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.
Directed by Pirjo Honkasalo, Pekka Lehto
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Cast
Raimo Karppinen
Arto Arsi
Jan Söderblom
Arto Arsi as a child
Tarmo Manni
Sergei Rippas
Rea Mauranen
Suvi Ekman
Eeva-Maija Haukinen
Arto's Mother
Kimmo Otsamo
Arto's Brother
Per Oscarsson
Eino
Jayne Meadows
Mrs. Thomas
Marta Becket
Ballet dancer
Lew Hopson
Big Morgan
Virginia Capers
Singing prisoner
Eri Klas
Conductor
Atso Almila
Conductor
Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Conductor
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