Review of The Village Shoemakers

Esko goes to marry the fair Kreeta, but it all ends to a huge disappointment, since she is getting married to somebody else.This leads to all kinds of funny situations, like Esko drinking booze for the first time.Nummisuutarit (1923) is directed by Erkki Karu.Today we celebrate Aleksis Kivi's day.He wrote this excellent play in 1864.Three movie versions have been made of it and this silent film, which I just saw on a VHS, is the first one.And it's a very good one.Some of the credit you have to give to Axel Slangus, who plays Esko.And the rest of the cast are also the right people for their parts.Alarik Korhonen portrays the father Topias.Kirsti Suonio is the mother Martta.Brother Iivari is played by Kirsti's actual son Antero Suonio.Aku Käyhkö plays Mikko Vilkastus.Heidi Korhonen is Jaana and Juho Puls her father Niko.Jaakko Korhonen plays her love interest Kristo.Adolf Lindfors plays Sepeteus.Martti Tuukka is Antres.Märta Hansson plays Kreeta.Behind the music are some true masterminds.I'm talking about Jean Sibelius, Selim Palmgren, Toivo Kuula and Oskar Merikanto.There's some great photography in this movie.Take the scene where Esko is drunk and the camera keeps spinning.And you sure feel nostalgic watching that old Finland.All movie versions have been good adaptations and Kivi would have been proud of them.