![Mikko Niskanen](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185/gVvGVRsitjXnonDgDSsdfaZ0swS.jpg)
Mikko Niskanen
Mikko Niskanen was a Finnish film director and actor. He was born in Äänekoski, Central Finland in 1929. He was the third of six children, and his father worked as a timber barge pilot. His mother too had a job outside the home, so the children often spent summers with their grandmother in Viitasaari.
At the age of 13, Mikko Niskanen started working in timber felling and floating. Two years later he enrolled in a vocational school in Jyväskylä to become a car mechanic. He took a serious interest in amateur theatre and was accepted to study at the Finnish Theatre Academy in Helsinki from 1947 until 1950. He then acted in Jyväskylä and Kuopio theatres until 1954 when he landed an actor's job at the film studios of Suomen Filmiteollisuus in Helsinki. One of his first film roles was in Edvin Laine's The Unknown Soldier (1955). Between 1958 and 1961 Niskanen studied at the Moscow Film School in the Soviet Union.
Niskanen's 1962 film The Boys was entered into the 3rd Moscow International Film Festival. He continued his directing career focusing on themes such as rural life and youth. His second breakthrough was Under Your Skin (Käpy selän alla, 1966), a story of two young couples spending a weekend camping in the countryside. The film received six Jussi Awards and was followed by another story about young lovers, Asfalttilampaat (1968).
Niskanen's tour de force as both actor and director was the five-hour television drama Eight Deadly Shots which was also released as a 145-minute theatrical version edited by Jörn Donner. Based on a true story from late 1960s Finland, it is a naturalistic drama about a poor farmer struggling to make a living for his family. He gradually becomes a violent alcoholic who goes on killing spree when the police arrive to calm him down. Besides directing, Niskanen gave a powerful and intense performance in the leading role. The film, like many of Niskanen's works were shot on locations around his home province north of Jyväskylä.
Mikko Niskanen died of cancer at the age of 61.
Known For | Directing |
---|---|
Most Rating | 2.157 |
Birthday | 1929-01-31 |
Place of Birth | Äänekoski, Finland |
Also Known As | Kalervo Lehto, |
![Pekka ja Pätkä Suezilla](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/Aoq5Wf508TcfoTtK6T2qoMDJMJx.jpg)
1958
![Pekka ja Pätkä Suezilla](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/Aoq5Wf508TcfoTtK6T2qoMDJMJx.jpg)
Pekka ja Pätkä Suezilla
4.6/5
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Pekka ja Pätkä Suezilla
![Syksyllä kaikki on toisin](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/jcxaVkCCU4eCwlZOscdD5Um0261.jpg)
1978
![Syksyllä kaikki on toisin](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/jcxaVkCCU4eCwlZOscdD5Um0261.jpg)
Syksyllä kaikki on toisin
5.8/4
A small Finnish town bank manager gets caught in the midst of local politics, with dire effects on his family and himself.
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Syksyllä kaikki on toisin
![Eight Deadly Shots](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3u8xlj9cNhKTBlOlJUajHiW5yDB.jpg)
1972
![Eight Deadly Shots](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3u8xlj9cNhKTBlOlJUajHiW5yDB.jpg)
Eight Deadly Shots
7.8/16
Small-scale farmer Pasi shoots four policemen who have come to arrest him for raged drunkenness. Rest of the movie is a long flashback examining the e...
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Eight Deadly Shots
![Pulakapina](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4SM62QsJtkBsguVs66NbOgl5Qty.jpg)
1977
![Pulakapina](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4SM62QsJtkBsguVs66NbOgl5Qty.jpg)
Pulakapina
0/0
Based on a true story about the so called 1932 Horse Rebellion in Nivala, Finland. The decision to put down a sick horse owned by a poor farmer rises...
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Pulakapina
![Pekka ja Pätkä sammakkomiehinä](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/73N34SV9VV2VUodGNAym6stVslE.jpg)
1957
![Pekka ja Pätkä sammakkomiehinä](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/73N34SV9VV2VUodGNAym6stVslE.jpg)
Pekka ja Pätkä sammakkomiehinä
3/6
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Pekka ja Pätkä sammakkomiehinä
![Herra sotaministeri](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/fl1IYfbG95s9n9nqEspa5Wie6t6.jpg)
1957
![Herra sotaministeri](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/fl1IYfbG95s9n9nqEspa5Wie6t6.jpg)
Herra sotaministeri
0/0
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Herra sotaministeri
![The Unknown Soldier](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3vXBRAd4tydmLsIvQGiVzwS6QOQ.jpg)
1955
![The Unknown Soldier](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3vXBRAd4tydmLsIvQGiVzwS6QOQ.jpg)
The Unknown Soldier
7.406/64
It is the summer of 1941. An eastern-Finnish machine gun company receives an order to turn in their surplus equipment. The company is transferred to t...
