Paha maa (2005)

Director:

Aku Louhimies

Writers:

Aku Louhimies (writer)
Jari Rantala (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

14 January 2005 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

In the end things work out for the best for all of us.

Plot:

When a schoolteacher is sacked he projects his bad mood at his troubled teen son. He in turn buys a CD player from a pawnshop with counterfeit money...

Plot Keywords:

Family Relationship | Death On Duty | Police | Multi Level Marketing | Multiple Story Line

Awards:

17 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Jasper Pääkkönen	...	Niko Smolander
Mikko Leppilampi	...	Tuomas Mikael Saraste
Pamela Tola	...	Elina Oravisto
Petteri Summanen	...	Antti Arhamo
Matleena Kuusniemi	...	Hannele Arhamo
Mikko Kouki	...	Isto Virtanen
Sulevi Peltola	...	Teuvo 'Teukka' Hurskainen
Pertti Sveholm	...	Pertti Smolander
Samuli Edelmann	...	Autokauppias 'Jartsa' Matikainen
Saara Pakkasvirta	...	Kauppiaan äiti
Pekka Valkeejärvi	...	Kauppias
Susanna Anteroinen	...	Rehtori
Niklas Hellakoski	...	Konsta
Emilia Suoperä	...	Maria, Enkeli ambulanssissa
Jonathan Kajander	...	Joonatan 'Jonttu' Arhamo
Paavo Westerberg	...	Oiva
Zoja Sazonov	...	Silja, strippari
Eija Koskimaa	...	Sirkku
Jerry Wahlforss	...	Macke
Nora Kajantie	...	Monica
Batu Fere	...	Samu
Miska Kaukonen	...	Masa
Jarmo Hyttinen	...	Puti (as Jami Hyttinen)
Janne Virtanen	...	Tuomaksen kuulustelija
Aleksi Mäkelä	...	Tuomaksen kuulustelija
Vesa Vierikko	...	Rikospoliisi Elinan kotona
Mats Långbacka	...	Rikospoliisi Elinan kotona
Laura Malmivaara	...	Sosiaalivirkailija
Markus Saano	...	Hannelen poliisipari, poliisi laitoksella
Martti Syrjä	...	Hannelen poliisipari
Mauri Heikkilä	...	Tuomaksen ukki Ville
Veli-Pekka Hänninen	...	Pappi
Mikko Rytkönen	...	Yövartija
Jani Nolvi	...	Tarjoilija
Kari Lahdenranta	...	Baarimikko
Amanda Löfman	...	Hotellin respa
Heikki Nousiainen	...	Poliisipsykiatri
Niina Nurminen	...	Syyttäjä
Ahti Hurmalainen	...	Puolustusasianajaja
Erkki Herola	...	Käräjätuomari
Maarit Ristaniemi	...	Marketin kassa
Eeva-Liisa Kotaniemi	...	Myyjä
Matti Ristinen	...	Antin psykiatri
Eija Mikkonen-Budsko	...	Huostaanottoviranomainen
Annu Uomala	...	Huostaanottoviranomainen
Iris Olsson	...	Nainen Iston naapuripöydässä
Sue Willberg	...	Nainen Iston naapuripöydässä
Petri Kylmänen	...	Oikeuslääkäri
Anna-Leena Härkönen	...	Päiväkodin hoitaja
Jouni Mutanen	...	Todistaja oikeudessa
Jarmo Perälä	...	Autokauppias Pete
Jari Rantala	...	Automyyjä
Tomi Natri	...	Automyyjä
Jaana Jokinen	...	Hurskaisen AA-kerhon vetäjä
Veikko Tiihonen	...	Hurskaisen AA-toveri Mauri
Margareta Hautaniemi	...	Nikon NA-toveri Jaana
Pentti Viljakainen	...	Pölynimurikauppiaan torjuja
Elina Ilomäki	...	Pölynimurikauppiaan torjuja
Maritta Ilomäki	...	Pölynimurikauppiaan torjuja
Alpo Nousuniemi	...	Pölynimurikauppiaan torjuja
Soraja Hagert	...	Pölynimurikauppiaan torjuja
Jaana Heino	...	Pölynimurikauppiaan torjuja
Vanessa Heino	...	Pölynimurikauppiaan torjuja
Mari-Anna Grönholm	...	Pölynimurikauppiaan torjuja
Matti Rönkä	...	TV-uutisten lukija
Markku Hyvönen	...	Kenttäjohtaja
Teemu Mäkelä	...	Krp:n tutkija
Tomi Jokivalli	...	Krp:n tutkija, poliisi laitoksella
Sakari Löytönen	...	Vanhempi konstaapeli
Mika Timmerheid	...	Ensihoitaja
Marco Juselius	...	Ensihoitaja, ambulanssimies kolaripaikalla
Samuli Vaittinen	...	Ambulanssilääkäri
Arttu Harkki	...	Tuomaksen vanginvartija
Petri Nevalainen	...	Tuomaksen vanginvartija
Risto Linnus	...	Mies poliisiautossa
Jari Leskinen	...	Mies parkkihallissa
Sanna Tuppurainen	...	Matikaisen sihteeri Saana
Netta Koskela	...	Oppilas Nikon luokassa
Samuel Laine	...	Oppilas Smolanderin luokassa
Asta Hannula	...	Hannelen tukihenkilö
Gustaf Schildt	...	Antin asianajaja
Anne Hukkanen	...	Toinen strippari
Kimi Seppänen	...	Poliisi ratapihalla
Taavo Jimmy Tiko	...	Poliisi ratapihalla
Janne Haapalahti	...	Poliisi laitoksella
Mikko Veijalainen	...	Poliisi kolaripaikalla
Santeri Salminen	...	Poliisi kolaripaikalla
Jukka Pöllänen	...	Ambulanssimies kolaripaikalla
Helvi Hatavara	...	Osto- ja myyntiliikkeen asiakas

