Matti Kassila

Directing

Matti Kassila

Born — Died

1924-01-12 — 2018-12-14

Place of birth

Keuruu, Finland

Known for

Directing

Credits

57 titles

Matti Kassila was born on January 12, 1924 in Keuruu, Finland as Matti Uolevi Kassila. He was a director and writer, known for Gas, Inspector Palmu! (1961), The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu (1962) and The Harvest Month (1956).

Known for

Niskavuori poster
6.4

Ilona, a young teacher, arrives in a village in Tavastia. She and Aarne, the wealthy owner of the Niskavuori farm, who is frustrated with his marriage, fall in love. The relationship becomes a public secret. Aarne's wife Martta, who owns half of Niskavuori, wants to hold on to her husband until the last. For Loviisa, the matriarch of Niskavuori, the most important thing is the reputation and honor of the family.

Niskavuori

1984

When the Heavens Fall… poster
6.6

A psychotherapist's life is wrecked when her private life is exposed in a sensation magazine.

When the Heavens Fall…

1972

Kuriton sukupolvi poster
7.2

Aging professor of mathematics completes his life's work, a research project that has taken him decades, and climbs up from the boiler room (his study) and back to real life. He can hardly recognize his rebellious teenage kids and materialistic wife who hardly seem to notice his existence. The only person who is interested in the professor's work is Marja, his son's girlfriend and freshman at the university. An innocent infatuation flares up between the old man and the young girl, while the professor's family is only interested in the prize money awarded to the professor by an international jury for his academic achievements.

Kuriton sukupolvi

1957

Temples of Dreams poster
6.8

Documentary about Finnish film theaters - about their past, disappearance and future. And at the same time universal story how cinema is undeniably connected with life.

Temples of Dreams

2015

The Harvest Month poster
6.7

The title of the Finnish film Elokuu translates to August. Directed by Matti Kassila, one of Finland's premiere filmmakers, Elokuu was adapted from a novel by Nobel prize winning finnish author F.E. Sillanpää. Simply put, the story concerns the decline and fall of a once-proud family, thanks to the alcoholism of its paterfamilias. Toivo Makela delivers a powerfully effective performance as the inebriated protagonist, avoiding the usual "drunken" cliches. The overlong running time, coupled with the downbeat nature of the subject, limited the film's worldwide appeal.

The Harvest Month

1956

Kaikki pelissä poster
5.6

A film group is making movie in the little town. Writer Pentti Töysä interrupts film group's press conference and claims that script is written by him and it is based on true story. Töysä also says that he has written a new ending to the movie and that it reveals an old murder. Not everyone is happy about the new twist.

Kaikki pelissä

1994

Film credits

1960s · 3 titles

1950s · 6 titles

The Harvest Month poster
6.7

The title of the Finnish film Elokuu translates to August. Directed by Matti Kassila, one of Finland's premiere filmmakers, Elokuu was adapted from a novel by Nobel prize winning finnish author F.E. Sillanpää. Simply put, the story concerns the decline and fall of a once-proud family, thanks to the alcoholism of its paterfamilias. Toivo Makela delivers a powerfully effective performance as the inebriated protagonist, avoiding the usual "drunken" cliches. The overlong running time, coupled with the downbeat nature of the subject, limited the film's worldwide appeal.

The Harvest Month

1956

Radio tekee murron poster
6.8

Eager young radio reporter Teräsvuori stages a one-man burglary into the Helsinki Art Museum, recorded on tape for a later broadcast by his friend Laakso. Things go awry when a gang of real criminals overhear their plans and book their heist to coincide. Teräsvuori gets caught but escapes from police custody to start his private investigations together with female radio colleague Eila.

Radio tekee murron

1951

Lasisydän poster
6.3

A famous glass artist escapes his busy city life and takes to the road.

Lasisydän

1959

Isän vanha ja uusi poster
6.0

An architect, who has recently married a new, younger wife, tries to re-connect with his ex-wife, who is being courted by another man.

Isän vanha ja uusi

1955

Pastori Jussilainen poster
5.7

The year is 1895 in a small village in Savo, where new ideas such as women's rights and folk high schools are vehemently opposed by Pastor Jussilainen, both in his home and in the parish. His wife Eveliina, the maids, and the conservative parishioners all experience his vehemence. However, the pastor meets his match when his mother-in-law arrives for a visit.

