Finnish American Lives (1982)
• January 1st, 1982 • 0h 47min
Documentary
Overview
A moving portrait of traditional Finnish American culture in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, highlighting that fragile community of memory connecting ourselves with parents and grandparents. It uses the “biographical model” of folklore filmmaking to tell the story of Erikki Vourenmaa, a 92-year-old Finnish immigrant, and his family living near Ironwood, Michigan. This three-generation farm family works, celebrates, reflects, and grieves together. The film explores the meaning of family, ethnic history, aging and intergenerational bonds. It contrasts between the immigrant elder, his American-born son and the partially assimilated grandchildren to illustrate change and continuity in the "sauna belt" of the Lake Superior Region. As Dr. Sharon Sherman concluded, “Loukinen’s focus on the bonds between generations will strike emotional chords about family relationships and ethnic identity for numerous cultural groups.”
Make sure to check your pop-up blocker!!
Trailer
Similar Movies
Sans Soleil
Released on: 1983-03-02
Documentary
A woman narrates the thoughts of a world traveler, meditations on time and memory expressed in words...
Bamboo Theatre
Released on: 2019-09-22
Documentary, Music
This film is a portrait of unique cultural space for Spirits, Gods and People. While permanent theat...
Latvian Coyote
Released on: 2019-12-01
Documentary
An absurd game of “finding happiness” is being played by local Latvian coyotes* and illegal immigran...
En Rang Par Deux
Released on: 2020-07-29
Animation, Documentary
The idea for this film comes from the encounter with two African boys who live in Rome, and is based...
Shelter
Released on: 2021-06-03
Documentary
Fleeing religious persecution, resilient Jewish immigrants arrive in Toronto and begin building affo...
Aan ons den arbeid
Released on: 2007-11-28
Documentary
Documentary that shows the changing attitude towards immigrant labor in The Netherlands. The documen...
The Other Side of the Wall
Released on: 2017-03-19
Documentary
Honduran immigrants living in Mexico, teenage siblings Rocío and Ale must take over care of their tw...
God Grew Tired of Us
Released on: 2006-12-31
Documentary
Filmmaker Christopher Quinn observes the ordeal of three Sudanese refugees -- Jon Bul Dau, Daniel Ab...
Lake Effect
Released on: 2023-12-21
Documentary
Lake Effect is a two-year Michigan ski film highlighting the joys of backyard adventure and the shif...
Tales from Arab Detroit
Released on: 1995-01-01
Documentary
Tales from Arab Detroit is a video documentary offering a fascinating glimpse into the lives and str...
Mothers of Life
Released on: 2002-02-11
Documentary
A documentary on the experiences of the Nubetya Yaptiks nomadic family in the Yamal Peninsula, Easte...
Displaced Perssons
Released on: 2013-08-23
Drama, Documentary
Per Persson left Sweden 40 years ago. In Pakistan he fell in love and became the father of two daugh...
Circumcision
Released on: 1949-01-01
Documentary
Rites and operation of the circumcision of thirty Songhai children on the Niger. Material of this fi...
Spellbound
Released on: 2002-03-14
Documentary
This documentary follows 8 teens and pre-teens as they work their way toward the finals of the Scrip...
The Lure and the Lore
Released on: 1988-01-01
Documentary
A collaboration between filmmaker Ayoka Chenzira and performance artist Thomas Pinnock, who performs...
Polaris
Released on: 2012-06-27
Documentary
Work. Eat. Sleep. And back to work. For a long time skippers in the North East of Scotland could not...
Melodies of the mountains
Released on: 2006-01-01
Documentary
Film about the singing and dancing culture of the Ingush people
