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"Mother Should
Never Be Just A Word" |
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Directed by Klaus Haro -
Written by Jimmy
Karlsson, Kirsi Vikman
Starring Topi Majaniemi,
Marjaana Maijala,
Michael Nyqvist, Maria
Lundqvist
Distributed Independent -
2006 - 111mins - Rated
PG |
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One of the finest family films ever made... |
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During World War II,
70,000 Finnish children were shipped off to Swedish families who had
agreed to shelter them for their own protection until the end of the
war.
In his latest film, "Mother of Mine," award-winning Finnish director
Klaus Haro tells the story of one such boy, Eero (Topi Majaniemi), a
9-year-old boy who is shipped off to Sweden by his biological mother (Marjaana
Maijala) after the death of his father in the war. Confused about this
abrupt abandonment by his mother , but unsure about this new world in
which he finds himself. Eero's grief and confusion brings to mind the
poignant grief displayed in another masterful film, "Ponette."
Haro, who directed the magnificent "Elina," has created in "Mother of
Mine" one of the finest family films ever made.
The film begins with Eero as an elderly man (Esko Salminen) returns to
his Finnish home from Sweden, where he has just attended the funeral
of Signe (Maria Lundqvist), the Swedish woman who had been his
surrogate mother. He returns home as confused as when he was a young
child, requesting to finally talk with his now aged mother (Aino-Maija
Tikkanen) about the events of so long ago.
Gently, Haro directs the film with the most subtle of flashbacks
between the past and the present. We begin our journey with Eero on
the night before his father (Kari-Pekka Toivonen) is headed off to
war, assuring his son that he will return and all will be fine. When
all is not fine and the father is killed, the griefstricken mother
agrees, with great resistance, to the Swedish/Finnish program to
provide safe haven for children.
Eero lands at the farm of Signe and Hjalmar (Michael Nyqvist), a young
couple whose recent loss of a daughter is still fresh in their hearts.
While Eero and Hjalmar bond quickly, Signe's wounds are deep and her
resentments deeper...Both she and Eero rebel against each other
leading to scenes that are almost heartbreakingly tough, tender and
tragic.
Still, over time, this surrogate family heals and bonds with one
another...then, the war is over. Eero's mother sends a letter stating
she has fallen in love with a German and wants to run off with him.
Would Hjalmar and Signe consider keeping Eero forever?
Alas, it is not to be.
"Mother of Mine" is a heartbreaking film. As the tragic Eero, the
young Majaniemi offers a tremendous performance full of courage and
strength and vulnerability. A desperate attempt to sail a small raft
to return home feels devastating as we watch this young man with so
much confusion, so much heartache and seemingly no safe place to
express it. Majaniemi's performance is one of the finest performances
I've ever seen from a child actor.
Nyqvist, an established dramatic actor in such films as "As It Is In
Heaven," is marvelous here, as well. He is a tender father, a loving
husband, a strong man and, at times, a seemingly wounded child all in
one.
The most powerful performance of all, however, comes from Maria
Lundqvist as Signe. Primarily known as a television comedy actress,
Lundqvist offers one of this year's finest dramatic performances. As
Signe, Lundqvist gives us a woman so deeply grieving the tragic death
of her daughter that all semblance of beauty has been sapped from her
life. Yet, even in the midst of this ugliness she projects, Lundqvist
gives Signe little moments of grace and mercy and tenderness that will
make you ache for her loss even more. Lundqvist's performance is
insightful, intelligent and devastatingly intimate.
The script, by Jimmy Karlsson and Kirsi Vikman based upon a book by
Heikki Hietamies, is warm without being overly sympathetic. The
dialogue is simple and sparse, allowing for Haro's magnificent gift of
visual imagery to shine through. Jarkko T. Laine's widescreen lensing
wonderfully captures both the wide landscape of Sweden and the often
dark, narrow settings of the farm.
"Mother of Mine" won a Crystal Heart Award during the 2006 Heartland
Film Festival and is Finland's official submission for this year's
Academy Awards, and will most assuredly land a place in my Top 10
Films of 2006.
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© Written by Richard Propes -
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