
language: Finnish
HEIKKI MERILÄINEN
Matti, the only son of the affluent Penttilä family, has been cherished since birth, a tender link between his stoic father and his adoring mother. Though quiet and sparing with words, his sharp observations and occasional wry remarks reveal a mind far deeper than his reserved demeanor suggests. As he matures, the gentle balance of his parents’ affection begins to shift, with his father’s quiet pride and his mother’s fierce protectiveness shaping his sense of identity.
When the lively Sohviija from nearby Kytölä enters his world, Matti finds himself drawn into a hesitant companionship that challenges the expectations of his lineage. Their secret meetings amidst the rippling lake and the bustling village stir whispers among the townsfolk, and Matti’s growing affection threatens to upend the careful plans his parents have laid out for him. The story follows his struggle to reconcile duty with desire, offering a vivid portrait of love, family pressure, and the quiet strength that can emerge from even the most sheltered lives.
Language
fi
Duration
~2 hours (129K characters)
Release date
2025-07-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1847–1939
A self-taught Finnish folk writer and collector of oral tradition, he turned lived experience into books that preserved everyday life, beliefs, and voices from Kainuu. His work offers a rare window into rural Finland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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