Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

No doubt everyone knows Finland’s best-known, most timeless and successful export article. No, not rubber boots, a mobile phone, or ski jumpers, and certainly not climate. The answer, naturally, is a gentleman with red coat and white beard from far off in the north.

But what do we actually know about him? This film finally lets the truth in. And the truth may be harder than we expected. Estonian viewers will delight in recognizing one of the most important links in this truth – old St. Nick himself – as Rakvere Theatre actor Peeter Jakobi. Fortunately some stout-hearted northen Finnish men have caught him and locked him in a cage so he can’t cause any more trouble. Naturally viewers should be advised that Jakobi’s dark take on Santa Claus could haunt their nightmares for a long time. But don’t worry about the film overcoming anyone with malice; at the end of the day it’s a Christmas film.

A dark comedy with a good heart, RARE EXPORTS blends classic fairy tales with the juicier part of pop culture and is a must-see for anyone who wants the whole truth about the older guy the world calls Santa Claus.

Young talent Jalmari Helmander has created a big and bold cinema experience. Watch it and get out your traps and double-barreled guns, because Santa’s on his way…

Kaarel Kuurmaa