Souvenir du front

Mertsi Arhippa Vepsäläinen (Peter Franzen) gets shot in the head during the war and never is the same again.He looks for a job after the war and with the help of his buddy Eetvi Manninen (Taisto Reimaluoto) he finds one at a lumber camp.It's cold in the winter at the forest.But the work for Mertsi is too challenging.He has nightmares of the war and dreams of cutting the overlong dew claws of a dog named Sakke.Ville Kuosmanen (Ahti Kuoppala) owns such a Spitz dog.Markku Pölönen directed this movie based on Veikko Huovinen's novel.I haven't read the book yet.The author Veikko Huovinen himself liked this movie.Peter Franzen does convincing job in the lead.He can be comical and tragical, often at the same time.Taisto Reimaluoto is very good as Eetvi, who wants nothing but the best for his friend.Ahti Kuoppala has always done good job, like in the movie Simpauttaja about thirty years earlier.Another legendary actor, Leo Lastumäki, who has his birthday today (79 years old), is brilliant as Kämppäukko.Ville Virtanen portrays Foreman Luti.Risto Salmi is Horseman Turpeinen.Simo Tamminen is Doctor.Vieno Saaristo plays the part of Taimi Kuosmanen.Hannu Virolainen is Station-Master.Korpisaran Tuuli plays Sakke the dog.Koirankynnen leikkaaja (2004) represents one of the better modern Finnish movies.It has a touching story, characters you care about and great actors to portray those characters.