Interwoven with scenes that are meant to grab attention by their stunning composition, this biographical look at Finland's violinist Arto Arsi is not so much a narration of his childhood and early years, as an attempt to artistically show what was happening inside his psyche during that time. Literally sold to a master teacher, Sergei Rippas (Tarmo Manni) by his mother when he was still a child, the violin prodigy was forcefully and strictly raised to practice, practice, and perfect his technique. Once an adult, Arsi finds a way to escape the rigors of a U.S. tour and drowns his overworked self in drink, or seeks out one-night stands, or otherwise lets off steam. The tightly-wound spring that has been coiled since he was forced into his grueling training and work sessions -- shown through symbolic images -- eventually snaps in a healthy way, freeing Arsi at last to continue on, simply for the love of music.
Cinematography
Stunning visual metaphors for psychological damage
Direction
Honkasalo and Lehto's unflinching female gaze
Acting
Tarmo Manni's terrifying mentor performance
Director
Pirjo Honkasalo
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Honkasalo broke ground as one of Finland's first female directors tackling masculine artistic mythology.
The title 'Da Capo' — a musical term meaning 'from the beginning' — cruelly underscores Arsi's inability to escape repetition until his breakdown.
FI
