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Movie Memories
The Premiere
For some reason there is no movie that would have made a very deep impression on me. Can't I remember anything from the huge jungle of movies out there? Maybe I haven't seen enough movies, or maybe I've seen the wrong movies, bad ones. Have I seen nothing but garbage on TV and in the cinema? Now that I think of it, making impressionable movies is difficult. It's the same as with music: one piece can give a totally different impression to different people.
There is one film, however, that does come to my mind from a few years back. Unfortunately I haven't seen the movie again, and anyway it's only available on video, it's not a feature film, and the cast does not include professional actors.
I had the rare honour to experience the premiere of this film in person. That is quite uncommon for someone who lives in central Finland. There wasn't a drop of champagne there, and nobody held exalted speeches. The viewers did sit on their couch just as in the beginning of the 1960's when black-and-white TV arrived in the Finnish households.
The makings of a proper drama have been scattered in the film in quite an original, carefree way in a family that hustles and bustles just like the rest of them. Hence the elements needed for a good film are there. There's a lot of action, especially in the movements of the cameraman. Transitions from one character to another are quite speedy to say the least. There are close-ups of a multitude of widely varying objects on the walls and the floor. Details have been given surprising new angles, sometimes with sympathetic piety. And there are no dream sequences! There is good reason to call it an authentic, realistic and original documentary.
Nobody applauded at the premiere. If there is one thing that can make the viewer any wiser, it may lie in the criticism.
"Do not take any more close-ups of me, keep that in mind! Why do you have so many shots of feet there?" There were dozens of comments, suggestions and pieces of advice. Afterwards I heard that the guests appearing in the film had not wanted to be in it. The film is now censored, in fact it's banned. To be absolutely clear I want to say there was not a hint of erotism, porn, doping or tax evaders in the film.
So that was my first video. Just before making the film I had been on a video course and bought a video camera, mainly to document my little son as he grows up. Everybody quietly slipped from this premiere to their own chores. Now the film is in my own movie archive, waiting to be discovered for its second screening.
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