I am currently compiling my list of top films from 2008 and one movie that might just make it on is the Finnish horror film Sauna (My Review, Kurt’s Review). The movie is a bleak journey through the wilderness where the sins of soldiers come back to haunt them. It is one of those smaller films that win you completely over with great atmosphere and style.
Since I am making the list of best films of 2008 I thought I would do a bit of browsing to see if I could find some more information on some of the movies I have seen. I headed over to the official site and then to the Bronson Club blog. While browsing around and reading about the film I discovered a post from December, 8th entitled “Sauna” opened to an empty theater in Loviisa. The director AJ Annila, producer Jesse Fryckman and Kari Ketonen, who plays Musko all showed up at the screening to discover that no one was coming out to their movie. I could go on about what a shame this is as Sauna is a terrific movie that really should be seen and experienced but really I am mostly mentioning the post because of the questions which were asked of their readers:
Ok so, I would love to hear peoples thoughts on this. What went wrong? Should movie companies only promote in the big cities? How can we get people to go see more films in theaters? Etc.
I can appreciate the questions and I understand not wanting to go through an evening like that but I would hate it if the smaller movies were only released in big cities. I already have to deal with a lot of good movies not showing up in my city which has a population of just over 200,000. Unfortunately I have no answer either as to how more people can be driven to theatres in smaller towns and cities for films which are not directed by Bay or Spielberg, produced by Bruckheimer or starring Wil Smith, Brad Pit or George Clooney. I guess the main thing I can do is continue to inform people of these hidden gems which truly deserve to be seen by a larger audience.
Based on a short story by Sara Maitland it’s the story of a two women living on the arctic tundra. Set sometime in the late 20th century, the film follows the women as they move farther into the vastness of the arctic and away from the army which is moving dangerously close to their living area. It’s not initially clear how the women are related but by looking at them, one would assume they are mother and daughter. The two live a peaceful existence until one day Saiva, the older of the two, brings home an injured soldier she finds wandering, near death, on the tundra. Once nursed back to health, the man finds himself torn between the two women but ultimately accepts the advances Anja, the younger and more outwardly friendly of the two; a choice that will come back to haunt him at the end of the film.
(3.5/5)
sports story. Rourke’s take on the public and private life of a (fictional) professional wrestler, 20 years past his prime yet still grinding it out in gutter venues, despite the protestation of an aging body, is a warm, generous, and sad portrayal. Likewise, Marissa Tomei, in a rich supporting role, continues to prove that she is one of the most talented actresses working today. Going as the stripper with the heart of gold is about as rote and cliché as one can get, but Tomei realizes her character as a full fleshed role, all the while being mostly naked up on screen. Yes, The Wrestler deserves every bit of praise it is garnering. Those worried that 
Set in the 1950’s, the film opens with Frank Wheeler and April (DiCaprio and Winslett) meeting for the first time at a party. Flash forward a few years and they’re married. Flash forward a few years and they have 2 kids, boring, dead-end jobs and life is difficult and dull. And they fight… a lot. Sick of the pointless bickering and stagnancy of their dreary life, they hatch a plan to escape with the kids to France to live a whole new, exciting life. What they’ll do exactly and how they’ll make a living when they get there is only worked out in a superficial sort of way. Of course the neighborhood and co-workers are secretly up in arms about the scheme, but Frank and April are adamant about the adventure. That is until some unforeseeable circumstances provide obstacles that the two may not be able to overcome.
