Syntipukki
Syntipukki

Movie spotlight

Syntipukki

1935
Movie
94 min
Finnish

Adalbert "Mussu" Koikkalainen inherits 9,000 marks from his uncle. To buy a milk shop, Koikkalainen needs another thousand marks and work experience, so he applies for a job at the department store Sampo, where he is hired as a scapegoat to receive customer complaints. The saleswoman Irja Salo, who is under threat of dismissal, falls in love with the general manager Vaara, whom she thinks is a traveling salesman.

Insights

Director: Jalmari JärvinenGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

A struggling artist finds himself in a comical predicament when his art inadvertently leads to chaos and romantic entanglements. As he tries to navigate the bizarre situations his creations stir up, he must also confront his own artistic ambitions and personal relationships.

Critical Reception

Syntipukki (Sinner's Goat) is a rare surviving example of early Finnish cinema, often remembered for its unique, albeit somewhat primitive, narrative structure and its portrayal of societal quirks. While not a major critical success upon its release, it has gained a cult following for its peculiar charm and historical significance within Finnish film history.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its quirky, unconventional humor.

  • Noted for its historical value as an early Finnish film.

  • Some found the plot meandering and the acting style dated.

Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce due to the film's age and limited availability, but historical commentary suggests an appreciation for its unique, albeit sometimes eccentric, storytelling and its place in early Finnish cinema.

Fun Fact

Syntipukki is one of the few surviving films from director Jalmari Järvinen, making it an important artifact for Finnish film preservation.

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