Red-125
The Finnish film Kerron sinulle kaiken was shown in the U.S. with the title Open Up to Me (2013). It was directed by Simo Halenin. The protagonist of the movie is Maarit, played by Leea Klemola. Maarit is intelligent, caring, and attractive. At the moment, she's working as an office cleaner, but she's a school counselor, and she's looking for professional work. She's also looking for a man from whom she can get the love the wants and needs. The issue is that she's transgendered. Apparently, even in Finland, professional jobs are harder to get if you're transgendered. Of course, love is possible, but it would have to be with a man who accepts--and is happy with--loving someone who is transgendered.Maarit does something unethical, and probably illegal. When a therapist leaves town, Maarit, who has been cleaning the office, offers to help a client. (It sounds really bad, but it sort of makes sense in the context of the film.). This leads to love, but is it true love?I enjoyed this unusual film, and recommend it. We saw it at the Little Theatre as part of the awesome ImageOut, the Rochester LGBT Film Festival. It will work well on DVD.
slake09
This movie covers trans-gendered people, and the foibles they endure. The main protagonist, Marit, gets blamed for some things unfairly. She also gets blamed for some things that she does. Like most of us, she is fumbling through life, and like most of us, sometimes it comes out good and sometimes bad.The one thing she does do is educate the people she comes into contact with. She likes to help them, we see that right away, but in helping them she doesn't always do the right thing, or doesn't always do the right thing immediately. You can't help but root for her though.Marit doesn't have an easy time dealing with family and she doesn't have any friends. You get the feeling that she is trying to make a connection of some type, with varying degrees of success.All in all, a good movie that makes you think, and that's a good thing.
joshua kit
I don't know how much I can say about this film without spoiling the plot. It's a well made drama and I thought it deserved more than just one user review.The film is about a group of characters, who, like us, are living hectic lives, and trying to manage careers, families, etc.Some of these characters are sexually confused and curious, and we are led into a web of betrayal and taboo liaisons.Good performances all around, particularly the lead. Good visual direction. I recommend this.Check out my other reviews if you liked this film. I try to cover the movies which most people don't see.
i-spookie
This is not an easy film. But it is so beautifully told and carries so much integrity that it stayed with me for a long time. What this film does that it's American counterpart "Transamerica" (2005) did not is that the director do not render Maarit helpless and half-dead inside like Bree. Instead here is a gutsy woman who is in full control - who drives life instead of waiting for it to happen. And happen it does. You might not agree with her choices - horsing around with other peoples lives are definitely not a good thing and she pays a prize for her actions. But I like Maarit - a lot - and wish her well. The Finns knows realism and there is no plastic about this film. Well done !! And hats off to Leea Klemola for the role of Maarit and to take so good care of her.
AD
