The Harvest Month

The story

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.

Cast & crew

Toivo MäkeläViktor Sundvall

Emma VäänänenSaima Sundvall

Rauni LuomaMaija Länsilehto

Aino-Maija TikkanenTyyne Sundvall

Rauni IkäheimoIita

Senni NieminenHanna Nieminen

Heikki SavolainenMauno Viljanen

Tauno Kajander

Tauno KajanderTaave

Sylvi Salonen

Sylvi SalonenActress

Topi Kankainen

Topi KankainenAlpertti

Pentti IrjalaMies saunalla

Olavi AhonenMies saunalla