Dog Nail Clipper

Dog Nail Clipper (Finnish: Koirankynnen leikkaaja) is a 2004 Finnish film directed by Markku Pölönen and starring Peter Franzén and Taisto Reimaluoto. The film is an adaptation of Finnish author Veikko Huovinen's 1980 novel of the same name.

Dog Nail Clipper
Dog Nail Clipper DVD cover (Finnish)
Directed byMarkku Pölönen
Produced byKari Sara
Written byVeikko Huovinen (novel)
Markku Pölönen (screenplay)
StarringPeter Franzén
Taisto Reimaluoto
Ahti Kuoppala
Ville Virtanen
Risto Salmi
Music byVesa Mäkinen
CinematographyKari Sohlberg
Edited byJukka Nykänen
Release date
31 January 2004
Running time
105 minutes
CountryFinland
LanguageFinnish
Budget€1,300,000
Box office€1,431,971

In spite of low profits, the film was critically acclaimed receiving positive reviews and winning several major film awards. Dog Nail Clipper was the most successful film at the 2005 Jussi Awards winning in five categories including Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Direction.[1]

Plot

Mertsi (Peter Franzén) is an intelligent young Finnish soldier fighting against the Soviet Union in World War II. During a battle in 1941, Mertsi is shot in the head and sustains substantial brain damage that leaves him unable to cope with the demands of a normal life. Two of his friends, Eetvi (Taisto Reimaluoto) and Ville (Ahti Kuoppala), try to help him by getting him employed at their places of work so that they can keep an eye on him. But both jobs — construction with Ville and logging with Eetvi — prove to be beyond Mertsi's current ability. Ville tells Mertsi about his dog back home and speaks warmly about his companionship and his concern for the dog's well-being due to the overly long claws. Mertsi decides to travel to Ville's village and take care of the dog by clipping his nails. Due to Mertsi's inability to take care of himself, his trip to the village and his stay with the dog are marked by the kindness and compassion of complete strangers who help Mertsi in his quest to make himself feel like a useful and needed member of the society.

Cast and characters
  • Peter Franzén — Mertsi Arhippa Vepsäläinen
  • Taisto Reimaluoto — Eetvi Manninen
  • Ahti Kuoppala — Ville Kuosmanen
  • Ville Virtanen — Foreman Luti
  • Risto Salmi — Turpeinen

Reception

Critical response

The film was a success with critics, receiving mostly positive reviews and winning several major film awards. Jay Weissberg of Variety called the film "Markku Polonen's most mature work to date" and citing, among other things, "Peter Franzen's standout performance" as reason behind film's success.[2] In a separate review in 2008, Weissberg referred to Dog Nail Clipper as "emotionally satisfying but quirky".[3] Weissberg also offered his opinion that the title of the film gives a false impression of the film's thematic subject and that it "may hamper international sales".[2] Film critic Rich Cline called the film "emotionally resonant and relevant" concluding that "it's a simple, moving film".[4]

Won

Nominated
  • Jussi Awards (2005)
    • Best Set Design — Minna Santakari (lost to Jussi Halonen, Samuli Halla, and Petri Neuvonen for Pelicanman)

References
  1. 5 Jussis for Dog Nail Clipper, Cineuropa.com, February 8, 2005. Accessed July 21, 2009.
  2. Weissberg, Jay. Dog Nail Clipper, Variety, February 15, 2005. Accessed July 21, 2009.
  3. Weissberg, Jay. The Matriarch, Variety, June 25, 2008. Accessed July 21, 2009.
  4. Cline, Rich. Dog Nail Clipper, ShadowsOnTheWall.com. Accessed July 21, 2009.
  5. Dog Nail Clipper (Koirankynnen leikkaaja) Archived 2008-03-15 at the Wayback Machine, Finnish Film Foundation. Accessed July 21, 2009.
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