Pastori Jussilainen

1955

Scarlet Week poster
5.6

After a weekend of dancing and camping on a recreation island near the city, a young factory worker decides to stay and cut work for a day. Walking around the now deserted island, he meets a beautiful woman camping alone and sunbathing in the nude on the beach. A hot romance flares up between the worker and the more upper-class married lady, lasting through the light-filled nights of the whole summer week until the woman's much older husband returns to the island the next weekend.

Scarlet Week

1954

1940s · 4 titles

Behind the camera

Niskavuori poster
6.4

Ilona, a young teacher, arrives in a village in Tavastia. She and Aarne, the wealthy owner of the Niskavuori farm, who is frustrated with his marriage, fall in love. The relationship becomes a public secret. Aarne's wife Martta, who owns half of Niskavuori, wants to hold on to her husband until the last. For Loviisa, the matriarch of Niskavuori, the most important thing is the reputation and honor of the family.

Niskavuori

1984

Niskavuori poster
6.4

Ilona, a young teacher, arrives in a village in Tavastia. She and Aarne, the wealthy owner of the Niskavuori farm, who is frustrated with his marriage, fall in love. The relationship becomes a public secret. Aarne's wife Martta, who owns half of Niskavuori, wants to hold on to her husband until the last. For Loviisa, the matriarch of Niskavuori, the most important thing is the reputation and honor of the family.

Niskavuori

1984

Kuriton sukupolvi poster
7.2

Aging professor of mathematics completes his life's work, a research project that has taken him decades, and climbs up from the boiler room (his study) and back to real life. He can hardly recognize his rebellious teenage kids and materialistic wife who hardly seem to notice his existence. The only person who is interested in the professor's work is Marja, his son's girlfriend and freshman at the university. An innocent infatuation flares up between the old man and the young girl, while the professor's family is only interested in the prize money awarded to the professor by an international jury for his academic achievements.

Kuriton sukupolvi

1957

The Harvest Month poster
6.7

The title of the Finnish film Elokuu translates to August. Directed by Matti Kassila, one of Finland's premiere filmmakers, Elokuu was adapted from a novel by Nobel prize winning finnish author F.E. Sillanpää. Simply put, the story concerns the decline and fall of a once-proud family, thanks to the alcoholism of its paterfamilias. Toivo Makela delivers a powerfully effective performance as the inebriated protagonist, avoiding the usual "drunken" cliches. The overlong running time, coupled with the downbeat nature of the subject, limited the film's worldwide appeal.

The Harvest Month

1956

The Harvest Month poster
6.7

The title of the Finnish film Elokuu translates to August. Directed by Matti Kassila, one of Finland's premiere filmmakers, Elokuu was adapted from a novel by Nobel prize winning finnish author F.E. Sillanpää. Simply put, the story concerns the decline and fall of a once-proud family, thanks to the alcoholism of its paterfamilias. Toivo Makela delivers a powerfully effective performance as the inebriated protagonist, avoiding the usual "drunken" cliches. The overlong running time, coupled with the downbeat nature of the subject, limited the film's worldwide appeal.

The Harvest Month

1956

Kaikki pelissä poster
5.6

A film group is making movie in the little town. Writer Pentti Töysä interrupts film group's press conference and claims that script is written by him and it is based on true story. Töysä also says that he has written a new ending to the movie and that it reveals an old murder. Not everyone is happy about the new twist.

Kaikki pelissä

1994

Kaikki pelissä poster
5.6

A film group is making movie in the little town. Writer Pentti Töysä interrupts film group's press conference and claims that script is written by him and it is based on true story. Töysä also says that he has written a new ending to the movie and that it reveals an old murder. Not everyone is happy about the new twist.

Kaikki pelissä

1994

Ihmiselon ihanuus ja kurjuus poster
5.2

Two young lovers, Anna and Martti, are split apart but are reunited many years later when their lives have changed considerably. Anna is a war widow; Martti a writer, is married, and has five children.

Ihmiselon ihanuus ja kurjuus

1988

Ihmiselon ihanuus ja kurjuus poster
5.2

Two young lovers, Anna and Martti, are split apart but are reunited many years later when their lives have changed considerably. Anna is a war widow; Martti a writer, is married, and has five children.

