''Almost 18'' () is a 2012 Finnish film. It is the first feature film by director Maarit Lalli who also wrote the screenplay with her son Henrik Mäki-Tanila, one of the main actors in the film.

Plot

''Kohta 18'' tells six stories of five teenage boys on the edge of adulthood. Karri, Pete, André, Akseli and Joni are dealing with same issues as every other young man; fears and hopes for future, disillusions and problems with parents. Henrik Mäki-Tanila has said that some parts of the stories are taken from his own experiences as a teenager, as well as from the lives of his friends.

Reception

The film has received mixed to positive reviews. Some critics have not been impressed by the work of mostly amateur cast, while others have complimented Lalli for creating a genuinely honest and authentic portrait of what it is to be a young adult in Finland in 2012. Harri Närhi of ''City'' noticed that the filmmakers are in love with their characters and are therefore making the viewer feel the same way. Tarmo Poussu of ''

Ilta-Sanomat is one of Finland's two prominent tabloid-size evening newspapers and the largest paper in the country. Its counterpart and biggest rival is '' Iltalehti''. According to the National Media Research done in 2019, ''Ilta-Sanomat'' is also the bi ...

'' was more reserved, writing that while the film is creating believable situations, it fails to expand them into stories. On 3 February 2012, ''Kohta 18'' received three

Jussi Award The Jussi Awards are Finland's premier film industry prizes, awarded annually to recognize the achievements of directors, actors, and writers. History The first Jussi Awards ceremony was held on 16 November 1944 at the Restaurant Adlon in Hel ...

s; for best film, best director and best screenplay.

Cast

*Karim Al-Rifai as André *Arttu Lähteenmäki as Akseli *Henrik Mäki-Tanila as Karri *Anton Thompson Coon as Pete *Ben Thompson Coon as Joni *

Elina Knihtilä Mari Elina Knihtilä (born 6 June 1971) is a Finnish actress. Career Knihtilä has worked for several Finnish theatres, such as the Finnish National Theatre and Q-teatteri, while also having appeared in films and on television. She has received ...

as Karri's mother *Ilari Johansson as Akseli's father *Niina Nurminen as Joni's mother *Mats Långbacka as Joni's stepfather *Mari Perankoski as André's mother *

Hannu-Pekka Björkman Hannu-Pekka Juhani Björkman (born 11 February 1969 in Kannonkoski) is a Finnish actor who has appeared in theatres, on television and in films. In 2005, he won a Jussi Award for the best actor in a leading role for a film ''Eläville ja kuollei ...

as Pete's father *Tarja Heinula as Pete's mother

References

{{Jussi Award for Best Film Finnish drama films 2012 films 2010s Finnish-language films 2010s Finnish films 2012 drama films