Screaming Men (USA)


directed by: Mika Ronkainen
documentary		 Huutajat - Screaming Men
 

Clinton says: "Back to the docs. I'd venture to call this one 'cool and crazier,' which, despite the cheesiness of the pun, is a pretty accurate reflection of the Screaming Men Choir. These Finnish rebels get together once a week under the direction of the autocratic Petri Sirvio (a dead-ringer for Johnny Rotten, in looks and attitude) and scream as loudly as they can a rhythmic and inspired repertoire of National Anthems, folk songs, and even portions of the Geneva Convention. They were instant hits in their native land, and tour the art museums and concert halls of Europe with their unique live show. Filled with a self-aware good humor, but bitterly serious about his art, Sirvio is an amazing character driven to create this unique form of music, and also to constantly challenge the system. Sweden insists that their anthem not be altered in any way, so the usual performance is interrupted with a bullhorn and ended abruptly. French officials order the Screaming Men not to attempt 'La Marseillaise,' but Sirvio announces it in the program none-the-less, then launches into another, even more controversial number (I won't spoil his brilliant act of anarchy for you). Filmmaker Mika Ronkainen is a former screamer himself, so his knows the ins and outs of what the group stands for, and fills his portrait not only with documentary footage but of wonderfully staged-for-the-film performances that fully embrace the oddity and good humor of the group. The only flaw is that there is little shown about the people behind the Screaming Men - even Sirvio is only shown working with the choir, with no exploration into who he is at home or how he became dedicated to his vision. But, like many inspired and eccentric artists, perhaps that is the way they want it to be. Perhaps all they really want us to know is what they tell us very very loudly."

 
Michael says: "Now here’s a documentary that is about a fascinating subject, AND is an amazing film stylistically. Director Mika Ronkainen gives us a hilarious film about Finland’s screaming men’s chorus, Mieskuoro Huutajat (the Finnish Screaming Males Chorus). Ronkainen knows his subject well as he was once a member. He has gone on to become a documentary filmmaker, and he certainly knows his stuff. SCREAMING MEN artfully balances, like its subject, on the edge of high art, and punk self-expression (perhaps there is little difference?) This chorus performs all across the globe screaming national anthems, children’s songs, and marches, in glorious choral arrangements, often with some choreography thrown in. While slightly reminiscent of COOL AND CRAZY, 2001’s documentary on the Norwegian men’s chorus, the seriousness of the art is more serious, and the absurdity of the presentation is more absurd. There must certainly be something about spending half your year in mostly sunlight, and half your year in mainly night, that gives a person a sense of the crazed.

"SCREAMING MEN has one of the most visually spectacular, and meaningful framing sequences I have ever seen. Ronkainen’s first 10 and last 5 (or thereabouts) minutes of SCREAMING MEN could be shown as a short film and I would gather from that alone a strong understanding of the Huutajat. Everything in the middle merely serves to enhance this understanding, and also provides almost non-stop laughs. Following the chorus to various stops on an international tour; Iceland where the law prohibits the alteration of the national anthem, much to the chorus’ inventive pleasure, France, where a shouted rendition of ‘La Marseillaise’ is performed despite urgings from the mayor, and Japan, where chorus director Petri Sirviö shows his ever-present wit and creativity using Fuji disposable cameras to humorous effect. SCREAMING MEN is truly an amazing film. 4 1/2 cats"
 
Diane says: "I was surprised by the beauty of this documentary. The blue-white of
water, ice, and steam and the lines of men in black make for gorgeous shots.

"It wasn't until the end that I understood what the Screaming Choir is about--I must have had "Cool and Crazy"s more conventional chorus in mind. These shouters engage in subversive performance art that lends itself to Ronkainen's artsy style. (Still, the performances were more musical than I expected.)

"I agree with Wesley Morris' review in the Globe: 'But the movie goes only so deep. It's content to celebrate the group's quirks without investigating them.' I wouldn't have minded a longer film with more varied content (and some shots of the director's nostrils could have been cut). COOL AND CRAZY (Norway, 2002) is better because it delved into
the personalities and lives of the performers.

"But the quietness and dry humor of those Finns! It's almost unbearable. A double bill on a wintry night is highly recommended. 3 cats."
 
Bruce says: "The first few minutes of SCREAMING MEN are surreal and sublime. A lone man stands on an ice covered expanse. A huge freighter cuts through the ice and approaches. He raises his arms as if to conduct his choir and the freighter stops. A phalanx of men marches through the snow-covered ice. Next we see the choir itself, seemingly suspended on the ice; the men are shouting their heads off. I knew then and there I was going to love this film.

"The remainder of the film consists of talking heads and snippets of screams from the choir. I don’t think that any one of their pieces was performed from start to finish (no pun, sorry). The focus of the film is on Petri Sirviö, the founder and conductor. He is very full of himself and justifiably proud of his accomplishment. The idea for the choir of screaming men began over fifteen years ago. During that time Sirviö has achieved world fame. While watching the film I felt that he had purposely manipulated the filmmakers to concentrate on his achievements. He talks and brags but he does not possess the charisma to carry the film. We are denied proper perspective because only one or two of the choirmembers appear on screen to voice opinions or offer much background information. However, there are some funny scenes of men auditioning for the choir, each with his own version of shouting.

"The choir’s repertoire includes poems, children’s songs and national anthems. The film follows the choir on tour to Japan, Iceland and France. In France there is much ado about the choir performing La Marseillaise, both French and Finnish government officials feeling that the interpretation might be irreverent. Such dilemma was not an issue in Iceland where the national anthem cannot be performed in any version other than what was originally intended. As a replacement, the choir shouted the statue that made their recitation of the anthem illegal.

"For the last 80% of the film there were no surreal moments. My surety about loving the film began dwindling very quickly. The first few minutes of SCREAMING MEN would have made a great short film. Turning it into a full length documentary was a mistake. 2.5 cats"