The Christmas Party (film)

The Christmas Party (Finnish: Joulubileet) is a 1996 Finnish crime comedy film directed by Jari Halonen. It tells the story of a group of four men who have previously committed a failed robbery that landed one of them in prison, and when he is released, the other members of the foursome decide to throw the biggest Christmas party ever in his honor.[1]

The Christmas Party
Original Finnish film poster
Finnish: Joulubileet
Directed byJari Halonen
Produced byJari Halonen
Jorma Tommila
Heikki Ahonius
StarringJorma Tommila
Antti Reini
Rauno Juvonen
Oiva Lohtander
Production
companies
Seppä Callahanin Filmimaailma
Ugri Films
Release date
  • 29 November 1996 (1996-11-29) (Finland)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryFinland
LanguageFinnish
BudgetFIM 1,5 million[1]

Although the film's success at the box office was modest, critics gave positive reviews and, years after its release, the film has gained a strong cult reputation.[2][3] At the 1997 Jussi Awards, Jorma Tommila was awarded for the Best Actor and Oiva Lohtander for the Best Supporting Actor.[1][4][5]

Cast

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  • Jorma Tommila as Bona Merenkylä
  • Antti Reini as Mike Merenkylä
  • Rauno Juvonen as Joukka
  • Oiva Lohtander as Hämäläinen
  • Sari Havas as Lea, Bona's wife
  • Jari Halonen as Dahlgren, neighbor
  • Maija-Liisa Peuhu as downstairs neighbor
  • Jukka Kärkkäinen as Hessu, downstairs neighbor
  • Iris-Lilja Lassila as lonely woman from upstairs

The film also features the musician M. A. Numminen in a short supporting role.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Joulubileet" (in Finnish). Elonet. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Klassikkoesittely: Kotimainen räävitön kulttiklassikko ei unohdu – "Joulubileet on ehkä parhaiten näytelty elokuva maailmassa"". Mesta.net (in Finnish). 14 November 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  3. ^ Ikonden, Niko (29 December 2018). "Jari Halosen klassinen kulttileffa loukkaa ilmeisesti Facebookin yhteisönormeja – Youtube-linkki poistettiin". Episodi (in Finnish). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  4. ^ Ylänen, Helena (2 March 1997). "Jussipatsaat Aki Kaurismäelle". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Night Visions -festivaalin Finlandia-gaalassa juhlistetaan Jari Halosen kulttielokuvaa Joulubileet" (in Finnish). Night Visions. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
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