart from a single confrere, Pekka...
(1985) - Leningrad Cowboys Go AmericaLeningrad Cowboys Go AmericaLeningrad Cowboys Go America is a 1989 road movie by Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki about the adventures of a fictional Russian rock band that travels to the United States to become famous...
(1989) - Take Care of Your Scarf, TatianaTake Care of Your Scarf, TatianaTake Care of Your Scarf, Tatiana , also translated as Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana, is a 1994 Finnish/German film directed, produced and co-written by Aki Kaurismäki...
(1994) - Leningrad Cowboys Meet MosesLeningrad Cowboys Meet MosesLeningrad Cowboys Meet Moses is a 1994 film directed by Aki Kaurismäki. It is a sequel to the popular 1989 film Leningrad Cowboys Go America that introduced the fictional Russian rock band Leningrad Cowboys which, subsequently, became a notable real life rock band in Finland.-Plot:Picking up where...
(1994) - Drifting CloudsDrifting Clouds (film)Drifting Clouds is a 1996 Finnish film directed by Aki Kaurismäki and starring Kati Outinen, Kari Väänänen and Markku Peltola. The film is the first in Kaurismäki's Finland trilogy, the other 2 films being The Man Without a Past and Lights in the Dusk.- Plot :Ilona Koponen , a head waitress at...
(1996) - L.A. Without a MapL.A. Without a MapL.A. Without a Map is a 1998 film directed by Mika Kaurismäki and written by Mika Kaurismäki and Richard Rayner, based on his novel. The film stars David Tennant, Vinessa Shaw, Julie Delpy, Vincent Gallo, and Johnny Depp It is a French, British and Finnish production.Also known under the titles:...
(1998)