The Harvest Month (1956)

Drama

The title of the Finnish film Elokuu translates to August. Directed by Matti Kassila, one of Finland's premiere filmmakers, Elokuu was adapted from a novel by Nobel prize winning finnish author F.E. Sillanpää. Simply put, the story concerns the decline and fall of a once-proud family, thanks to the alcoholism of its paterfamilias. Toivo Makela delivers a powerfully effective performance as the inebriated protagonist, avoiding the usual "drunken" cliches. The overlong running time, coupled with the downbeat nature of the subject, limited the film's worldwide appeal.

Cast

Viktor Sundvall
Saima Sundvall
Mies saunalla
Mies saunalla
Mies tansseissa
Ylioppilaskaveri
Nuoruudenrakastettu
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Viljo Sundvall (uncredited)
Juhlija (uncredited)
Juhlija (uncredited)
Maija Länsilehto
Saarinen (uncredited)
Väinö Länsilehto (uncredited)
Tyyne Sundvall
Hanna Nieminen
Mauno Viljanen

Crew

Director of Photography
Production Design
Screenplay
Original Music Composer
Executive Producer