Movie Presentation: Sauna

Name: Sauna

Year: 2008

Country: Finland

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Antti-Jussi Annila

Written by: Iiro Küttner

Filmed by: Henri Blomberg

Sound design: Panu Riikonen  & Vesa Meriläinen

Main actors: Ville Virtanen, Tommi Eronen, Rain Tolk, Kari Ketonen, Vilhelmiina Virkkunen, Sonja Petäjäjärvi, Kati Outinen

-WASH YOUR SINS- (tagline)

Sauna is finnish horror film and it’s first bigger horror movie what has made in Finland.

Story goes to year 1595 when 25 years long war has ended between Sweden and Russia. In movie there is Swedish and Russians groups whose are making new lines for countries middle of the forest. In Swedish group there is brothers Eerik and Knut Spore. When they are making new map lines they kill a peasant and leaves his daughter to the basement for death. In north’s bog they saw this girls ghost who returns to persecute them. Soon they comes to unknown village which is middle of the bog. Next to village there is very old sauna. Old story tells that you can wash out your sins inside of that sauna. Soon they’re plans changes because of weird happenings.

Prices: 

Riga International Fantasy Film Festival: Main Prize - The Golden Tooth

27th Brussels International Festival of fantastic Film: The Silver Raven, Special Prize of the jury

Gérardmer Film Festival: Youth Jury Grand Prize

Jussi-gala: Best Costume Design, Best Set Design and Best Sound Design

Moreover of this movie has got many nominations from different festivals around the world.

What’s so special? 

If we are thinking about finnish film making Sauna-movie is something totally new in big productions. Of course there has been this kind of tinier production companies which has made horror movies but Sauna was first bigger one and which has reached other world too. And then if we start think little bit more lower Sauna isn’t just a normal scaring film. Sauna’s genre is more like emotional, psychological horror.

I chose this film just because this is something so new for finnish movie making. And it’s not enough that this movie is bringing new genre to Finalnd because Sauna has showed in other countries too. For example I would say US. 

When you are watching this movie you should concentrate on colours which are very much making this kind of “death is close” feeling. I love this movies sound world because its growing emotions on this movie perfectly ! Just speaking is bothering me at the some points because it’s too much like studio voice.