''The Boys'' ( fi, Pojat) is a 1962 Finnish war drama film directed by Mikko Niskanen. It is based on a 1958 novel by

Paavo Rintala Paavo Rintala (born in Viipuri, Finland on 20 September 1930 – died in Kirkkonummi, Finland 8 August 1999) was a Finnish novelist and theologian. He also wrote theatre pieces, radio plays and prose. Rintala has won the ''Kirjallisuuden valtio ...

. It was entered into the

3rd Moscow International Film Festival The 3rd Moscow International Film Festival was held from 7 to 21 July 1963. The Grand Prix was awarded to the Italian film '' 8½'' directed by Federico Fellini. Jury * Grigori Chukhrai (USSR - President of the Jury) * Shaken Ajmanov (USSR) * S ...

. The second lead role, Jake, was played by 17-year-old

Vesa-Matti Loiri Vesa-Matti "Vesku" Loiri (4 January 1945 – 10 August 2022) was a Finnish actor, musician and comedian, best known for his role as Uuno Turhapuro, whom he portrayed in a total of 20 movies between the years 1973 and 2004. According to Yle Ne ...

, who received the

Jussi Awards 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 Hels ...

certificate of honor for his role as a young actor.Arto Pajukallio: Elokuvat, page D 7. '' Helsingin Sanomat'', 2 February 2012. (in Finnish) The story conveys the life of school boys in the turbulent period of the

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

in Oulu in northern Finland. The young men, in the absence of their fathers who have gone to war, are fascinated by war and the German Army soldiers and dream of heroic deeds.

Cast

* Pentti Tarkiainen as Ilmari Kaarela, "Immu" *

as Jaakko Hoikka, "Jake" (as Matti Loiri) * Uti Saurio as Paavo Harju, "Pate" * Hannu Vironmäki as Matti Korpi * Markku Söderström as Urkki * Heikki Rissanen as Kaaleppi (from Tuira) * Ilkka Liikanen as Martti (from Tuira) * Martti Isosalo as Topi (from Tuira) * Reima Eskelinen as A boy from Tuira * Jorma Valtanen as A boy from Tuira *

Liisa Nevalainen Liisa Nevalainen (2 May 1916 – 10 December 1987) was a Finnish actress. She appeared in more than 30 films and television shows between 1934 and 1973. Selected filmography * ''Substitute Wife ''Substitute Wife'' (Finnish: ''Vaimoke'') i ...

as Jake's mother *

Kauko Helovirta Kauko Kustaa Helovirta (Hellström, 21 October 1924, Juupajoki – 13 September 1997, Helsinki, Finland) was a Finnish film actor. Helovirta entered film in 1950 and made about 40 Finnish films between then and 1995. Helovirta starred in the ...

as Capt. Fritz Mayer ("Uncle Fritz") * Olavi Ahonen as Priest Pisa

References

External links

* 1962 films 1960s Finnish-language films Finnish war drama films Films based on Finnish novels 1960s war drama films 1962 drama films Finnish World War II films {{Finland-film-stub