Kalevala - A Dim Journey is a cancelled fantasy film from 1985. The movie was to be the first Hollywood film adaptation of the Finnish national epic Kalevala. Set in ancient and mythical Finland, most of the scenes were filmed in Great Lakes region in Canada and the Minesing Swamp in Ontario.
Initially started in 1981, the film saw many changes in the production. Originally Kalevala - A Dim Journey was directed by Wolfgan Petersen (Das Boot, The Neverending story), with special effects by the legendary Ray Harryhausen (Jason and the Argonauts, Clash of the Titans). With production lagging behind and Harryhausen retiring from the film industry, the director’s seat was given to Jim Henson (Muppets, The Labyrinth), who from then on would also be in charge of the special effects. Eventually the project was cancelled due to setbacks in filming and high costs.
Not much remains of the film, but the material we have, showcase how the final movie could’ve been. Screencaps, promo materials and storyboard pictures show that the film focused on themes of family, sexuality and people’s relationship with the nature. Myths and mysticism were also major themes of the movie.
Most of the remaining footage is from the Henson cut but there are a few scenes from the original Petersen version. They also show the magic of Ray Harryhausen’s miniatures. In fact, if the original version was completed, it would have been Harryhausen’s final film. This is not undermine Henson’s work, which is both amazing and terrifying. Just look at Louhi in her monstrous bird-form.
For more details and how I got the material, see the timestamps and the link below
KALEVALA ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA:
The Kalevala is a 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology. It tells an epic story about the Creation of the Earth, describing the controversies and retaliatory voyages between the peoples of the land of Kalevala called Väinölä and the land of Pohjola and their various protagonists and antagonists, as well as the construction and robbery of the epic mythical wealth-making machine Sampo.
The Kalevala is regarded as the national epic of Karelia and Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature. The Kalevala was instrumental in the development of the Finnish national identity and the intensification of Finland's language strife that ultimately led to Finland's independence from Russia in 1917. The work is also well known internationally and has partly influenced, for example, J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium (i.e. Middle-earth mythology).
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:46 Creation Myth
Kalevala begins with a goldeneye laying 7 eggs. They break and the world is born.
00:01:10 Väinämöinen
Väinämöinen the immortal sage. A warrior called Joukahainen challenges him to a singing duel at a swamp. Väinämöinen wins and in return for sparing his life, Joukahainen promises his sister Aino to him.
00:01:50 Tale of Aino
In the film Aino was portrayed as a teenage girl - a bold move from the director. Aino refuses to marry Väinämöinen and drowns herself.
00:02:20 Antero Vipunen
A.V. is a weird mage that eats Wäinämöinen. Nothing much to add :D
00:02:38 Storyboards of the Goblin's Elk
Storyboards depicting the hunt for Hiiden hirvi (Goblin's Elk) story. It was a monstrous elk that the warrior Lemminkäinen had to hunt.
00:03:03 A creature from Pohjola
A domesticated elk?
00:03:13 Storyboard of Louhi
Early sketch of Louhi, the witch leader of Pohjola.
00:03:20 Final version of Louhi
Version from the movie is more grounded.
00:03:33 People of Pohjola
People of Pohjola are seem to mostly women, with bird-like characteristics.
00:03:57 Louhi's Daughters
People from Kalevala are crazy for these ladies. Idk why :P
00:04:13 Blacksmith Ilmarinen
Ilmarinen wants to marry one of the daughters. In return, he creates Sampo, a machine that produces limitless wealth.
00:04:23 Creation of Sampo
Nice sets on these!
00:04:38 Raiding Pohjola
Louhi keeps the Sampo and the daughter. Kalevan people decide to steal the Sampo back. It's clearly a Hollywood film, Finland looks nothing like that.
00:04:53 Louhi hears about the theft
Angry 😡
00:04:58 Louhi's transformation
Louhi turns intoa hideous bird monster and attack Kalevan raiders. In the end Sampo gets destroyed. Nice effects!
00:05:17 Jim Henson puppets
Easily among Henson's best work!
00:05:37 Ray Harryhausen's bird miniature
Looks great, but i prefer Henson's version.
00:05:52 Swan of Death
Swan of Deaths kills the warrior Lemminkäinen.
00:06:01 Lemminkäinen descends
Lemminkäinen entering the underworld?
00:06:20 Lemminkäinen's mother
Mother follows her son and collects his bodyparts from the river of death.
00:06:45 Tale of Marjatta
Ending of Kalevala: Marjatta gets preganted by a lingonberry, symbolisizing Jesus and the end of the pagan era.
More details about Kalevala - A Dim Journey: urly.fi/35Z4