Once Upon A Time In The North (Harma)

OSTROBOTHNIA, FINLAND The 1800s

Violent knife-fighters cause restlessness and fear.

The local authorities have given up on trying to restore order.

It is customary that a farm owner's eldest son inherits everything -

and the others make a life for themselves empty-handed.

This is the time ruled by the knife.

PERIFERIA

Hello, Antti.

Aino and I came to have a look at your tar-burning.

How's our Matti doing? - Doesn't look like he's giving in.

So the boy has learnt something.

Calmer near the shore

Pretty and slender she needs to be My sweetheart evermore

Let's run away together.

I'm going to talk to your father. - And say what?

What else can he say but a polite no?

I'll ask my father to give me a plot of land.

It's no harm to anyone.

Do it quickly then.

If we continue hiding for long -

I'll have to start looking for a younger wife.

Where's your eldest?

Esko is rarely around to do the work on the farm.

Do you know what just happened? - What did you just do?

Do you know me? - You're Esko Valitalo.

Wrong! -Everyone knows who Esko Valitalo is.

Yes, and they're saying, without a grain of truth -

that he's killed seven men with a knife. Right?

You know what? -What?

Not only am I that Esko Valitalo, I'm your king.

Your father may be -

but he doesn't know what's being done in his name.

Well said.

I didn't start this. Everyone can see that.

I am what I am. I can't help myself.

We have a God-fearing neighbour as a witness. Wasn't it a fair fight?

And I didn't start it, did I?

No.

That's what you asked for your horse.

And if there's talk afterwards...

Those who want to stay alive and not burn in their houses -

remember that it was a stranger from Nykarleby who swung his knife here.

And then he was gone.

Good evening, Mother.

We may need more barrels. We dug a bigger pit.

All the way to the back!

How do you know that a man is still young?

A boy doesn't understand -

that if he doesn't do anything, his name isn't worth mentioning.

Does a man like that even exist?

Matti, you look as if you're about to be hanged.

I'm not bearded enough to leave my mother's side.

Good evening, Father.

I found a rare horse, good and cheap.

And a new farmhand too. Valtteri!

Valtteri is an orphan.

We have enough hands. If only everyone would come to work.

Valtteri is a good and thorough lad.

Esko, leave the recruiting to the head of the Valitalo house.

We can't take it back once it's been promised.

He's drunk! - Not too much.

Well... the lad can stay, on probation.

I'm going to the tar pit tomorrow, unless you have work for me here.

Work doesn't end without working. And not even by working.

Your beard needs cutting.

Valtteri, you haven't heard this yet.

Matti and I used to play here when the ice was breaking up.

Once I was jumping on thin ice and fell into the water.

The icy water would've been the end of me.

But that boy, only just ten, jumped after me and saved me.

I was able to climb out. - I've often regretted my bravery.

Why doesn't such a man walk beside his big brother-

fighting and chasing maids and farmers' daughters?

We'd be a pair of brothers to watch out for.

Goddammit!

When will you learn how to swim, Kalle? -Yesterday.

The sauna is ready!

Don't even think about it. You're not the eldest.

No farm, no farmer's daughter. Those things end up in tears.

Girls, come and wash some real men's backs!

You'd have to be made of something better. -Is that so?

One doesn't want to go to sleep.

It's good to be here.

All of us Valitalo men have a big wheel inside us.

Bigger than many others have.

When you use it right, you can do a lot of good.

Like everything you see here. This used to be a forest.

And the other way round.

The wheel can also turn in the wrong direction.

Are you sure about this, Antti? - Yes.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

Maria! Matti! I need to talk to you.

You're passing over your firstborn!

One should always improve one's inheritance.

This farm can't be run drunk. or from prison, for that matter.

The firstborn's birthright isn't a law!

It's just a custom that's neither wise nor fair.

How about we split it in two? That would be right.

Where's the sense in that? Neither of you could live on that.

One half would still be one of the biggest farms.

Did you come up with this? - No, I did.

You can see where this is headed! Matti doesn't drink or fight.

He'll make the house better for future generations.

If you do this to Esko, where can he show his face?

I've made my decision. The Notary has a copy of the will.

Esko needs a plot where he can provide for his family.

You'll do as you see fit.

We'll tell Esko about this tonight and talk things through.

It's up to you to prove that I did the right thing.

I'm here to ask for a hand.

Aino's hand.

We can celebrate the wedding after the harvest.

Your future wife has quite a mouth on her.

I've noticed that. - Let's have some coffee.

And then you're going to work.

You're not running the biggest house in the parish yet.

Did Esko agree to this easily? - Antti will talk to him tonight.

Esko doesn't know yet?

Esko Valitalo. - Notary Valgard.

Are you coming from our house? -Yes.

Well... I stopped by your neighbour's too.

What was your business? - Land tenancy.

Antti wanted to ask about the law.

There's nothing about tenancy in this.

I have two children.

There's been no will made in the Valitalo house.

If I hear from you again, you know what'll happen.

I'll slit your throat.

Will the future Mrs. Valitalo open her door to a knock at sunset?

If it's the future head of the house who knocks... then yes.

The Notary.

Hello!

Isn't it dangerous for a blind man to check fish traps?

Greetings from Notary Valgard. He told me he'd been here.

He was.

On land tenancy business. -Yes...

Well, no. I was going to talk to you this evening.

Where's that paper? - In a safe place.

Now I have two of these.

You know that this is the only reasonable solution.

You didn't consider what I would do when I found out?

No? You should know your son a little better.

I'm ashamed that I acted behind your back -

but the decision was mine.

Matti wants to give you a share.

You've always looked down on me, Father-

and always been kind to Matti.

You could've done anything, before you let loose that...

...whatever it is that's possessing you.

You're uncontrollable! - I wonder why.

Let's forget the whole thing.

I'll write another will. As many as it takes!

Is that so?

Say you're sorry. -No.

Say you're sorry!

I wrote what I wrote.

Father!

I found him by the shore, face down in the water.

He must've been checking the fish traps.

And you found him?

Did you find the Notary first?

There's a place for you in my house -

if you're willing to settle for your position.

As a farmhand? - As a brother.

Mother?

You know, Mother. Why don't you say anything?

Say something, Mother!

You don't waste time, do you? You've even bought rings.

You may keep your clothes. just walk away.

And don't look back.

Who's wearing the other ring?

Not that it's any of your business, but Aino Kantola.

That knife belongs to the farm owner.

You didn't stay.

I don't think the new owner and I would get along.

I brought us something to eat.

And something else.

The Notary...

He must tell everyone the truth.

He took his belongings and rushed off. He didn't say where.

Not even to his own brother? He had a knife in his leg.

No, he hurt it on a branch stub.

Why was the Notary rushing his family toward the ferry boat?

Pull! They're coming. - Stop the ferry boat!

Pull faster! - I need to talk to you!

Antti is dead, and the will has disappeared!

You need to tell people how things really should be!

Pull! Faster!

A little more.

Faster!

Fasten it quickly!

Matti!

What are we doing now?

Aino!

You father won't let you marry a nobody who has nothing.

Just uncertainty.

I can't guarantee anything-

but if a good worker can make a living, so can I.

I know.

But everything's open.