Directed by
Aku Louhimies

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Aku Louhimies		writer
Jari Rantala		writer
Leo Tolstoy		story "False Coupon" (uncredited)
Paavo Westerberg		writer

Produced by
Jukka Helle	....	executive producer
Jussi Salonoja	....	executive producer
Markus Selin	....	producer

Cinematography by
Rauno Ronkainen

Film Editing by
Samu Heikkilä

Casting by
Tutsa Paananen
Pia Pesonen

Production Design by
Tista Nilsson

Costume Design by
Tiina Kaukanen

Makeup Department
Laura Rantaniemi	....	assistant makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jouni Mutanen	....	first assistant director
Pia Rickman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Jukka Anttonen	....	property master
Otso Linnalaakso	....	assistant property master
Juulia Niiniranta	....	assistant property master
Pirkka Poutanen	....	assistant property master
Taina Sirola	....	props
Sattva-Hanna Toiviainen	....	set designer
Päivi Surakka	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Kalle Väistö	....	assistant property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Samu Heikkilä	....	sound designer
Pietari Koskinen	....	sound editor
Pietari Koskinen	....	sound recordist
Janne Laine	....	sound
Kirka Sainio	....	sound designer
Kirka Sainio	....	sound editor

Stunts
Reijo Kontio	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Jan Granström	....	assistant camera
Jani Häkli	....	second assistant camera
Sanna Hedström	....	still photographer
Aki Karppinen	....	best boy
Jani Lehtinen	....	gaffer
Kalle Penttilä	....	best boy
Karri Takala	....	key grip
Jukka Talikka	....	steadicam operator
Risto Tuominen	....	video assistant
Ville Väänänen	....	best boy

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kata Launonen	....	costumer assistant

Editorial Department
Sarri Seppä	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Sara Norberg	....	script supervisor
Rampe Toivonen	....	chief publicist

Thanks
Eppu Normaali	....	director's special thanks
Leo Tolstoy	....	director's special thanks (as Leo Tolstoi)

Production Companies

• Solar Films

Distributors

• Yleisradio (YLE) (Finland) (TV)
• Birch Tree Entertainment (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Buena Vista International Finland (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Finland (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Filmmuseum Distributie (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• ICA Projects (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Olive Films (2008) (USA) (all media)

Also Known As:

Frozen Land (Finland) (Hong Kong: English title) (festival title) (International: English title) (USA)
Eisiges Land (Germany) (TV title) [de]
Frozen Land (Denmark) [da]
Frozen Land (Netherlands) (festival title) [nl]
Fruset land (Sweden) [sv]
Terra Congelada (Brazil) (festival title) [pt]

Runtime:

130 min | UK:132 min

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Philippines:R-13 | UK:18 | Netherlands:16 | Hong Kong:III | Sweden:15 | Finland:K-15

Filming Locations:

Helsinki, Finland

Company:

Solar Films

Trivia:

There was severe disagreement on the final cut of this film. Director Aku Louhimies did not approve the edition, which Solar Films originally planned to release. On 2 December 2004 Louhimies filed Helsinki Municipal Court a cease and desist letter where he requests that Solar Films may not distribute the version he hasn't approved on threat of 300 000 euro fine. The situation was solved some days later, when Louhimies and producer Markus Selin agreed the dispute by making one more edition of the film, which satisfied both parties.

Movie Connections:

Version of Argent, L' (1983)

Another short cuts

This is based on a Tolstoi story about agony being passed from one person to another. Here it's symbolized by a false 500 euro note. There is catastrophe in one way or another for everyone who touches it.

This is well acted and you fell for the persons involved. But you never get surprised. In some ways the script is just like another one emerging from the film schools. Talented but not brilliant. You might ask why the people are doing what they're doing but you don't ask yourself about morality in a bigger meaning.

Rather entertaining, but you really could ask for more. This is far from Tolstoi.