Ponterosa

Ponterosa is a 2001 Finnish comedy film directed by brothers Mika and Pasi Kemmo. The film takes place in a campsite in Åland, where a group of very different people get to know each other.

Cast

Tony Halme as Mauri, "Maukka"
Heikki Paavilainen as Jussi
Timo Julkunen as Oskari Mäkelä
Paula Siimes as Stella, Mauri's sister
Karita Tuomola as Monica
Jenni Ahola as Nelli
Laura West as Maria
Matti Tuominen as Lauri, "Late", Mauri's and Stella's father
Vesa Vierikko as a urologist
Jarmo Mäkinen as a Coastal Swede
Tuija Ernamo as Saara, Oskari's wife
Santeri Kinnunen as a family man at the campsite
Esko Nikkari as a rural householder on the ship
Lasse Karkjärvi as a travel agency clerk
Mattiesko Hytönen as a real man, Saara's lover
Olli Haaslahti as a young Mauri
Tom Lindfors as a lawyer
Ante Kangas as Rolf
Tuija Timberbacka as a religious person
Janne Itämies

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Production

As Ponterosa was one of the few major Finnish films in 2001 that did not receive any financial support from the Finnish Film Foundation, the production was mainly privately funded by a number of companies. Due to this sponsorship, the film contains product placement.
Parts of Ponterosa were shot in Helsinki, Kirkkonummi, Vantaa, and Åland.

Music

"Zulu Stomp"
"Wild Thing"
"Hurt"
"Huilu portailla"
"Volare"
"Batman Theme"
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
"Set U Free"
"Only You"
"Cuy Cuy"
"Lopputekstit teema"
"Reveille Rock"
"Lollipop"
"Jos jotain yrittää / Harva meistä on rautaa"
"I Love How You Love Me"
"Will [You Love Me Tomorrow]"
"Let It Be Me"
"Social Outcast"

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Soundtrack album

The soundtrack album for the film, Soundtrack elokuvasta Ponterosa, was released by Edel Records. The album contains 15 tracks. Subsequently, a music video for the album's bonus track "Leikiten" was also released.

Marketing

Ponterosa was promoted by the film roles of then well-known celebrities. The presence of Karita Tuomola, a television host and the 1997 Miss Finland, and Tony Halme, a professional boxer and wrestler, were used to gain media attention for the film. The celebrity cast also included Jenni Ahola, who was known as the 1997 Miss Hawaiian Tropic of Finland, the 1997 Miss Internet, an Olvi ad girl and as the CEO of the modeling agency Promodel.
The DVD version of Ponterosa was released on 14 July 2006.

Reception

Receiving only 2,552 admissions, Ponterosa was also poorly received by the critics. The film was criticized for its poor script and dialogue. The technical implementation, especially cinematography, was described as amateurish. Despite the heavy criticism, Ponterosa has subsequently gained significant camp value, and it has been referred to as "the camp classic of Finnish cinema".