Risto Veste

The life story of Aleksis Kivi, author of the first Finnish novel in Finnish language and (posthumously) its most successful writer.

Helena, a beautiful school teacher in a countryside hamlet is just going to marry her childhood friend Erkki, but a day before the wedding her first love Jari arrives to the scene.

Mauri Miettinen and his wife Anja are living in a happy marriage. Everything changes when Mauri's old acquaintance comes to visit and threatens to reveal Anja's dark past.

18-year-old orphan Sylvi is unable to refuse the marriage proposal made by her guardian, Aksel. The young wife is unhappy with her elderly husband and loves her childhood friend Viktoria instead. Sylvi sinks into despair when Aksel refuses to grant her a divorce.

Raili moves away from her mean aunts. The young woman enjoys her independent life, but debt, a deceitful boyfriend, and getting fired from her office job get her into trouble. However, Raili's uncle Salomoni and his wife Salli support their relative. Olli, a lawyer, also wants to help Raili, who has fallen victim to blackmail.

A mysterious traveler encounters Dr. Mirjami and Inga on the road. They lure the young man to a boarding house, where their husbands already live, along with the poet Annikki, the boarding house landlady Mrs. Soisalo, and her lover Einar. All four women feel attracted to the traveler, who begins to receive anonymous love letters.

At the request of author Zacharias, Fredrik begins composing an opera, inspired by a summer walk in Backas, Espoo. He falls in love with Ebba, who sings like a nightingale about a young mermaid on the shore of the lake. Fredrik's infatuation causes a scandal in Helsinki society circles, as he is married.

Tuula, Mirri and Aino are roommates at a nurse college. At her hospital internship, Aino works with Dr. Eero who has had an affair with Viivi, the director of the nurses' dormitory. At the same time, Tuula is starting to get closer to Mirri's fiancé Ragnar who has begun to doubt Mirri's love and loyalty.

The streets of Helsinki, Finland, at night. Violence mixed with incidents and everyday life. Reported by police officers on the graveyard shift.

Young inventor Janne is lonely. He falls in love with beautiful girls, but his feelings are not reciprocated. Heartbreak and failure rob Janne of his will to live.

Bank manager wants to hire younger employees. Fired cashier decides to teach him a lesson.