THE EARTH IS A SINFUL SONG
(MAA ON SYNTINEN LAULU)
aka THE LAND OF OUR ANCESTORS
Dir. Rauni Mollberg. 1973.
Finland. 108 min.
In Finnish with English Subtitles.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 – 10 PM
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 – 7:30 PM
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 – 5 PM
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 – MIDNIGHT
AN ARCHAIC WORLD WITH SEX, DEATH, VIOLENCE AND RELIGIOUS MADNESS
In the breathtaking remote wilds of northern Finland, 19-year old Martta Mäkelä lays about naked, ignoring the harsh realities of village life in Siskonranta. Amidst the perpetual poverty and isolation, Martta’s world is turned upside down when she falls in love with Oula, a wandering reindeer herder. Her erotic explorations leads to her pregnancy, igniting the village’s scorn and religious backlash. As Martta transitions from girlhood to womanhood, EARTH IS A SINFUL SONG also captures a year in the life of the village and its inhabitants – highlighting the beautiful warmth of blossoming, bloody young sexuality against the earthy, unforgiving cold of 1940s post-war Lapland.
Based on the novel of the same name by controversial Finnish author Timo K. Mukka and helmed by famous television director Rauni Mollberg, EARTH IS A SINFUL SONG was produced during Finland’s “darkest period of cinema” and under extreme conditions. In a time when very few Finnish films found success, EARTH IS A SINFUL SONG went on to be submitted to the 46th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film and eventually became one of the best selling titles in Finnish film history.
Virtually unknown outside its native Finland, we are very proud to present these rare screenings of Rauni Mollberg’s EARTH IS A SINFUL SONG, this February at Spectacle. Part of ANTI-VALENTINE’S.
Many special thanks to Eira Mollberg, Timo Kinnunen, Tommi Partanen, the National Audiovisual Institute (KAVI), and the Finnish Film Archive for their blessings, provisions, and assistance.
WARNING: GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF LIVE ANIMAL VIOLENCE AND DEATH APPEAR ON SCREEN.