Da Capo

Overview

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.

Cast

Raimo Karppinen

Arto Arsi

N/A

Jan Söderblom

Arto Arsi as a child

N/A

Tarmo Manni

Sergei Rippas

Rea Mauranen

Suvi Ekman

Eeva-Maija Haukinen

Arto's Mother

N/A

Kimmo Otsamo

Arto's Brother

Per Oscarsson

Eino

Jayne Meadows

Mrs. Thomas

N/A

Marta Becket

Ballet dancer

Lew Hopson

Big Morgan

Virginia Capers

Singing prisoner

Eri Klas

Conductor