The Harvest Month (1956)
The title of the Finnish film Elokuu translates to August. Directed by Matti Kassila, one of Finland's premiere filmmakers, Elokuu was adapted from a novel by Nobel prize winning finnish author F.E. Sillanpää. Simply put, the story concerns the decline and fall of a once-proud family, thanks to the alcoholism of its paterfamilias. Toivo Makela delivers a powerfully effective performance as the inebriated protagonist, avoiding the usual "drunken" cliches. The overlong running time, coupled with the downbeat nature of the subject, limited the film's worldwide appeal.
Released: Oct 05, 1956
Runtime: 94 minutes
Genre: Drama
Stars: Toivo Mäkelä, Emma Väänänen, Rauni Luoma, Aino-Maija Tikkanen, Rauni Ikäheimo, Senni Nieminen
Crew: Esko Nevalainen (Director of Photography), Lauri Elo (Production Design), Matti Kassila (Director), Nils Holm (Editor), Gösta Salminen (Sound), Matti Kassila (Screenplay)