Seven Songs from the Tundra

Local title
Seitse laulu tundrast
Original title
Seitsemän laulua tundralta
Director
Anastasia Lapsui, Markku Lehmuskallio
Country
Finland
Year
2000
Festival
28th Black Nights Film Festival
Programme
Old Gold: Classic Films Come to Life
Genre
drama, historical film, etnographic film
Subject
individual vs society, racism, nature, music, history, politics, human rights

This is probably the best film made about the colonisation of the indigenous peoples of Siberia.

The first feature film in the Nenets language, made in 1999, summarises the life of the Nenets people in the 20th century in seven episodes. The introduction of Soviet rule in the tundra, the collectivisation, the clash of old and new customs, all lead to tragic consequences, which are at times also comic or, to be more precise, tragicomic.

The actors are ordinary Nenets, and one of the authors, Anastasia Lapsui, is also of that nationality. Her memories and Nenets folklore are the basis of this personal work which combines fiction, documentary and ethnographic film aesthetics.

Markku Lehmuskallio celebrated his 85th birthday on 31 December and Anastasia Lapsui celebrated her 80th birthday on 1 January. Together, they have been filming indigenous peoples for 30 years. “Seven Songs from the Tundra” is their best-known film, also nominated for an Oscar, and restored in 2023.

Tiit Tuumalu

Director
Anastasia Lapsui, Markku Lehmuskallio
Screenwriter
Anastasia Lapsui
Cast
Vitalina Hudi, Hatjako Yzangi, Gregory Anaguritsi, Nadezdha Volodeeva
Producer
Tuula Söderberg
Cinematographer
Johannes Lehmuskallio
Composer
Anastasia Lapsui, Michael Galasso, Gennadi Puiko, Galina Shipitsina, Russian folk music
Music
Anastasia Lapsui, Michael Galasso, Gennadi Puiko, Galina Shipitsina, Russian folk music
Music
Anastasia Lapsui, Michael Galasso, Gennadi Puiko, Galina Shipitsina and Russian folk music
Sound
Antero Honkanen, Pekka Martevo, Arto Jokisuu, Markku Lehmuskallio
Runtime
Language
Russian, Nenets
Subtitles
English
Other festivals
Rotterdam, Toronto, Karlovy Vary
Director
Anastasia Lapsui

Anastasia Lapsui (1944) was born in Siberia. From 1966 to 1997 she worked as journalist and radio reporter. In 1990, she wrote her first screenplay. Since 1993 she has made documentaries with her husband Markku Lehmuskallio.

Kadotettu paratiisi (1994, doc, co-dir), Uhri - elokuva metsästä (1998, doc, co-dir), Seitsemän laulua tundralta (Seitse laulu tundrast, PÖFF 2000), Elämän äidit (Mothers of Life, 2000, doc, co-dir), Jumalan morsian (A Bride of the Seventh Heaven, 2004, co-dir), Matka (2007, doc, co-dir), Maan muisti (2009, doc, co-dir), Sukunsa viimeinen (2010, co-dir), Tsamo (2015, co-dir)

Director
Markku Lehmuskallio

Markku Lehmuskallio (1938) worked as a forester from 1963 to 1999, His life changed completely after he lost everything in a fire. He then bought 16mm film camera and began making commissioned films for business, and nature documentaries for Finnish TV. Since 1993 he has made documentaries with his wife Anastasia Lapsui.

Kadotettu paratiisi (1994, doc, co-dir), Uhri - elokuva metsästä (1998, doc, co-dir), Seitsemän laulua tundralta (Seitse laulu tundrast, PÖFF 2000), Elämän äidit (Mothers of Life, 2000, doc, co-dir), Jumalan morsian (A Bride of the Seventh Heaven, 2004, co-dir), Matka (2007, doc, co-dir), Maan muisti (2009, doc, co-dir), Sukunsa viimeinen (2010, co-dir), Tsamo (2015, co-dir)

Screenings

5th Lux Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening100501 / Seitse laulu tundrast
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
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