Saimaa-ilmiö

The early 80s were an interesting and important time in Finnish rock music. Punk had died as quickly as it emerged on the scene, and bands that pioneered the Finnish punk movement either disbanded or became part of the Finnish New Wave, like Eppu Normaali and Hassisen Kone.

The film Saimaa-ilmiö perfectly encapsulates this brief period of time. Three bands tour along the Saimaa waterway, visiting cities like Kuopio, Joensuu and Punkaharju, and drinking and smoking heavily for the week or so the Tuuliajolla tour lasts. The gigs are ferocious and songs are at times played at an impossible tempo, the technology is just a PA system with loud noises coming out from the speakers, and sometimes the stage is occupied by various cameo appearances from all three rock groups. Just as it should be!

There is no narration, and the musical pieces are accompanied by raw footage from the boat with a few brief interviews, from mostly tired/drunk/hungover people saying weird things.

Not sure what non-Finnish speakers get out of this, but if you are even just a little bit interested in this type of music, I urge you to check this documentary film out.