Suomi-Filmi
Encyclopedia
Suomi-Filmi, lit. Finland-Film, is a Finnish
film production
and distribution
company established in 1919 by Erkki Karu
. Suomi-Filmi produced around 160 feature length films and for most of its history was one of the two most important film companies in the country, along with Suomen Filmiteollisuus
. The company was home for several noted Finnish film directors, mainly its founder Erkki Karu, and the later two main directors Risto Orko
and Valentin Vaala
. After the 'Golden Age' of Finnish cinema ended, the company's film production rate slowed down, and eventually ended with the 1980 film Tulitikkuja lainaamassa. The company still exists, but is mainly only active in the home video distribution of their catalogue of titles.
The company was originally founded as Suomen Filmikuvaamo on December 20, 1919 by Erkki Karu
, but took its present name soon after, in 1921. Suomi-Filmi had a rocky start and took until May 1920 to complete its first short film, Vapaussodan päättymisen muistopäivä. Later on in the same year, the company released their first feature length production, Ollin Oppivuodet, an adaptation of an Anni Swan
novel directed by Teuvo Puro
.
During his stay with the company, Karu worked not only as the CEO
, but also as the head director of the company. While most of the other directors the company hired during the 1920s only worked on a few films and didn't enjoy significant success, Karu could create well-received films such as Koskenlaskijan morsian (1923) and the Aleksis Kivi
adaptation Nummisuutarit (1923). By the end of the silent film
era, Suomi-Filmi was unquestionably the largest film production company in Finland, achieving almost a monopoly status.
In the early 1930s Suomi-Filmi ran into financial difficulties stemming from the global depression started by the Wall Street Crash of 1929
. While the 1920s had been largely successful for the company, yearly attendance figures dwindled countrywide, falling from over 12 million in 1928 to just over 6 million five years later. In 1933, after a falling out with the rest of the company's shareholders due to perceived financial irresponsibilities, Karu had to resign and was replaced as the CEO by Aarne Wuorenheimo. Only months later, however, Karu had founded another film company, Suomen Filmiteollisuus
, which throughout much of its existence competed head-to-head as one of the two leading film companies in Finland along with Suomi-Filmi, although Karu himself died in 1935.
as their chief director and head of production. Orko had previously worked as an assistant director for the company, but was expected to leave with Karu after aiding him in founding Suomen Filmiteollisuus. In the end, the confident Orko couldn't resist the chance of being the top man in the company, when leaving could've meant being always overshadowed by Karu. Orko ended up staying in the company for more than six decades, transitioning from directing to acting as the CEO from 1945 to 1976. From the 1970s to the early 1990s Orko was still the majority stockholder in the company (with the rest of the stocks being held by the rest of his family).
After his appointment Orko had to work hard and fast to re-envigorate the finances of Suomi-Filmi. During the 1930s and the early half of the 1940s Orko directed 13 films – a stark contrast with his later career, when he only directed three. The third film Orko directed, Siltalan pehtoori (1934), became a huge success, and the first Finnish film to reach a million viewers – in a country with a population of around three and a half million at the time. The film has been credited as saving Suomi-Filmi and returning it to a sound financial base.
In 1935, Suomi-Filmi hired another promising young director, Valentin Vaala
, as their second main director. Vaala started his career with the company with Kaikki rakastavat (1935), a romantic comedy
which brought Ansa Ikonen
and Tauno Palo
together on the screen for the first time. During his career with the company Vaala directed 39 films, among the most popular were Juurakon Hulda (1937), Niskavuoren naiset (1938), the two Mika Waltari
adaptations Gabriel, tule takaisin (1951) and Omena putoaa... (1952), and Nummisuutarit (1957).
Other directors who worked for Suomi-Filmi during this period included Orvo Saarikivi, who directed among others Miehen Kylkiluu (1937) and Tottisalmen perillinen (1940). Saarikivi later on moved to Suomen Filmiteollisuus.
Suomi-Filmi's feature film production halted, while the company concentrated on mostly documentary
short films. After the war the company's film production again proceeded rapidly, and when the Continuation War
started, it only managed to slow down production a little, after an initial break. During the years 1940-1944 Suomi-Filmi produced 28 feature-length films.