Ihmiselon ihanuus ja kurjuus

1988

Natalia poster
7.3

Sammeli from Näljängä and Einari from Haataja, who were hunting bears, encounter Natalia, a cow that has crossed the eastern border. In the name of friendship between neighboring countries, Natalia is asked to return to the Soviet Union.

Natalia

1979

Natalia poster
7.3

Sammeli from Näljängä and Einari from Haataja, who were hunting bears, encounter Natalia, a cow that has crossed the eastern border. In the name of friendship between neighboring countries, Natalia is asked to return to the Soviet Union.

Natalia

1979

Natalia poster
7.3

Sammeli from Näljängä and Einari from Haataja, who were hunting bears, encounter Natalia, a cow that has crossed the eastern border. In the name of friendship between neighboring countries, Natalia is asked to return to the Soviet Union.

Natalia

1979

Radio tekee murron poster
6.8

Eager young radio reporter Teräsvuori stages a one-man burglary into the Helsinki Art Museum, recorded on tape for a later broadcast by his friend Laakso. Things go awry when a gang of real criminals overhear their plans and book their heist to coincide. Teräsvuori gets caught but escapes from police custody to start his private investigations together with female radio colleague Eila.

Radio tekee murron

1951

Radio tekee murron poster
6.8

Eager young radio reporter Teräsvuori stages a one-man burglary into the Helsinki Art Museum, recorded on tape for a later broadcast by his friend Laakso. Things go awry when a gang of real criminals overhear their plans and book their heist to coincide. Teräsvuori gets caught but escapes from police custody to start his private investigations together with female radio colleague Eila.

Radio tekee murron

1951

Inspector Palmu's Error poster
7.0

A closed room mystery begins when an infamous tycoon is found dead in his bath tub. The famous police lieutenant Palmu is summoned to investigate.

Inspector Palmu's Error

1960

Inspector Palmu's Error poster
7.0

A closed room mystery begins when an infamous tycoon is found dead in his bath tub. The famous police lieutenant Palmu is summoned to investigate.

Inspector Palmu's Error

1960

No artwork available
NR

Documentary film about Helsinki.

Pikakäynnillä Helsingissä

1947

Here, Beneath the North Star poster
6.8

Täällä Pohjantähden alla is based on the book with the same title. It is a story of the little village. The movie starts in the 1890's and it ends to the Finnish civil war in 1918. Story concentrates around a tenant farmer family, although it gives us a good look at the society at whole. While the class struggle depends, people of the village are driven to bloody civil war.

Here, Beneath the North Star

1968

Varsovan laulu poster
7.8

A cynical tale of two liquor smugglers, who struggle with life, love and lust. A seedy love triangle is unavoidable.

Varsovan laulu

1953

Varsovan laulu poster
7.8

A cynical tale of two liquor smugglers, who struggle with life, love and lust. A seedy love triangle is unavoidable.

Varsovan laulu

1953

Aatamin puvussa… ja vähän Eevankin poster
4.4

A story of an escaped convict and some funny side stories during the Finnish summer, some stolen clothes and some summer romance thrown in.

Aatamin puvussa… ja vähän Eevankin

1971

Aatamin puvussa… ja vähän Eevankin poster
4.4

A story of an escaped convict and some funny side stories during the Finnish summer, some stolen clothes and some summer romance thrown in.

Aatamin puvussa… ja vähän Eevankin

1971

Farewell, Mr. President poster
6.2

Asko Mertanen is a waiter who is very interested in shooting. He gets fed up how the things are run in Finland, so he thinks that the best way to change them is to shoot the Finnish president.

Farewell, Mr. President

1987

Farewell, Mr. President poster
6.2

Asko Mertanen is a waiter who is very interested in shooting. He gets fed up how the things are run in Finland, so he thinks that the best way to change them is to shoot the Finnish president.

Farewell, Mr. President

1987

Päämaja poster
7.0

The story follows Commander-in-Chief Mannerheim and Quartermaster General Airo at the Finnish Defense Forces headquarters in Mikkeli during the decisive moments of the Continuation War in the summer of 1944. With a major offensive on the Karelian Isthmus imminent, Airo gives the order to attack without consulting the commander-in-chief.