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The Unknown Soldier
![Ryysyrannan Jooseppi](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cKhq4DFyiuPpdBIwSjB7zM8nTBm.jpg)
1955
![Ryysyrannan Jooseppi](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cKhq4DFyiuPpdBIwSjB7zM8nTBm.jpg)
Ryysyrannan Jooseppi
5/2
Jooseppi Kenkkunen becomes a moonshiner in order to provide for his wife Kaisa-Reetta and his large family during the Prohibition era in Finland.
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Ryysyrannan Jooseppi
![Tähtisilmä](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/dkAPtdQkmwSk2ZIEbUpE5nAx1T2.jpg)
1955
![Tähtisilmä](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/dkAPtdQkmwSk2ZIEbUpE5nAx1T2.jpg)
Tähtisilmä
1/1
Poor orphan coffee delivery girl loves a poor painter who can't sell his artworks. Painter likes delivery girl, but has stuck in a friend zone. Delive...
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Tähtisilmä
![Laulu tulipunaisesta kukasta](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cVRugW8Q2NUVxBguD6gqqIZDlWf.jpg)
1971
![Laulu tulipunaisesta kukasta](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cVRugW8Q2NUVxBguD6gqqIZDlWf.jpg)
Laulu tulipunaisesta kukasta
5.5/5
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Laulu tulipunaisesta kukasta
![Tanssi yli hautojen](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/gsRR1Tzjixn7eXmPygVWlMZDjhG.jpg)
1950
![Tanssi yli hautojen](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/gsRR1Tzjixn7eXmPygVWlMZDjhG.jpg)
Tanssi yli hautojen
4/3
In the early 1800s, Finnish governor's daughter first detests but soon falls in love with Russian Czar Alexander I who has just taken Finland over fro...
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Tanssi yli hautojen
![Kaunis Kaarina](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/2JF9kSbA5g0WHw1kz5RxS1EVsmY.jpg)
1955
![Kaunis Kaarina](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/2JF9kSbA5g0WHw1kz5RxS1EVsmY.jpg)
Kaunis Kaarina
0/0
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Kaunis Kaarina
![1918](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/liXFpKOa3KWmDVQOf8gb9Y2Jtvk.jpg)
1957
![1918](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/liXFpKOa3KWmDVQOf8gb9Y2Jtvk.jpg)
1918
7/1
Pastor Samuel Bro has lost his faith in God. He is in conflict with the Church Council and is rejected from his priesthood. He moves away to a differe...
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1918
![Verta käsissämme](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/AnI8TcO9LVCxO047tslREik8XRV.jpg)
1958
![Verta käsissämme](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/AnI8TcO9LVCxO047tslREik8XRV.jpg)
Verta käsissämme
3/2
After returning home from being a prisoner of war Viktor gets a job from his friend Rolf with whom he had served. The men trust each other until Vikto...
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Verta käsissämme
![Kahden ladun poikki](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6cV9PnKmHtmZcB28XgFcOoSysiz.jpg)
1958
![Kahden ladun poikki](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6cV9PnKmHtmZcB28XgFcOoSysiz.jpg)
Kahden ladun poikki
0/0
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Kahden ladun poikki
![Autuas eversti](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3q8JaqLRt1t8wX2UAqvIGRKU9GB.jpg)
1958
![Autuas eversti](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3q8JaqLRt1t8wX2UAqvIGRKU9GB.jpg)
Autuas eversti
0/0
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Autuas eversti
![Isaskar Keturin ihmeelliset seikkailut](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/rOIwlixrwbQfhdxfXzxIL8aGTh.jpg)
1960
![Isaskar Keturin ihmeelliset seikkailut](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/rOIwlixrwbQfhdxfXzxIL8aGTh.jpg)
Isaskar Keturin ihmeelliset seikkailut
0/0
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Isaskar Keturin ihmeelliset seikkailut
![Köyhä laulaja](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/lsXceZGVP5YVAWdmFKAVtAfpHL6.jpg)
1950
![Köyhä laulaja](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/lsXceZGVP5YVAWdmFKAVtAfpHL6.jpg)
Köyhä laulaja
7/1
Sisters Irma and Airi Ranna's café Iltatähti has run into financial trouble. Touring musicians Heikki and Jussi end up as tenants in the same boarding...