The latter half of the 1940s were largely successful for Suomi-Filmi. Vaala remained active as the head director while Orko concentrated on the financial side of the company. During the 1950s, Suomi-Filmi's production rate started to slow down, but the company still remained one of the three largest film studios of the country, along with Suomen Filmiteollisuus and the upstart Fennada-Filmi. The other main directors working for the company during the time were Ilmari Unho
, who finished among others Kalle-Kustaan Korkin seikkailut (1949) and Härmästä poikia kymmenen (1950). Hannu Leminen was hired away from Suomen Filmiteollisuus and he directed several films during the 1950s, such as Kesäillan valssi (1951) and Riihalan valtias (1956).
co-production, Tulitikkuja lainaamassa (Za spichkami) in 1980. Later on, the company has still remained visible in the home video distribution of its extensive film catalogue.
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...
film production
Filmmaking
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...
and distribution
Film distributor
A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for releasing films to the public either theatrically or for home viewing...
company established in 1919 by Erkki Karu
Erkki Karu
Erkki Karu was a Finnish film director, screenwriter and producer, and one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema.-Career:...
. Suomi-Filmi produced around 160 feature length films and for most of its history was one of the two most important film companies in the country, along with Suomen Filmiteollisuus
Suomen Filmiteollisuus
Suomen Filmiteollisuus , lit. Finland's Film Industry, is a Finnish film production company founded by Erkki Karu in 1933 after financial problems with Suomi-Filmi. The CEO, director, producer and writer T.J. Särkkä was a central figure in Suomen Filmiteollisuus. Among others, the film director...
. The company was home for several noted Finnish film directors, mainly its founder Erkki Karu, and the later two main directors Risto Orko
Risto Orko
Risto Eliel William Orko was a Finnish film producer and director....
and Valentin Vaala
Valentin Vaala
Valentin Vaala was a Russian-born Finnish film director, screenwriter and edited...
. After the 'Golden Age' of Finnish cinema ended, the company's film production rate slowed down, and eventually ended with the 1980 film Tulitikkuja lainaamassa. The company still exists, but is mainly only active in the home video distribution of their catalogue of titles.
Early years
Erkki Karu
Erkki Karu was a Finnish film director, screenwriter and producer, and one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema.-Career:...
, but took its present name soon after, in 1921. Suomi-Filmi had a rocky start and took until May 1920 to complete its first short film, Vapaussodan päättymisen muistopäivä. Later on in the same year, the company released their first feature length production, Ollin Oppivuodet, an adaptation of an Anni Swan
Anni Swan
Anni Emilia Swan was a Finnish writer. Swan wrote many books for children and young adults, was a journalist for children's magazines and worked as a translator...
novel directed by Teuvo Puro
Teuvo Puro
Kaarlo Teuvo Puro was a Finnish actor, writer, and director.Puro co-directed the first Finnish fiction film, Salaviinanpolttajat, with Louis Sparre in 1907.- External links :...
.
During his stay with the company, Karu worked not only as 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...
, but also as the head director of the company. While most of the other directors the company hired during the 1920s only worked on a few films and didn't enjoy significant success, Karu could create well-received films such as Koskenlaskijan morsian (1923) and the Aleksis Kivi
Aleksis Kivi
Aleksis Kivi , born Alexis Stenvall, was a Finnish author who wrote the first significant novel in the Finnish language, Seven Brothers...
adaptation Nummisuutarit (1923). By the end of the silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
era, Suomi-Filmi was unquestionably the largest film production company in Finland, achieving almost a monopoly status.
In the early 1930s Suomi-Filmi ran into financial difficulties stemming from the global depression started by the Wall Street Crash of 1929
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
. While the 1920s had been largely successful for the company, yearly attendance figures dwindled countrywide, falling from over 12 million in 1928 to just over 6 million five years later. In 1933, after a falling out with the rest of the company's shareholders due to perceived financial irresponsibilities, Karu had to resign and was replaced as the CEO by Aarne Wuorenheimo. Only months later, however, Karu had founded another film company, Suomen Filmiteollisuus
Suomen Filmiteollisuus
Suomen Filmiteollisuus , lit. Finland's Film Industry, is a Finnish film production company founded by Erkki Karu in 1933 after financial problems with Suomi-Filmi. The CEO, director, producer and writer T.J. Särkkä was a central figure in Suomen Filmiteollisuus. Among others, the film director...
, which throughout much of its existence competed head-to-head as one of the two leading film companies in Finland along with Suomi-Filmi, although Karu himself died in 1935.
