The Dabster (film)

The Dabster
Finnish DVD cover of The Dabster
Finnish: Simpauttaja
GenreComedy
Drama
Based onThe Dabster
by Heikki Turunen
Teleplay by
  • Matti-Juhani Karila
  • Veikko Kerttula
  • Matti-Juhani Karila
Directed byVeikko Kerttula
Starring
  • Ahti Kuoppala
  • Pekka Räty
  • Esko Hukkanen
  • Leni Katajakoski
  • Ahti Jokinen
Country of originFinland
Original languageFinnish
Production
Production locationsLieksa, North Karelia
Cinematography
  • Raimo Väisänen
  • Kauko Nord
EditorKeijo Virtanen
Running time151 minutes
Production companyMTV Oy
Original release
NetworkMainostelevisio
ReleaseFebruary 17, 1975 (1975-02-17)

The Dabster (Finnish: Simpauttaja) is a 1975 Finnish made-for-television comedy drama film, directed by Veikko Kerttula, based on the 1973 novel of the same name by Heikki Turunen. The film tells the story of a skilled but mysterious worker who arrives in a rural village in North Karelia and, as a ruthless joker and womanizer, completely changes the village's everyday life.[1][2]

The film was first shown on television on February 17, 1975, on Mainostelevisio, which also produced the film.[1] Finnkino released the film in DVD format on August 21, 2009.[3]

Reception

Director Veikko Kerttula won the Jussi Award for Best Director for his film.[4]

Jukka Kajava from Helsingin Sanomat recalled during the television re-run of the film on 1994 New Year's Eve how the bleakness of living conditions and lack of equality, dramatized from Turunen's novel 20 years earlier, were very much in keeping with the spirit of the times. "The remote village mentality of Finnish development areas and the minimal opportunities provided were powerfully and effectively conveyed to the general public." Kajava wrote that the film, despite its minor flaws, is a piece of television quality history.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Simpauttaja". Elonet (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  2. ^ Järvinen, Kari (31 May 2024). "Kuka on naistenmies Simpauttajan mielitietty? Testaa tietosi tv-visassa!". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  3. ^ SimpauttajaFinnkino (in Finnish)
  4. ^ Veikko Kerttula on kuollut – Simpauttajan ja Sen tavallisen tarinan ohjaaja näytteli Hopeaa rajan takaa -elokuvassa – Elokuvauutiset.fi (in Finnish)
  5. ^ Kajava, Jukka: "Poimintoja". Helsingin Sanomat, 31 December 1994, p. 65. (in Finnish)