Film: Producing Adults
Release date: 12th April 2010
Certificate: 15
Running time: 102 mins
Director: Aleksi Salmenpera
Starring: Minna Haapkylä, Kari-Pekka Toivonen, Minttu Mustakallio, Tommi Eronen, Pekka Strang
Genre: Drama
Studio: Peccadillo
Format: DVD
Country: Finland
Finland’s official submission for the Foreign Language Oscar for 2004 is a charming, sweet, funny, but also very sophisticated look at adult relationships.
It centres around two apparently very different women, Venla and Satu. Venla seems to have it all; a good job as a marriage counsellor, a flat and a doting, successful husband. All she needs now is to have children. However, it quickly becomes apparent that hubby Antero is not quite as secure as Venla is – he is an aspiring speed skater, but is clearly never going to be good enough. He is as emotionally immature as his body is flawed, and is clearly unhappy at the idea they should have a child, even going so far as to slip Venla a contraceptive in her drink when his condom breaks.
Satu meanwhile is the opposite of Venla – laid-back, unconcerned with her appearance, and treating life as a bit of a game - although she is just as committed to her job. She tries to help Venla get pregnant; going as far as to examine Antero’s sperm under a microscope – unbeknown to both of them he has had a vasectomy, so scared is he of becoming a father.
The two women slowly become closer to each other, and Venla realises every quality she wants from a partner is found in Satu, not Antero. However, the one thing Satu cannot do is get her pregnant, so what will she do?
Producing Adults – the title has a certain irony – has a lovely, deceptively light feel to it, slowly drawing you in before you realise the smallest details have huge resonances. Antero’s character is particularly well drawn, a boy in a man’s body, terrified of responsibility, constantly deflecting conversations from the important to the trivial – his obsession with growing herbs is particularly painful. Then there is the central relationship. Venla is a wonderfully detailed character, desperate to be fulfilled and happy, and wondering why a house, good job and a man is not enough for her.
The film’s big shift, Vanla’s sudden change from hetero to homosexual, does seem a little jarring, especially as her and Satu share several scenes early on in which there is no hint of sexual tension or attraction. They even get locked in a room together, freeing themselves by setting off the sprinklers, yet there is still no spark between them - they seem more like colleagues than potential lovers. It’s a shame as this is really the central theme of the film.
Still, it’s a beautifully drawn, very detailed and funny movie. Satu’s exclamation, “Do you think I should rub your clitoris before I go? That was a joke!” is a lovely moment, and beautifully acted, much like the film as a whole.
The performances are strong - Minna Haapkylärary is wonderful as the central character, desperate to be fulfilled, energetic and compassionate, Minttu Mustakallio is almost as good as Satu, constantly smoking, easy-going and taking every knockback in her stride. Kari-Pekka Toivonen is also on top form as the emotionally stunted Antero, frustrated by his body’s failings and scared of putting his youth behind him and becoming an adult.
Finland is pretty low on the list of countries producing top European films, and the director has made just two more films since this one. It has produced just three Oscar nominations in its long history, this being the second. Still, it proves any country can produce a movie with universal themes - just get the details right. MM
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