The interviews after the film give really honest insight into a specific culture / world of BDSM, This is absolutely not though some kind of kinky sex film. It's a really well thought out exploration of what can happen for someone caught in grief, (or indeed maybe other bubbles that prohibit contact with other people)
The actors are great, and cinenatograhy fantastic.
It was a Canne Clapper - a lot of folk walked out.
I think this film is like marmite, my partner hated it. If you are into 'film; it;'s unmissable, if you have an interest in psychology or fetish its great.
If you are just expecting a bit of 'light American entertainment' - maybe give it a miss.
It's encouraged me to seek out other films Pekka Strang and Krista Kosonen are in, and this is one of the great things about cinema Paradiso - you can find so many new and interesting films (or series) and 'discover' actors and actresses.
Suffering the pains of grief after losing a loved one? Just get yourself down to your local S&M boutique and discover the masochist inside you (whilst giving sadists pleasure by allowing them to pull your teeth out with pliers). Masochistic asphyxiation to the point of near-death is this film's queasy remedy for all ills.
The best thing about this film is the title. In fact, it all goes down hill fast after the opening titles.
In retrospect, I wish I had pressed 'stop' after the early scene where Juha masturbates wildly with his dead wife's nightie over his head (having first drenched the garment in her favourite perfume). It becomes car-crash viewing as it goes along, though I'll refrain from any jokes about rubber-necking.
I have to agree that the best thing about this film is the title.
The only reason this is not 1 star is the cinematography - and it is almost 1 star anyway.
Why this has got great reviews from some, I do not know. It's a paper-thin idea which could make a half-hour film yet is dragged out with flabby fleshy S&M scenes to try and be radical - however it merely succeeds in being dull. Very.
I gave TOME OF FINLAND with the same actor and gave it 3 stars. It is better than this dross.