''A Summer by the River'' ( fi, Kuningasjätkä) is a 1998 Finnish film written and directed by
Markku Pölönen
Markku Tapani Pölönen (born 16 September 1957 in Eno) is a Finnish film director, screenwriter, and editor; and the owner of film production company Suomen Filmiteollisuus. Pölönen's best known work is the 2004 film '' Dog Nail Clipper'' &mda ...
. The film is set in the 1950s
Eastern Finland and tells the story of father Tenho (
Pertti Koivula) and son Topi (
Simo Kontio) after Tenho's wife — Topi's mother — dies and leaves the two men unable to pay rent. The two men move out of the family home and spend the summer working as lumberjacks in
log driving, sleeping on the river bank and growing closer together through the experience.
The film was a major success at the 1999
Jussi Awards winning in five categories including Best Film, Best Actor and Best Direction. The film was selected as the Finnish entry for the
Best Foreign Language Film
This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards.
Best Actor/Best Actress
*See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
at the
71st Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.
[Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]
Cast and characters
*
Pertti Koivula — Tenho
*
Simo Kontio — Topi
*
Esko Nikkari
Esko Nikkari (23 November 1938 – 17 December 2006) was a prolific Finnish actor who made more than 70 appearances on film and television. He was born in Lapua, and made his screen debut in 1974 in the movie ''Karvat''.
Nikkari was a workhorse ...
— Hannes
*
Anu Palevaara
Anu Irmeli Palevaara (born 14 August 1971 in Helsinki) is a Finland, Finnish actress, choreographer and dancer. She is best known for her role as Jenni Vainio in the Finnish soap opera ''Salatut elämät'' which airs on MTV3. Palevaara has bee ...
— Hilkka
*
Peter Franzén
Peter Vilhelm Franzén (born 14 August 1971) is a Finnish actor, author, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for his role as King Harald Finehair in ''Vikings'' (2016–2020).
Personal life
Franzén was born in Keminmaa, north Finland. ...
— Kottarainen
See also
*
1998 in film
The year 1998 in film involved many significant films, including
''Shakespeare in Love'' (which won the Academy Award for Best Picture), ''Saving Private Ryan'','' Armageddon'' (which was the top grossing film of the year in the United States), ' ...
*
Cinema of Finland
*
List of Finnish films: 1990s
*
List of submissions to the 71st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
*
List of Finnish submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
External links
*
1998 films
Finnish comedy-drama films
1990s Finnish-language films
Films directed by Markku Pölönen
{{Finland-film-stub