Finnish director Ulla Heikkila has chosen “the best actors she can think of” for her second feature film, “Summer Is Crazy,” which includes “Falling Leaves” star Jussi Vatanen, Amo Milonov (“Portrait of a Girl”), Jani Volanen (“The Hatching”), Pirjo Lonka and Bruno Beer (“Light Light Light”).
“They showed their best. It is simply a luxury to work with such intelligent, skilled and charismatic actors. They are all so adept at showing the human condition in a bold and ‘naked’ way.” diverse.
In the upcoming film “Crazy Summer,” set in the Finnish archipelago during Midsummer Week, one family—as well as their friends and lovers—deal with disappointments and dream of a better tomorrow.
After their fancy restaurant goes bankrupt, the Irolas find themselves stranded in a seaside village. With the father in a depressed mood, the mother and her teenage daughter rebel against their stagnant lives – each in her own way.
“I play a man who doesn’t really know how to be a father, but he loves being a father. If you try to be a role model for someone you don’t know at all, it creates weird, funny, tragic moments,” Vatanen said, emphasizing that each person “brought their own flavor to this warm but slightly hysterical party.”
Prior to his work with Aki Kaurismäki, Vatanen became a household name thanks to the popular “Lapland Odyssey” franchise.
Summer is crazy
Copyright: Sami Kukanen
“What’s the secret to making comedy? I don’t want to know! I’ll start exploiting it,” he laughed.
“There was probably some silliness in this character, and in other characters as well, but Ola set the tone so perfectly that I didn’t consider it ‘silly’. It felt like life itself. I really liked how she brought together the perspectives of different age groups in a believable and funny way.”
Produced by Marja Pihlaja for Tekele Productions, Summer is Crazy premiered at the Haugesund New International Film Festival alongside Suvi West's first feature film Máttáráhká, produced by Julia Elomäki and currently in development.
“Tikkeli screened three films in different categories and this has never happened before here in Haugesund,” said Ilomaki, also referring to the market screening of Jenni Toivoniemi’s “Butterflies.”
The more people in attendance, the better, says Heikkila, who previously had a larger audience for her feature film debut, “Eden.”
“I’ve joked that I came to this earth to tell multi-narrative stories. But maybe it wasn’t a joke at all! Even as a child I would draw pictures of large families and groups of people. I think I’m interested in multi-perspectives as a way of looking at the world, both as an artist and as a human being. Seeing the same situation, or just looking at life through different eyes, is fascinating to me,” she explained.
Preparing for the Midsummer celebrations—“the picturesque setting provides a wonderful contrast to these unfortunate people. Traditions, parties, and festivals tend to bring out the undesirable”—her characters have a lot to deal with, from an affair with a charming boss to teenage angst, the loss of a lifelong dream or even a short-lived pop career that ended 20 years ago.
“I love them, even though they're kind of annoying too,” she added, admitting that the film's sadness surprised her.
“It's sad sometimes and that's what made I “It’s really sad, too. I think that was a challenge, at least on a personal level. Fortunately, it’s funny and hopeful, too, so I didn’t have to cry myself to sleep every night.”
Summer is Crazy will premiere in 2025.
