About a Farm

CREDITS

Director
Script
Photography
Editor
Sound
Music
Producers
Production
In Co-Operation with

Production Support

Mervi Junkkonen
Mervi Junkkonen
Mervi Junkkonen & Vesa Taipaleenmäki
Tuuli Kuittinen
Esa Nissi
Girilal Baars
KImmo Paananen & Mika Ronkainen
Klaffi Tuotannot
Yle TV 1 Yhteistuotannot /
Eila Werning & Erkki Astala
SES / Petri Rossi & Miia Haavisto
Mediakeskus POEM / Katja Härkönen & David Wingate
AVEK / Timo Humaloja

SYNOPSIS

In the Autumn of 2002 the cows of the Junkkonen farm are taken to the slaughterhouse. The wheels of progress roll onwards, but two middle-aged people get left behind, Maija and Pentti Junkkonen. The small municipality of Oulunsalo is planning factories, business parks, and a new 4-lane road which would cut through the farmers' fields. The old ways of making a living are dying.

The oldest daughter, director Mervi Junkkonen, realises that she herself is part of the reason why her parents decided to give up their livelihood-there is no one to take over the farm. Through her father's 8mm films, she catches glimpses of the farm's history and a time when it was full of life.

Now, Pentti (60), spends his time with his collection of tractors and some small-scale farming, but Maija (55) doesn't know what to do. Yet, life keeps taking tragic turns and old worries do not seem so important any more.

About a Farm is the director's personal inquiry into a vanishing life-style and a history of which she is the last link. It is a story about the period of mourning people who give up their livelihoods go through and about the things that really matter in the end.

TECHNICAL DATA

Shooting Format
Screening Format
Audio
Duration
Year of Production

DVCAM
Digital Betacam 16:9
Stereo
52 min 4 s
2005

AWARDS