Päämaja

1970

Päämaja poster
7.0

The story follows Commander-in-Chief Mannerheim and Quartermaster General Airo at the Finnish Defense Forces headquarters in Mikkeli during the decisive moments of the Continuation War in the summer of 1944. With a major offensive on the Karelian Isthmus imminent, Airo gives the order to attack without consulting the commander-in-chief.

Päämaja

1970

Kolmen kaupungin kasvot poster
4.0

A documentary about three of Finland's major cities: Turku, Tampere, and Helsinki, showcasing each city's history, geography, and culture.

Kolmen kaupungin kasvot

1962

Lasisydän poster
6.3

A famous glass artist escapes his busy city life and takes to the road.

Lasisydän

1959

Lasisydän poster
6.3

A famous glass artist escapes his busy city life and takes to the road.

Lasisydän

1959

Lasisydän poster
6.3

A famous glass artist escapes his busy city life and takes to the road.

Lasisydän

1959

Äl' yli päästä perhanaa poster
7.0

In the farce, the producer has invited people to his place to plan a film celebrating the centenary of independence. They get drunk and come up with three possible films, which they also act in themselves. The topics chosen, in the spirit of Finnish nationalism, are the life of Colonel Sandels, moonshining, and the 1974 presidential election.

Äl' yli päästä perhanaa

1968

Äl' yli päästä perhanaa poster
7.0

In the farce, the producer has invited people to his place to plan a film celebrating the centenary of independence. They get drunk and come up with three possible films, which they also act in themselves. The topics chosen, in the spirit of Finnish nationalism, are the life of Colonel Sandels, moonshining, and the 1974 presidential election.

Äl' yli päästä perhanaa

1968

Isän vanha ja uusi poster
6.0

An architect, who has recently married a new, younger wife, tries to re-connect with his ex-wife, who is being courted by another man.

Isän vanha ja uusi

1955

Isän vanha ja uusi poster
6.0

An architect, who has recently married a new, younger wife, tries to re-connect with his ex-wife, who is being courted by another man.

Isän vanha ja uusi

1955

Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu poster
6.6

A man's body is found on Tähtitorninmäki in Helsinki. Palmu starts to investigate the case, but the scandalous newspaper story causes problems for the police.

Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu

1962

Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu poster
6.6

A man's body is found on Tähtitorninmäki in Helsinki. Palmu starts to investigate the case, but the scandalous newspaper story causes problems for the police.

Tähdet kertovat, komisario Palmu

1962

Pohjantähti poster
7.5

Jussi Koskela clears a plot of land for his family in the village of Pentinkulma in southern Häme. His son Akseli joins the Red Guard and takes part in the Civil War of 1918, at the end of which he is imprisoned. After his release, Akseli returns to Pentinkulma and tries to raise his family with his wife Elina, as well as acquire more land for his croft in a politically hostile environment. The Winter War and Continuation War take a heavy toll on the Koskela family, but despite this, life goes on.

Pohjantähti

1973

Meiltähän tämä käy poster
4.0

Logger Severi Suhonen is transferred from forestry work to indoor work at the company's paper mill. Unable to adapt to city life, Severi clashes with the autocratic manager Wille Wållberg and meets his girlfriend from decades ago, Anna Tuhkanen, whose daughter Leena Tuhkanen is dating the manager's son, Wille Wållberg Junior.

Meiltähän tämä käy

1973

Meiltähän tämä käy poster
4.0

Logger Severi Suhonen is transferred from forestry work to indoor work at the company's paper mill. Unable to adapt to city life, Severi clashes with the autocratic manager Wille Wållberg and meets his girlfriend from decades ago, Anna Tuhkanen, whose daughter Leena Tuhkanen is dating the manager's son, Wille Wållberg Junior.

Meiltähän tämä käy

1973

The Parisian Tie poster
10.0

Based on the short story of the same name by Mika Waltari. One afternoon, Valter, a middle-aged bank employee, runs into an old acquaintance at Espalla, and a long, boozy evening ensues. Relations with his wife are strained, and there is a young, charming secretary working at the bank. Valter feels a longing for the adventures of his youth.

The Parisian Tie

1965