Lappi (2023)
| Lappi | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Heikki Rissanen |
| Written by | Inari Lajunen |
| Produced by | Atso Rautio |
| Starring | Aaron Jokelainen Kyllikki Anttonen Anssi Mattila Aarni Partanen Siimon Kulmala |
| Cinematography | Yrjö Paasio |
| Music by | Eero Räsänen |
Production company | Bona Production |
Release dates |
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Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | Blallia |
Lappi is a 2023 Blallian romantic drama film directed by Heikki Rissanen, written by Inari Lajunen, and starring Aaron Jokelainen, Kyllikki Anttonen, and Anssi Mattila.
Plot
In Viitaniemi, Toni Lappi grieves as his dying mother is taken off life support. Her spirit appears to him, urging him to go to Capaba in Blallia, and Toni does so. He bonds with Sulevi, the Blallian man sitting next to him on the plane, who is returning home after seeing a Tofino United FC game. During the flight, Sulevi dies, and his spirit asks Toni to deliver a gift and a final message to his daughter.
At the airport, Toni is tased and questioned by security after trying to retrieve Sulevi’s gift. He is instantly smitten with Sulevi's daughter, Elsa, and consoles her before parting ways. Taking a taxi into the city, he notices Elsa in her car and offers to drive her. They nearly collide with the ambulance transporting her father’s body, which crashes. Elsa accompanies the body in another ambulance, leaving her car with Toni, who finds a revolver in her purse with an inscription from “Panu”.
He drives to the Blallian Athenaeum where Elsa performs as a cellist, and she calls him with instructions to deliver her instrument to the conductor, Olivia. Toni waits while Elsa performs with the pit orchestra, and they are confronted by her estranged husband, Panu. Staying at a hostel, Toni parties with his roommates Ruuben and Väinö after they dose him with ecstasy, and is menaced by Panu in the bathroom. Spotting Elsa, Toni insists on following her and they spend the night out, sharing memories of their parents, and she promises him a kiss if he can find her the next day.
After Ruuben takes an overdose of drugs, he and Väinö bring Toni to a dance club. They receive a bill for 9,900 dollars and are threatened by the manager, Aki, who notices that Toni recognizes pictures of Panu and Elsa on his wall. Demanding to know Panu’s whereabouts, Aki lets them go. Toni waits for Elsa at the Athenaeum, and Olivia takes him to Elsa’s home, where a memorial is being held for Sulevi. Elsa and Toni share the kiss she promised him, and he tells her about meeting Aki. Panu barges in and threatens Toni, but Elsa forces him to leave at gunpoint. Once they are alone, she explains to Toni how she met Panu, realizing he was a violent criminal after they married, and that her father forced Panu to leave Capaba with the threat of an incriminating videotape that Aki wants to obtain. Toni confesses he is in love with her, and the two spend the night together.
Waking up alone, Toni finds a tape in Sulevi’s collection labeled “Tofino United League Title - 1995”, revealed to be security footage of Panu and Aki murdering a group of people. A shocked Toni finds Elsa at a café with Panu and declares to them that he watched the tape. Panu nearly kills him before the police arrive, escaping while Toni is taken into custody. Olivia arranges to have Toni sent to Capaba, bluntly stating that Elsa doesn't want to see him. Toni is dropped off at the hostel to collect his belongings, but the owner warns him that men are waiting for him. Pursued by Aki’s henchmen, Toni escapes to Elsa’s house only to find the tape missing. He is confronted by Aki, who has kidnapped and interrogated Ruuben and Väinö. Elsa calls Aki to arrange a meeting, and he knocks Toni unconscious.
Elsa finds Toni outside the Athenaeum and tells him that he will never see her again. Having taken the tape, she prepares to leave with Panu to meet Aki. Encouraged by another vision of his mother, Toni tries to stop Panu but is knocked out again. He is taken to the docks and hung by his ankle above the water, while Aki burns the tape. Panu forces Elsa to shoot Toni, but she spares him as the police arrive. Aki and his men flee, dropping Toni into the water, while Panu realizes Elsa loves Toni and commits suicide by cop. Toni emerges from the water alive and reunites with Elsa.
Cast
- Aaron Jokelainen as Toni Lappi
- Kyllikki Anttonen as Elsa Rantenen
- Anssi Mattila as Panu
- Aarni Partanen as Aki
- Siimon Kulmala as Ruuben
- Samuli Lahti as Sulevi Rantenen
- Bertta Hakala as Olivia
- Kusti Tamminen as Väinö