This book presents an expert analysis of the transnational aspects of
Finnish cinema throughout its history. As a small nation cinema, Finnish
film culture has, even at its most nationalistic, always been attached
to developments in other film producing nations in terms of production
and distribution as well as genres and aesthetics. Recent developments
in film theory offer exciting new approaches and methodologies for the
study of transnational phenomena in the field of film culture, both past
and present. The authors employ a wide range of cutting edge
methodologies in order to address the major issues involved in
transnational approaches to film culture. Until recently, much of this
research has focused on globalization and questions related to diasporic
cinema, while transnational issues related to small nation film cultures
have been marginalized. This study focuses on how small nation cinemas
have faced the dilemma of contributing to the construction and
maintenance of national culture and identity, while responding to
audience tastes largely shaped by foreign cinemas.
With Finland's intriguing political placement between East and West,
along with the high portion of film history preserved in Finnish
archives, this thoroughly contextualized multidisciplinary analysis of
Finnish film history serves as an illuminating case study of the
transnational aspects of small nation cinemas.
