Princess

Fiction, 100 min. Year: 2010 A film about a woman, judged to be sick by society, who heals and brings joy to others around her with her presence and personality. As she heals her surroundings more effectively than the prevailing healthcare system, the society attempts to suppress this individual’s inner light. Princess is a feature film based on a true story about the most famous patient of Kellokoski Mental Hospital, Anna Lappalainen. Diagnosed as a manic depressive with symptoms of schizophrenia, Anna Lappalainen claims to be a princess when brought into the hospital and does not want to be addressed by her own name. The arrival kickstarts a long battle between Lappalainen and the hospital staff over her identity and the right to her own personality. Eventually the Kellokoski hospital becomes the Princess’ castle, where Anna holds court while gaining the respect of her fellow patients, the hospital staff and the surrounding village community. CREW Anna Lappalainen ("Princess"): Katja Kukkola Christina von Heyroth ("Lady-in-waiting"): Krista Kosonen Doctor Grotenfelt: Samuli Edelmann Patient Saastamoinen: Peter Franzén Patient Kuronen ("Dean"): Pirkka-Pekka Petelius Nurse Elsa: Paula Vesala Chief Physician Soininen: Antti Litja Doctor Lonka: Paavo Westerberg Head Nurse Pakalén: Irma Junnilainen Bank Manager Granqvist: Tapio Liinoja Patient Big Ida: Ulla Tapaninen Nurse Rauha: Joanna Haartti Lobotomy Surgeon Mäkelä: Pertti Koivula Director: Arto Halonen Screenwriters: Arto Halonen, Pirjo Toikka, Paavo Westerberg Cinematography: Hannu-Pekka Vitikainen Art director: Jukka Uusitalo Makeup designer: Riikka Virtanen Costume designer: Ritva Muikku Sound designers: Antti Koukonen, Samuli Pullinen, Juha Linna, Heikki Innanen Music composer: Tuomas Kantelinen Editor: Tuuli Kuittinen Distributor (Finland): Sandrew Metronome Financing TV company: MTV3 Producer: Arto Halonen Production company: Art Films production AFP Ltd The film's website