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Köyhä laulaja
![Skin, Skin](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/d5aLMRkpXY04R3L9ASnXoiFyFmU.jpg)
1966
![Skin, Skin](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/d5aLMRkpXY04R3L9ASnXoiFyFmU.jpg)
Skin, Skin
5.9/18
A movie about summer, youth, the difficulty of love, and a camping trip to the countryside by four young people from Helsinki.
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Skin, Skin
![Girl of Finland](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/Av1oh03qAbG2pQseUqPeAY1akZK.jpg)
1967
![Girl of Finland](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/Av1oh03qAbG2pQseUqPeAY1akZK.jpg)
Girl of Finland
6.6/5
A theater group is training for the play Lapualaisooppera. We see these young people hanging out and talking about what goes on around them. Also sexu...
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Girl of Finland
![Naiset, jotka minulle annoit](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6fKDOvsgzazw6Oq1t4F7ofa1WTX.jpg)
1962
![Naiset, jotka minulle annoit](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6fKDOvsgzazw6Oq1t4F7ofa1WTX.jpg)
Naiset, jotka minulle annoit
1/2
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Naiset, jotka minulle annoit
![Älä nuolase…](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cJhggWYvQHTSF3zS8JxS9GQj6ea.jpg)
1962
![Älä nuolase…](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cJhggWYvQHTSF3zS8JxS9GQj6ea.jpg)
Älä nuolase…
5.7/3
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Älä nuolase…
![Hän varasti elämän](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/s60EU6TVrOmCRyEuxneM4WphXN9.jpg)
1962
![Hän varasti elämän](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/s60EU6TVrOmCRyEuxneM4WphXN9.jpg)
Hän varasti elämän
5.7/3
A government official decides to steal a $25-million payroll and then fake his own death. However, in the process he is forced to kill an innocent bys...
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Hän varasti elämän
![Nuoruuteni savotat](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/a6eXRvLI1rPh7qCud0proTZDBwT.jpg)
1988
![Nuoruuteni savotat](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/a6eXRvLI1rPh7qCud0proTZDBwT.jpg)
Nuoruuteni savotat
6.8/5
Lumberjacking is a second part of saga about young author, Kalle Päätalo. It's a story about growing up and becoming a storyteller in hard times when...
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Nuoruuteni savotat
![Elämän vonkamies](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/43R97Kubz9OahfUUeaiQlfQmMlN.jpg)
1986
![Elämän vonkamies](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/43R97Kubz9OahfUUeaiQlfQmMlN.jpg)
Elämän vonkamies
7/3
Portrait of rural life in 1920s Northern Finland. The film follows the early life of a boy called Kalle and his family in the shores of river Iijoki.
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Elämän vonkamies
![Elokuva jalostavasta rakkaudesta](https://movieunlimited.net/assets/no-poster.png)
1967
![Elokuva jalostavasta rakkaudesta](https://movieunlimited.net/assets/no-poster.png)
Elokuva jalostavasta rakkaudesta
1/1
Based on Edvard Radzinsky's play, the story critically examines the difficulties of a Soviet film production.
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Elokuva jalostavasta rakkaudesta
![Mona ja palavan rakkauden aika](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cydgmc8hKQth1x1Ik0EbDBOZ7Iu.jpg)
1983
![Mona ja palavan rakkauden aika](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/cydgmc8hKQth1x1Ik0EbDBOZ7Iu.jpg)
Mona ja palavan rakkauden aika
5.6/5
Growing up story of a high school girl that struggles with the emptiness of her life.
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Mona ja palavan rakkauden aika
![Here, Beneath the North Star](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mKIRPsiK2ZZiF9kJZZe05Czw5kT.jpg)
1968
![Here, Beneath the North Star](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mKIRPsiK2ZZiF9kJZZe05Czw5kT.jpg)
Here, Beneath the North Star
6.923/13
Täällä Pohjantähden alla is based on the book with the same title. It is a story of the little village. The movie starts in the 1890's and it ends to...
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