''Anna-Liisa'' is a 1922 Finnish

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

directed by

Teuvo Puro Kaarlo Teuvo Puro (9 November 1884 Helsinki – 24 July 1956 Helsinki) was a Finnish actor, writer and director. Puro co-directed the first Finnish fiction film, '' Salaviinanpolttajat'', with Louis Sparre Pehr Louis Sparre af Söfdebor ...

and Jussi Snellman based on the eponymous play by Finnish writer

Minna Canth Minna Canth (; born Ulrika Wilhelmina Johnson; 19 March 1844 – 12 May 1897) was a Finnish writer and social activist. Canth began to write while managing her family draper's shop and living as a widow raising seven children. Her work address ...

Plot

Rural Finland at the end of the 19th century: 19-year-old Anna-Liisa, daughter of farmer Kortesuo, is preparing her wedding to Johannes Kivimaa. A few days before the official announcement of the wedding, she receives the visit of Husso, the mother of Mikko who was a farmhand at the Kortesuo farm. She tells her that Mikko, who now owns a log-floating firm, is coming back and wants to marry her. When Anna-Liisa refuses, Husso reminds her how four years earlier she had helped her hide the body of the baby born from her relationship with Mikko, whom she had accidentally killed. Mikko, supported by Husso, threatens Anna-Liisa to reveal her secret if she refuses to marry him. When Johannes demands that he stops bothering Anna-Liisa, he threatens to kill him. The arrival of Anna-Liisa parents put an end to the fight but when Anna-Liisa repeats that she will never marry Mikko, Husso reveals to her shocked parents what happened four years ago. Anna-Liisa confesses everything. Her father, beside himself with rage and disappointment, initially wants to kill her, but soon calms down. The following day, Anna-Liisa tries to drown herself to join her dead baby but she is saved by Johannes. After praying God, she knows what she must do. She says she forgives everybody including Mikko and accepts to marry him. On the wedding day, she appears dressed entirely in black. She confesses to the whole assembly what she has done and declares she is ready to receive the punishment she deserves. After taking leave of her family and of Johannes, she is carried away by the police.Review, synopsis and link to watch the film:

Cast

* Helmi Lindelöf as Anna-Liisa Kortesuo * Hemmo Kallio as Anna-Liisa's father * Meri Roini as Anna-Liisa's mother * Greta Waahtera as Pirkko, Anna-Liisa's sister * Emil Autere as Johannes Kivimaan, Anna-Liisa's fiancé *

Einar Rinne Einar is a Scandinavian given name deriving from the Old Norse name Einarr, which according to Guðbrandur Vigfússon is directly connected with the concept of the einherjar, warriors who died in battle and ascended to Valhalla in Norse mythology ...

as Mikko *

Mimmi Lähteenoja Mimmi Lähteenoja (1865–1937) was a Finnish theatre and film actress known for her comic roles and roles of old hags. Filmography Her films are available online at the Elonet website with English subtitles. References

{{DEFAULTSORT:L ...

as Husso, Mikko's mother * Axel Ahlberg as the reverend *

Tauno Ensio Järvinen Tauno is a masculine given name found most commonly in Estonia and Finland. Tauno may refer to: *Tauno Hannikainen (1896–1968), Finnish cellist and conductor *Tauno Honkanen (1927–2023), Finnish skier and Olympic competitor *Tauno Ilmoniemi (1 ...

as Matti, the letter bearer boy

Other versions

A first adaptation of Minna Canth's play was directed in 1911 by

Teppo Raikas Teppo may refer to: * Teppo (name), a Finnish name * Firearms of Japan#Teppō {{disambiguation ...

, where Teuvo Puro played the role of Mikko. It was never released and all material is now considered lost. In 1945, a new version was directed by Orvo Saarikivi and in 1988 a

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

by Tuija-Maija Niskanen.

References

External links

* * 1922 films 1922 drama films Finnish black-and-white films Finnish films based on plays Finnish drama films Suomi-Filmi films 1920s Finnish films {{Finland-film-stub