Short films 08 14.1.indd

F I N N I S H S H O R T F I L M S 2 0 0 8
Fiction | 2008 |
Digibeta | 16:9 | Stereo | 29’
Director, script: Juha Mustanoja
Cinematography: Jyri Hakala
Editing: Maarit Nissilä
Sound design: Micke Nyström
Music: Miika Snåre
Costumes: Tuomas Lampinen
Cast: Sanna Hietala,
Sari Viitasalo-Flander, Miko Kivinen,
Jussi Rantamäki, Mira Donner-Spitz
Producers:
Mika Ritalahti, Niko Ritalahti
Production company:
Silva Mysterium Oy
Production support:
The Finnish Film Foundation
Financing TV company: YLE TV1
Naughty John
[ T u h m a J u s s i ]
Naughty John is a tale about a group of people having to face and solve a sudden crisis in their
small-town community.
Jussi is a mentally challenged 40-year-old man. He gets along very well with the small children
in the neighbourhood kindergarten, which has such a small playground that the kids usually play
either in the adjoining public park, or in Jussi and his sister Marja’s garden.
Now one of the kid’s parents has become aware that there is an invalid hanging out with the
kids, and she has demanded that the community forbid this “retard” from getting into the park.
She has a lot of political clout in the community, and steps must be taken. Veera, the headmistress
of the kindergarten and elementary school, must sort this matter out with Marja and
Sami, who is Jussi’s nurse. But who can guarantee what Jussi will come up with? Is he good, or
is he naughty?
Juha Mustanoja
Juha Mustanoja is a Finnish director-playwright who works in
several media. He has written and directed several stage plays
for the theatre group Aurinkoteatteri; he has also written and
directed several radio plays, and is currently working on an opera
production that premieres in 2008. He has also worked as a
graphic artist for over two decades, specializing in poster design.
Juha Mustanoja majors in Screenwriting and Directing at
the Helsinki University of Art and Design. Naughty John is his
graduation film.
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