directors notes

Tuija Lehtinen's youth novel Garbage Prince was published in 1991 and quickly rose to being the most popular book of the time, during Finland's recession. Almost 20 years later, I was made an offer I couldn't refuse. The young and gifted writer Juuli Niemi, who has also garnered acclaim as a screenwriter, offered to adapt Garbage Prince into a film script.

I now have in my hands that story as a film that I envisioned the first time I read the book. The story and central theme of Garbage Prince have endured and remain the same. A young person's need to prove to the world, and above all to himself, that he can succeed in life, and in addition to that success, striving to find reasons and substance to one's life. Alone, without help from others.

The other main theme of the film is also an enduring one: young love. With its world-embracing joys, bloody and bitter pains and problems. The relationship of the two very different leads of this film - Jed from the jet set of the big city and Lulu, the daughter of a small town priest - is reminiscent of a defensive war, in which shots are exchanged intensely and at regular intervals until love comes into play and demands complete surrender.

The film, much like real life, also has its dark sides. But the effervescent love story, flowing dialogue and luscious characters, especially the verbal jousting of the two formidable and quick-witted youngsters, in which jabs are taken and given, form the heart of the film's humour.

Without in any way trying to lower the bar, I see Garbage Prince as an entertaining film in the good sense of the term. Even though life is sometimes painful, it doesn't need to be dismal. At least not in a film.

Raimo O Niemi

 

Director Raimo O Niemi (born 1948) is renowned especially as a director of children's and youth films. Niemi's previous feature films have been splendidly received. Tommy & the Wildcat (1998) has won awards at numerous international festivals and in Finland alone was seen by 400 000 people in theatres, and was distributed to over 40 countries. Mystery of the Wolf (2006) was seen by over 100 000 theatre-goers and was sold to over 90 countries.