Movies by Valentin Vaala
Laveata tietä
Master violist Anton Lardozo rounds around Europe by performing and spending all his free time in restaurants. While he is visiting in Finland, he leaves with his friend Eero for country and stays in the inn of Harakkala. Lardozo falls in love with country girl named Kirsi but soon one of his lady friends, Tanja, arrives from Paris.
Sysmäläinen
In 17th century Finland young Arvid is forced to marry Brita but their ways soon part when their respective fathers move to different places. Years roll by and Arvid grows up into a handsome and respected Thirty Years' War veteran known for his excellent fencing skills. However, he has fallen madly in love with a local maiden who does not reciprocate his advances, not to mention that his forced marriage to Brita is still valid.
People in the Summer Night
A story set over one night in a small rural community we watch various relationships and actions among local people; these include birth, death, and conflicts fuelled by alcohol. The fates of various characters become interlaced over a long and light-filled summer night in the Finnish countryside. Lumberjacks, a deer-eyed young man Nokia, a family of poor farmers, a young girl and her lover. New life is born, old life dies, man is slain in his prime, and his widow continues her life.
Linnaisten vihreä kamari
A nobleman in 1830's Finland has to contend with stuck-up relatives, his daughters' suitors, dark secrets from his family's past, mistaken identities and a haunted wing of his mansion.
Mustalaishurmaaja
Manjardo, a young Gypsy leader has spent a lively and joyful life with his young women, Glafira and very keen Akris. He will soon be married to the daughter of the master of another tribe, Esmeralda. From this, her mistresses are no more enthusiastic than Esmeralda and Manjardoka, so the parties of this future couple have never even met each other.
Wake Up, Helsinki!
Impressionistic short documentary of a Helsinki morning at the end of 1930s with a poetic narration.
Totuus on armoton
Nuori mylläri
A young man arrives in the village. He becomes a miller and delights the girls in the village, which evokes bitterness in others. He is subject to moralistic criticism, even though he is in fact only in love with the tailor's daughter.
Nummisuutarit
Esko is going to a neighboring village to marry Kreeta after her father arranged the marriage with Esko's father. Esko takes Mikko as his travel companion and that's where Esko's ordeals begin.
Yhteinen vaimomme
A story set in post-war Helsinki, where the last released prisoners of war arrive. They are accompanied by Captain Erkki Lahtinen, who returns to his home and back to his wife Jenni. However, during his four-year imprisonment, Erkki has been pronounced dead and Jenni has remarried to office manager Nevamaa.
Huhtikuu tulee
Frustrated housewife Elisabet Avovirta has a spring romance with a younger man, journalist Jaakko Huhtikuu. Love sprinkles in the rays of the spring sun and eventually bubbles over the edges.
Vuokrasulhanen
A story about Meeri who is going through a divorce. She is hiding the relationship with a boxer. After seeing an advertisement in a magazine, she then hires a cavalier from an ad agency to escort her home from an upper-class party.
Gabriel, tule takaisin
A handsome young womanizer deceive tender women by first charming them and then taking their money.
Vihreä kulta
After many years away a woman returns to her hometown in Lapland with her husband. There she falls in love with a handsome forester.
Keinumorsian
The Women of Niskavuori
Aarne marries Martta because his mother tells him it is his duty as the eldest son to marry a wealthy girl. However, the attractive school teacher Ilona arrives in the village and causes complications when Aarne falls in love with her.
Herrain herkku jokamiehen ruuaksi
Originally made as an ad for reindeer meat but includes notable documentary material from Lapland. A young couple from Helsinki goes to a restaurant and gets to know reindeer meat.
Juurakon Hulda
Poor but ambitious country girl Hulda arrives in the country's capital and gets a job as a maid for a bachelor Member of Parliament, Judge Soratie. She works hard, never loses her common sense, and starts taking evening classes. Keeping her studies secret from her employer for years, she eventually graduates from the university and becomes candidate in the parliamentary election, stressing women's and working people's rights. Romance with Judge Soratie finally ensues.
Siltalan pehtoori
The new steward of Siltala ends up falling in love with the beautiful widow of the house. Their romance is endangered by misunderstandings and the fact that the estate of Siltala is swimming in debt. And the new steward isn't quite what he seems to be.
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