The Visitor (2008 film)
| The Visitor | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jukka-Pekka Valkeapää |
| Written by | Jan Forsström, Jukka-Pekka Valkeapää |
| Starring | Vitali Bobrov, Emilia Ikäheimo, Pavel Liška |
| Cinematography | Tuomo Hutri |
| Edited by | Mervi Junkkonen |
Release date | 31 August 2008 (Biennale 2008) |
Running time | 105 min |
| Country | Finland |
| Language | Finnish |
The Visitor (original title Muukalainen) is a 2008 drama film directed by Finnish director Jukka-Pekka Valkeapää. It is a joint production of Finland, Estonia, Germany, and the UK.
On 31 August 2008, the film premiered at the Venice Days section of the 65th Venice International Film Festival. Subsequently, it won the Dragon Award and the Nordic Vision Award at the 2009 Göteborg Film Festival, and in 2010, it won two Jussi Awards, one for Best Cinematography and one for Best Editing, while it was nominated for four more.
The mute boy (Vitali Bobrov) lives in a remote farm with his mother (Emilia Ikäheimo), while his father (Jorma Tommila), a violent person, is in prison. A stranger arrives at the farm (Pavel Liška) and, reluctantly, he is given hospitality. The film brings the viewer close to the winter landscapes of the Finnish countryside through the eyes of the boy.