Acting
Kaarina, an orphan girl raised by Taneli, the innkeeper, notices that her friendship with her childhood friend Antti is turning into romance. Henrik, the patron, also has his eye on Kaarina.
The film takes place in the summer and spring of 1940. Isä, the father, gets involved in the stock market and threatens the livelihood of the family.
Wager is Count Mauritz Armborg, the young master of the estate. Linnanheimo plays Katariina (Catherine) the nanny to Mauritz's nieces and nephews. The two fall in love and decide to escape to Italy via Denmark where they have planned to get married. There are always complications because Mauritz's grandmother doesn't want him to marry below him - she has decided that Mauritz is to marry the Swedish beauty, Ingeborg Liliecrona.
Pipsa catches the theater bug. The schoolgirl becomes obsessed with acting, which causes suffering for the whole family. Pipsa's brother Olli arranges performances for his sister and collects money for a poor war widow.
Laila and Lasse are two teenagers dreaming about careers as singers. Lasse's brother Rami dreams about motorbike racing and dates a pretty blond Anjukka. Her father works in the hot new field of TV advertising, which might be a good route to stardom for Laila and Lasse. But then Anjukka sets her eyes on Lasse and Rami sets his on Laila, and many a popular hit melody is sung in between.
The destinies of different kind of people encounter in a passenger train that is traveling from Helsinki to the North. One tragedy after the other appears.
Radio reporter Toivo Teräsvuori gets an idea for an experimental report using a hidden microphone, but he is reported as a madman talking to himself and is taken to the Houruniemi mental hospital. At the hospital, the volatile Toivo is considered insane, and even his wife Eila's testimony does not help the matter. Instead, Professor Piukka orders Toivo to undergo brain surgery.
St. Peter's announcement interrupts the Welcome to Morning Coffee radio program. He asks people for help because he does not know whether private detective Uljas Uriel Vaaksanpää has died or is still alive. The strange events are followed from the perspective of different characters.
At the request of author Zacharias, Fredrik begins composing an opera, inspired by a summer walk in Backas, Espoo. He falls in love with Ebba, who sings like a nightingale about a young mermaid on the shore of the lake. Fredrik's infatuation causes a scandal in Helsinki society circles, as he is married.
Corporal Möttönen is an incomparable humorist whose easygoing banter brings a pleasant atmosphere to the unit. The smooth-talking man from Savo is assigned to the entertainment troops at the front.
Young inventor Janne is lonely. He falls in love with beautiful girls, but his feelings are not reciprocated. Heartbreak and failure rob Janne of his will to live.
Liisa and the renowned composer Raimo Kaarna are fond of each other, but in Kaarna's family history, everyone does not accept the relationship. In addition, Liisa has her own doubts, and a secret that does not endure the daylight.
Taavetti, the young master of Rantasuo, refuses to give up, even though frost destroys his harvest, a crooked logger steals his forest money, and a dishonest bailiff takes away his freedom. The innocent Taavetti is sent to prison, and the indebted Rantasuo farm is put up for auction. The determined swamp clearer fights for his life, his loved ones, and his land.
Heavily indebted Commissioner Birger seeks to marry the wealthy Helena. The young lady rejects his advances and longs for her childhood friend Kuismaa. Birger's jealous mistress Verotshka complicates the relationship dynamics while helping the Finns and Ingrians in their struggle for independence.
University student Jaakko and master's degree holder Aarne arrive in a rural village, where they become involved in organizing a charity event and the relationship problems of farmhand Kaapro and maid Senni.
Broke touring artists get on the wrong bus and end up as army recruits for a few days. Misunderstandings turn barracks life and people's heads upside down.
Composer and program director Harri forms a quartet, recruiting Apon, Teika, Kauko, and Olli as members. Based on an idea from Olli's beloved Raija, the ensemble is named the Kipparikvartetti.
