Movie Review: The Woman in Black (2012)

The Woman in Black
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer, Liz White
Director: James Watkins
Cross Creek Pictures, Hammer Film Productions, Alliance Films, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Sweden, 2012

In the beginning of the 20th century a widowed lawyer Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) is leaving for a work trip. He has to arrange the paperwork of deceased Alice Drablow and sell Eel Marsh House. At train he meets Samuel Daily (Ciarán Hinds) who is living in the village with his wife Elisabeth (Janet McTeer). Sam's son died in an accident and Elisabeth seems to suffer from possession.

For sale a mansion in a cheerful location. Not.

Arthur trying to find the cause of the strange noise

Even the dolls are scared

At the village the local kids are killing themselves. There is a strange woman in black (Liz White) appearing to Arthur. The villagers are eager to send Arthur away. Arthur reads the letters and the dark secrets of the house are revealed.

Sam and Arthur trying to solve the mystery

Kids are not safe at the village

The film is a remake of the film made in 1989. Daniel Radcliffe's (of Harry Potter fame) acting is very serious and angsty. The film follows a classic haunted house movie formula with moving objects, creepy dolls and ghostly visions. The Woman in Black is a very decent Gothic horror film. 

The woman in black appearing

Rating:Very good

Movie Review: Sampo

Sampo a.k.a The Day the Earth Froze
Starring: Urho Somersalmi, Ivan Voronov, Anna Orotshko, Andris Oshin, Eve Kivi
Directors: Aleksandr Ptushko, Risto Orko
Suomi-Filmi Oy and Mosfilm, Finland and Soviet Union, 1959

The Finnish national epic Kalevala (collected by Elias Lönnrot) was made into film with Finnish and Soviet collaboration. In USA it was recut and dubbed into the Day the Earth Froze. The film uses Kalevala's Sampo poems quite loosely.

Lemminkäinen riding a log

Annikki

 Blacksmith Ilmarinen (Ivan Voronovis) is trying to forge Sampo, a mill that produces salt, grain and prosperity. Evil lady of Northland Louhi(Anna Orotshko) wants Sampo and captures Ilmarinen's sister Annikki (Eve Kivi). Lemminkäinen (Andris Oshin) and heroes of Kalevala go for rescue. Lemminkäinen and
Ilmarinen must survive from the tasks Louhi gives them such as ploughing field full of vipers. Louhi forces Ilmarinen to forge Sampo. After freeing Annikki, Lemminkäinen goes to get Sampo back. 

Evil lady of the Northland Louhi

Ploughing the field of vipers

Sampo

Later Louhi steals the Sun. Wise old Väinämöinen (Urho Somersalmi) leads the troops to war playing kantele (traditional harp-like instrument).  

Väinämöinen and the army of kantele players

The dialogue sounds funny using Kalevala metre (poems in Kalevala use a form of trochaic tetrameter). There are some funny props such as captured winds and magic boats. There are also steel horse and dancing bear cubs. At times the movie feels campy. The sceneries are good and colourful, and special effects are inventive for their age.

Sampo (the original version) is a rare Finnish/Russian fantasy gem, and recommended for fans of fantasy movies.

Rating: Very good

Movie Review: Monica Z

Monica Z
Starring: Edda Magnason, Kjell Bergqvist, Sverrir Gudnason
Director: Per Fly
Stellanova Film, Svensk Filmindustri, Sweden, 2013

Monica Zetterlund (1937-2005) was one of the most popular Swedish singers and also an actress. In the 60s jazz singer Monica (Edda Magnason) gets an offer to sing in New York with Tom Flanagan's band. Because of the concert she can't spend the Christmas with her daughter Eva-Lena. The concert is a disaster because the audience does not like a white woman singing with black band.

First concert in America

Monica with her mother and daughter

Her father and workmates are discouraging. Becoming disillusioned she decides to quit singing. Her friend Marika (Vera Vitali) however invites her on tour. Poet Beppe Wolgers (Johannes Wanselow) begins to write song texts for Monica. Monica falls in love with movie director Vilgot Sjöman (Oskar Thunberg) much to fellow musician Sture's (Sverrir Gudnason) disappointment.

Sture and Monica

Monica meets Vilgot

Monica's ambition comes from the will to get recognition and to show to her father who discouraged her. Monica's career goes little by little from small jazz clubs to larger concerts but a setback comes from the Eurovision song contest 1963. Combined with setbacks in personal life this leads to alcoholism before the final breakthrough.

Finally a breakthrough

The movie focuses much on the personal life of Monica. It is said that the movie gives too negative picture of Monica's father. However it is also highlighted that Monica was one of the first who began to sing jazz in Swedish. Edda Magnason sings well and sounds much like Monica Zetterberg.

Rating: Good