filmbore pick of the week - Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

Director: Jalmari Helander
Screenplay: Jalmari Helander
Starring: Onni Tommila, Jorma Tommila, Tommi Korpela, Ilmari Järvenpää, Peeter Jakobi, Rauno Juvonen
Year: 2010
Languages: Finnish, English
UK rental release: November 2011

IMDb
LoveFilm
Rotten Tomatoes

Here's your second review for this week as promised. Yesterday pick, Festen, was tenuously linked to Christmas through the medium of dinner parties and family gatherings. Today, however, we're going full filmbore alternative yuletide, with one of the movies I picked for last year's Top 10 Wonky Christmas Movies, the unique Finnish black comedy-horror, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.

24 days until Christmas. A team of workers are drilling deep into the Korvatunturi mountains with knowledge of mysteries buried deep within. A soon as progress is made, their benefactor gives them some bizarre rules that must be adhered to lest they expose themselves to unnecessary danger.

Two boys spy on the workers. Pietari (newcomer Onni Tommila) is worried about what they are doing, believing something terrifying to be buried there, possibly Santa Claus. His best friend, Juuso (newcomer Ilmari Järvenpää), is less bothered though, and sees no problem in what the builders are doing, or that they've been spying on them, and certainly doesn't believe that they find Santa underneath all of the earth.

But Pietari knows more about the saint of the yuletide period than Juuso does: the real mythological Santa in Finland is a completely different beast, as his sole purpose is to torture and consume all naughty children. This perturbs Pietari.

Just 1 day until Christmas and work has finished on the mountain. Pietari's father, Rauno (Jorma Tommila, Raid, Priest Of Evil), is setting traps. The explosions over the previous weeks from the workers dynamite has excited the wolves in the area and they're now on the prowl. Rauno is a burly man with a strong work ethic. He loves his son but wants him to make that step from boy to man as soon as is possible. Things have been difficult since his wife, Pietari's mother, has passed away, but he remains strong for the boy.

While rendezvousing with the other villagers, they discover that their reindeer have been massacred. Rauno's friends have turned up too: Piiparinen (Rauno Juvonen, Bad Luck, Ambush) and Juuso's father, Aimo (Tommi Korpela, Purge, A Man's Job). Together, they want to find out how their winter meat stock was slaughtered, venturing to the work site atop of the mountain for some answers. When they get there, they find that the workforce have excavated an enormous site.

It's now Christmas Day. There is some weird goings-on around the village, the workers have been assaulted by an unknown source and Rauno's trap has been activated. On checking the pit, he finds the body of an emaciated old man in there. But this frightening looking fellow (Peeter Jakobi, Living Images, Viimne Reliikvia) is no ordinary person. 

If you are naughty, even if you curse a little, he'll attack you in a flash. Could this be the real Santa Claus? Or are they all victim to a sick hoax?

Rare Exports is a thoroughly entertaining movie made off the back of two Finnish shorts: Rare Exports Inc and Rare Exports: The Official Safety Instructions. SPOILER WARNING: If you have not seen this full feature yet, I advise you to not watch these two shorts as they will spoil the movie for you. However, I must advise that you do watch them immediately afterwards though, as they are very funny.

What's important to note here (as I put my filmbore hat on) is that funding was found off the back of these shorts but this wonderful movie was still produced on a modest budget of just over €1.8million. 

This picture has a grand scale feel in its shooting, which is exceptional when considering the minimal funding that Jalmari Helander had. Filmed in hi-definition, there's a richness and crispness to this picture, especially noticeable in the earlier scenes set mainly during the daytime. Some of this bountiful display forms in the absolutely stunning shots of the Finnish landscape grafted throughout the entire piece.

Some of the other choices with the lens are intriguing too; I can't say too much without giving some of the game away. There are some courageous shots during the last scenes, and peppered with dramatic camerawork it is visually unusual. There are few pictures that look like this.

There aren't many that feel like it either. There is a general feel of Christmas in the air in this tale early on, yet this vibe is fleeting, making way for more laughs and scares later on. Based on the Finnish myth of Father Christmas as opposed to the more commonly known friendly one we all know and love, he was feared by children in days yonder in order to prevent them from misbehaving. If they did, the creature known as Joulupukki or 'Yule Goat' would come and kidnap them ready for punishment.

With this background and the manner of the film's production it is slowly gripping with some good 'jump moments'. It's a true Xmas horror, and very ambitious for a small film, yet with its dark premise it still has a light feel about it. It's great fun and could sit quite comfortably in the Saturday night popcorn movie pocket too.

As commercially viable as it is, there are some that may feel that it is a little brief, and that there is more that could have been explored. Personally, I would have enjoyed a bit more to be frank this is but a minor dent in an overall enjoyable piece. I wouldn't rule out a sequel either. In fact, as rare as is suitable, I imagine a follow-on to this first full-feature instalment would be very well received. 

Such a step would allow us to see this great cast work together again. Even though playing up the fear and suspense, nobody takes themselves too seriously, ensuring that they keep their feet firmly in the black comedy genre. All except for one man...

Peeter Jakobi, who plays the demon/Santa/who-knows-what cuts an imposing presence. Alien in his appearance, he is otherworldly and quite sinister. He cuts it so very fine too as a little too much terror would have obliterated the pictures delicate attempt at successfully balancing genres.

I can't talk about cast members without mentioning our lead, of course. Onni Tommila as Pietari is adorable: an inquisitive and brave young boy portrayed brilliantly by the new young actor. There is a new film coming out in 2014 called Big Game that he has a part in, so maybe if it does well we could see more of him in the future, which can only be a good thing for such a promising actor.

Another cast member in Big Game next year is Jorma Tommila, who plays Pietari's father Rare Exports and is also Onni's dad in real life. This father-and-son pairing is where this movie truly shines. It helps to generate a quickly established relationship between Pietari and Rauno within the opening sections of the tale. And, due to their relationship outside of the film, there is natural family chemistry between them, which is very evident on screen. It grants the whole piece with more realism, improving it even further.

This connection between parent and child is where you will be drawn in, and helps to accentuate the true meaning hidden under the array of entertainment. Aside from the combination of humour, horror and fairytale elements, Rare Exports is really a story about a boy's transition to a man, done so by facing his fears and believing in his convictions, while at the same time trying to stay off the naughty list!

With a climax that will surprise you with a nice little twist, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale can entertain, amuse, shock and move you. In the history of movie making it is already making waves as one of the world's truly alternative Christmas films. It's a genius concept. An absolute original.

Don't forget to leave comments below, tweet me @filmbore or post on my Facebook page here. 

Alternatively, you could contact me directly about this film or my other reviews on pickoftheweek@filmbore.co.uk