Interwoven with scenes that are meant to grab attention by their stunning composition, this biographical look at Finland's violinist Arto Arsi is not so much a narration of his childhood and early years, as an attempt to artistically show what was happening inside his psyche during that time. Literally sold to a master teacher, Sergei Rippas (Tarmo Manni) by his mother when he was still a child, the violin prodigy was forcefully and strictly raised to practice, practice, and perfect his technique. Once an adult, Arsi finds a way to escape the rigors of a U.S. tour and drowns his overworked self in drink, or seeks out one-night stands, or otherwise lets off steam. The tightly-wound spring that has been coiled since he was forced into his grueling training and work sessions -- shown through symbolic images -- eventually snaps in a healthy way, freeing Arsi at last to continue on, simply for the love of music.
Directing | Pekka Lehto | Director |
Directing | Pirjo Honkasalo | Director |
Editing | Pirjo Honkasalo | Editor |
Writing | Pirjo Honkasalo | Screenplay |
Writing | Pirkko Saisio | Writer |
Writing | Heimo Haitto | Original Story |
Writing | Eva Haitto | Original Story |
Sound | Atso Almila | Original Music Composer |
Camera | Lars Karlsson | Director of Photography |
Camera | Kari Sohlberg | Director of Photography |
Editing | Tuula Mehtonen | Editor |
Costume & Make-Up | Päivi Tiura | Costume Design |
Costume & Make-Up | Gandhi Bob Arrollo | Makeup Artist |
Costume & Make-Up | Mila Niemi | Makeup Artist |
Costume & Make-Up | Christa Reusch | Assistant Makeup Artist |
Production | Marja-Liisa Raunio-Laine | Production Manager |
Production | Betsy Pollock | Production Manager |
Production | Lisa Blok-Linson | Unit Manager |
Directing | Lee Berger | First Assistant Director |
Sound | Berndt Frithiof | Sound Mixer |
Sound | Antero Honkanen | Sound |
Sound | Matti Kuortti | Sound |
Sound | Kjell Westman | Sound Mixer |
Editing | Antonia Dubravka Carnerud | Editor |
Art | Pentti Valkeasuo | Production Design |
Art | Mikko Kurenniemi | Production Design |
Art | Gail Humphreys | Production Design |
Production | Pekka Lehto | Executive Producer |
Production | Katinka Faragó | Executive Producer |
Sound | Paul Jyrälä | Production Sound Mixer |
Crew | Aaron A. Goffman | Carpenter |