kviff.com
News
Festival Guide
  • Tickets and Festival Pass
  • Accommodations
  • Transportation
  • Festival cinemas
  • No Barriers project
  • Kids at the festival
  • Festival Shop
Program
  • Catalogue of films
  • Accompanying programme
  • Archive of films
  • Audience award
  • KVIFF Talks
  • Film Entry
Film Industry
  • Industry accreditation
  • Film Industry at KVIFF
  • Industry Days Programme
  • KVIFF Eastern Promises
  • KVIFF Talents
Press
  • Press accreditation
  • Press Service
  • For download
  • Press releases
  • Photogallery
  • Videogallery
About the festival
  • Festival description
  • Programme sections
  • Awards
  • History
  • We support non-profits
  • Photogallery
  • Partners
  • Why We Support the Festival
  • Contacts
CZ
Sign in
Film Archive

The River

Another View 2002 / Joki / Finland 2001

One sleepy Saturday morning a group of teenagers in a small Finnish town decide to try out some bungee jumping. For the kids involved, this activity represents an act of bravado, but the film’s true focus is on other characters in this film mosaic who are forced to make much more important decisions requiring a higher degree of courage and resolve.

The River

Synopsis

The complex structure of the film The River is anchored by two key events: the sound of a military plane breaking the sound barrier one early Saturday morning, and a group of kids bungee jumping in the town square. For the kids involved, this activity represents an act of bravado, but the film’s true focus is on other characters who must consider much more significant and courageous leaps of faith. The cast of characters in this film mosaic covers every conceivable age group and class. Two pre-teen punks spot a neighbourhood girl wandering into the river with her baby in her arms. Ilpo wants to leave work early because he’s feeling ill but seems reluctant to do so even though he can barely stand. Milja balances her deathly-ill husband’s wishes against the recommendations of his doctor. Prodigal son and failed musician Esa arrives to celebrate his father’s sixtieth birthday but the latter is nowhere to be seen. Santieri is taunted because he backs out of a bungee jump at the last minute – but he is actually wrestling with far more serious issues. Waitress Leena, who’s just met the love of her life, arrives late for work in a pizzeria, only to face her co-workers’ loneliness.

About the film

106 min / Black & white, 35 mm

Director Jarmo Lampela / Screenplay Jarmo Lampela / Dir. of Photography Harri Räty / Music Petri Nieminen / Editor Kimmo Taavila / Producer Riikka Poulsen / Production Lasihelmi Filmi Oy / Cast Sanna Hietala, Antti Ikkala, Jyri Ojansivu, Antti Mikkola, Jari Virman

About the director

Jarmo Lampela

Jarmo Lampela (b. 1964, Finland) studied film and television direction at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki; also studied at the Theatre Academy. He has worked in radio and theatre and has made a number of shorts, documentaries and television series. Films include Pott (1994), The Freakin’ Beautiful World (1997) and Desperate Woman (1999). The remarkable film The River, which he made in 2001 with his own script, is characteristic chiefly for the highly precise characterisation of the individual protagonists, whereby the director allows the audience literally to get under their skin. At the same time, each character has his or her secrets and almost all of them surprise the viewer in some way.

Other partners
Newsletter

First-hand brews throughout the year.
Be among the first to learn about upcoming events and other news. We only send the newsletter when we have something to say.

Follow us on the web:

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
is part of the KVIFF Group family, which covers other projects as well:

© 2025 KVIFF GROUP

Rules for Visitors / Website visitors privacy policy / GTC / Personal Data Protection / Rules for Claim / Rules and Regulations / Contacts