Movie Review: Summertime (Kesäkaverit)

Summertime (Kesäkaverit) 

Starring:  Anna Paavilainen, Iina Kuustonen, Minka Kuustonen, Lauri Tilkanen, Sampo Sarkola, Pihla Viitala, Eero Ritala, Milka Ahlroth, Matleena Kuusniemi, Aku Hirviniemi, Beata Hämäläinen
Director: Inari Niemi 

Solar Films, Nordisk Film, Finland, 2014.

Twenty-somethings Iiris (Anna Paavilainen) and Karoliina (Iina Kuustonen) are going to Hanko. Iiris has lived years in Spain doing odd jobs. Karoliina is good at everything. They have a summer job at Olli's (Eero Ritala) café working as waitresses. They plan to spend summer having fun without men. They meet also a third waitress Eeva (Minka Kuustonen). Eeva is clumsy and a bit cloudcuckoolander but she is also watching her aunt's villa, so the other girls decide to move into the villa too. 

Welcome to Hanko

Karoliina and Iiris

Eeva has trouble with coffee machine

Karoliina is student at university, but the other girls try to decide what to do with their lives. The girls spend their days at work and partying evenings. Soon Iiris begins a summer romance with tennis teacher Jussi (Lauri Tilkanen). Also Karoliina tries to flirt with café customer Tommy (Sampo Sarkola). Also Iiris' sister Hertta (Pihla Viitala) visits. Already having a family, Hertta tells stories about her labour experience. The girls also have to think about challenges of growing up. 

Olli

Tommy and Jussi

Summer selfies

This movie is fun and lightweight summer comedy. Not very deep, but entertaining female buddy movie (the literal title translation of the movie would be Summer Buddies). The first half is almost pure comedy and the second half turns into drama when moral hangover hits. Nothing too serious though that the buddies couldn't get through. The chemistry of the cast is good and the actors seem to have enjoyed filming the movie. Movie also makes good use of the beach and city sceneries of Hanko.

Party!

Hertta and her husband Akseli (Aku Hirviniemi)

Hanko Casino

Rating: Good