[**UPDATED** Fully acknowledging the technical merits of Sauna, the Annual Finish Film Awards, the Jussi's have were handed out yesterday and Sauna collected a handful of technical nods: Sound Design, Costume Design, Art Direction. While the film is undoubtedly handsome, it is also a very richly textured beast. So is this just another reason to bump the film back up onto the front page? If it means people will discover this little gem, then, well, uh, yes.]
With the Oscars being more than a little bit of a write-off this year, it is time to look to a film industry that nominates a little more challenging and unusual cinema. Regular reader Niko Jutila passes along that Antti-Jussi Annila's Sauna, despite having a dismal commercial run it is native country, is the 2nd most nominated film by their local film industry - garnering Jussi nods across the board in the acting and production design categories (although not in picture or director). The Jussi's have been awarded to Finnish filmmakers excelling at their craft since 1944. One of the best horror films of 2008, (along with Let The Right One In, Vinyan, Blindness, Pontypool, Funny Games, The Strangers and The Ruins, which pretty much rounds out my personal favourites) Sauna is an interesting fusion of European sensibilities, J-Horror visuals and good old fashioned Edgar Allen Poe malaise that somehow manages to be more than the sum of its parts. IFC is putting it out as a Video On Demand release in March 2009.
Here are the categories "Sauna" was nominated in:
Best Actor in a Leading Role - Ville Virtanen
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Tommi Eronen
Best Cinematography - Henri Blomberg
Best Sound Design - Panu Riikonen, Vesa Meriläinen
Best Editing - Joona Louhela
Best Set Design - Antti Nikkinen, Ville Vauras, Vladimir Bedrich Dvorak
Best Costume Design - Anna Vilppunen
I hope there is some news for DVD or Blu-ray release soon.
Undoubtedly the film is gorgeous looking and it is one of the finest looking film I've seen in a long time but the story didn't grab me as much as it did Kurt. Pretentious is a word thrown around too easily these days but I have to say that they tried to hide a very simple Twilight Zoney story behind some artistic farts if I may be so crude.
So, Swarez, are you a fan of Edgar Allen Poe? This is as more true to Poe than many of the 70's American Corman productions. Yes it is wrapped up in 'artiness' but I don't necessarily see this as a problem, it is a strength in fact. We need a few more literate horror pictures to offset the gore-hounds.
I want to show this at CryptiCon Seattle in June. Hopefully I will be able to. It looks smashing.