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SYNOPSES
JAN is the grown up son of ELISA and they work together in an old second
hand shop in Helsinki, Finland. ELISA smuggles also cigarettes and
alcohol from Estonia (The way the family has done for decades).
ELISA has invited her childhood friend KATHARINE, a spinster, from the
countryside to visit her. KATHARINE was drowned at the age of eight and
was "dead" for ten minutes before she was rescued as if by a miracle.
ELISA witnessed the incident and believed it was a sign from Heaven. For
that she has been jealous to KATHARINE for more than forty years.
ELISA has been taking care of young RINA, a daughter of a dead friend, for
some years. When RINA gets pregnant, God knows by whom, ELISA sends her
to ESTONIA to avoid the scandal of illegitimate child in the close
family.
After the child is born RINA however, returns to Helsinki, against
ELISA's warnings, and seduces JAN (again) and they decide to get
married...
JAN is an artistic young man and he wants to be a puppet artist like his
long dead father had been. JAN practices the fable of IRON JOHN (or HANS)
with father's old puppets. He has also an imaginary partner, GRANNY, who
has in reality been in hospital for several months. To prove himself to
his mother he's a real man JAN tries to make business deals with ALBERT,
who used to be ELISA's teen age love. He appears to be a harsh and rude
man. ELISA still loves him. ALBERT has his own business nearby and he
wants to make a big deal by selling an old farm of GRANNY's to rich
Russians. But he needs GRANNY's signature and only JAN can possibly get
it. But unfortunately GRANNY dies before the deal is closed. ELISA kills
herself and JAN and RINA get married the same day she is buried. ALBERT
marries KATHARINE and the Russians kill ALBERT for not getting the
promised farm. JAN has grown up and is ready to take responsibility for
himself and his family.
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