Pirkko Saisio

Writing

Pirkko Saisio

Born 1949-04-16 · Helsinki, Finland

Pirkko Saisio is a Finnish author, director and actress. She has also written under the pen names Jukka Larsson and Eva Wein. Saisio is best known for his work in literature, and has broad literary output. In addition to novels, she has written plays, film and television screenplays, musicals, librettos, song lyrics and translations. Saisio is the mother of actress Elsa Saisio, and is in a Civil Union with director Pirjo Honkasalo.

Acting credits

Nightborn poster
6.0

In Finnish forest, Saga and her husband Jon embark on a new chapter as parents. But Saga's joy is overshadowed by a chilling suspicion about their newborn, unbeknownst to Jon, causing a rift as she alone grapples with the disturbing truth.

Nightborn

2026

Prime Minister poster
7.0

A Finnish drama about the short term of Finland's first female prime minister, Anneli Jäätteenmäki.

Prime Minister

2009

Lovers & Leavers poster
4.8

This movie is about Iiris Vaara. She turns 30 and meets young director Marko. All dreams come true but does Marko share her dreams?

Lovers & Leavers

2002

Helene poster
6.2

Year 1915. Helene Schjerfbeck lives as a forgotten artist with her elderly mother in the countryside. It has been years since the last exhibit, and Helene continues to paint only because of her passion. Everything changes when art dealer finds Helen and her 159 wonderful paintings - and wants to organize a big private exhibit. However, Helen's turning point comes only when she is introduced to Einar Reuter. Young Einar is a forester, art enthusiast, and a passionate admirer of Helene's work. He becomes Helen's trusted and lover.

Helene

2020

The 3 Rooms of Melancholia poster
7.6

A searing examination of the unrelenting Chechen conflict, observed through the prisms of a Russian military boys academy, a war-torn town and a children's refugee camp.

The 3 Rooms of Melancholia

2004

Juhannushäät poster
NR

The young non-commissioned officer Voitto travels with his bride Marjata to spend a wedding in his childhood home in Lapland. On the wedding night, both have to confront their past.

Juhannushäät

1979

Orenda poster
5.4

Orenda means an invisible force, a life spirit that inhabits everything living and lifeless: people, wind, birds, rabbits, stone. The one who serves Orenda and sings to it may receive its power. Exploring the themes of guilt and grace, the destinies of two women intertwine into a tense emotional thriller set on a remote island.

Orenda

2025

Behind the camera

Fire-Eater poster
5.4

The twin sisters Helena and Irene are born in Helsinki during World War II. A few months later their mother, Sirkka, leaves the girls in the care of their grandmother, an old communist, and runs away with a German soldier. Their life under the protection of their grandmother and the teachings of communism ends first with the death of Stalin, then with that of their grandmother. The girls are eight years old when they are put in an orphanage. Their mother shows up at the orphanage in the company of Ramon, a Spanish trapeze artist. They are on a talent search for a German circus. Ramon trains the reluctant Irene during circus tours in Central Europe. She becomes the trapeze star of the circus. The hard work soon exhausts Irene and she falls from height, as if on purpose. Helena has secretly learned the art of fire-eating. Now she is burdened with both her mother and her sister. The violent life, however, separates the three from each other. In the present-day Helsinki the middle-aged...

Fire-Eater

1998

Concrete Night poster
5.9

A 14-year-old boy in a stifling Helsinki slum takes some unwise life lessons from his soon-to-be-incarcerated older brother.

Concrete Night

2013

Juhannushäät poster
NR

The young non-commissioned officer Voitto travels with his bride Marjata to spend a wedding in his childhood home in Lapland. On the wedding night, both have to confront their past.

Juhannushäät

1979

Orenda poster
5.4

Orenda means an invisible force, a life spirit that inhabits everything living and lifeless: people, wind, birds, rabbits, stone. The one who serves Orenda and sings to it may receive its power. Exploring the themes of guilt and grace, the destinies of two women intertwine into a tense emotional thriller set on a remote island.

Orenda

2025