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.

Genres

Cast

Toivo Mäkelä

Viktor Sundvall

Emma Väänänen

Saima Sundvall

Rauni Luoma

Maija Länsilehto

Aino-Maija Tikkanen

Tyyne Sundvall

Rauni Ikäheimo

Iita

Senni Nieminen

Hanna Nieminen

Heikki Savolainen

Mauno Viljanen

Pentti Irjala

Mies saunalla

Olavi Ahonen

Mies saunalla

Matti Kassila

Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Tommi Rinne

Juhlija (uncredited)

Leo Jokela

Juhlija (uncredited)