After Karu
After the departure of Karu, Suomi-Filmi's future looked bleak. With their financial difficulties and lack of directing talent many expected the company to declare bankruptcy. However, Suomi-Filmi managed to avoid disaster by hiring promising young filmmaker Risto OrkoRisto Orko
Risto Eliel William Orko was a Finnish film producer and director....
as their chief director and head of production. Orko had previously worked as an assistant director for the company, but was expected to leave with Karu after aiding him in founding Suomen Filmiteollisuus. In the end, the confident Orko couldn't resist the chance of being the top man in the company, when leaving could've meant being always overshadowed by Karu. Orko ended up staying in the company for more than six decades, transitioning from directing to acting as the CEO from 1945 to 1976. From the 1970s to the early 1990s Orko was still the majority stockholder in the company (with the rest of the stocks being held by the rest of his family).
After his appointment Orko had to work hard and fast to re-envigorate the finances of Suomi-Filmi. During the 1930s and the early half of the 1940s Orko directed 13 films – a stark contrast with his later career, when he only directed three. The third film Orko directed, Siltalan pehtoori (1934), became a huge success, and the first Finnish film to reach a million viewers – in a country with a population of around three and a half million at the time. The film has been credited as saving Suomi-Filmi and returning it to a sound financial base.
In 1935, Suomi-Filmi hired another promising young director, Valentin Vaala
Valentin Vaala
Valentin Vaala was a Russian-born Finnish film director, screenwriter and edited...
, as their second main director. Vaala started his career with the company with Kaikki rakastavat (1935), a romantic comedy
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
which brought Ansa Ikonen
Ansa Ikonen
Aili Ansa Inkeri Ikonen was an award-winning Finnish film and theater actress. In a film career spanning three decades, Ikonen appeared in dozens of films, and was one of the most popular actresses of her time. She frequently starred with actor Tauno Palo as her leading man...
and Tauno Palo
Tauno Palo
Tauno Valdemar Palo was a Finnish actor and singer in what some consider the golden age of Finnish cinema....
together on the screen for the first time. During his career with the company Vaala directed 39 films, among the most popular were Juurakon Hulda (1937), Niskavuoren naiset (1938), the two Mika Waltari
Mika Waltari
Mika Toimi Waltari was a Finnish writer, best known for his best-selling novel The Egyptian .- Early life :...
adaptations Gabriel, tule takaisin (1951) and Omena putoaa... (1952), and Nummisuutarit (1957).
Other directors who worked for Suomi-Filmi during this period included Orvo Saarikivi, who directed among others Miehen Kylkiluu (1937) and Tottisalmen perillinen (1940). Saarikivi later on moved to Suomen Filmiteollisuus.
1940s-1950s
During the Winter WarWinter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
Suomi-Filmi's feature film production halted, while the company concentrated on mostly documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
short films. After the war the company's film production again proceeded rapidly, and when the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
started, it only managed to slow down production a little, after an initial break. During the years 1940-1944 Suomi-Filmi produced 28 feature-length films.
The latter half of the 1940s were largely successful for Suomi-Filmi. Vaala remained active as the head director while Orko concentrated on the financial side of the company. During the 1950s, Suomi-Filmi's production rate started to slow down, but the company still remained one of the three largest film studios of the country, along with Suomen Filmiteollisuus and the upstart Fennada-Filmi. The other main directors working for the company during the time were Ilmari Unho
Ilmari Unho
Ilmari Unho was a Finnish actor, film director and screenwriter. Unho was employed by Suomi-Filmi for most of his filmmaking career....
, who finished among others Kalle-Kustaan Korkin seikkailut (1949) and Härmästä poikia kymmenen (1950). Hannu Leminen was hired away from Suomen Filmiteollisuus and he directed several films during the 1950s, such as Kesäillan valssi (1951) and Riihalan valtias (1956).
Decline
While Suomi-Filmi remained somewhat active in producing films, by the 1960s the popularity of their pictures had started to wane. During the 1970s the company only produced two films of their own, but still remained active in film distribution for both domestic and foreign films until the early 1980s. Suomi-Filmi's final production was the SovietSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
co-production, Tulitikkuja lainaamassa (Za spichkami) in 1980. Later on, the company has still remained visible in the home video distribution of its extensive film catalogue.