Arnold Cautious and the Happiness Stone
Antero Varovainen ja Onnenkivi
Arnold Cautious and the Happiness Stone is a tale of imagination and the search of happiness. Julius, who devours comics and vampire stories, has a vivid imagination. One day, he meets Arnold Cautious, who lives in an abandoned house on the city's outskirts and introduces himself as a faded vampire who drinks strawberry juice. Julius and Cautious become friends. Together, they try to create the Stone of Happiness, the recipe for which is in Cautious grandmother's secret recipe book. Julius wants to give the stone to his estranged parents so that they can rediscover their shared happiness. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks in their laboratory experiments to create the Stone of Happiness, Julius and Cautious persistently continue their search for happiness.
Music composed by Tuomas Kantelinen with lyrics written by Jukka Itkonen, make the musical numbers choreographed by Sami Vartiainen come to life.
The film features an ensemble cast including Maria Ylipää & Mikko Töyssy as Paula & Kullervo the parents of Julius, Luna Huotari as his sister Ilona, Tuija Ernamo as Grandma, Niina Koponen as Hannele, Vesa Kietäväinen as Mr. Kärnä and Ilkka Koivula as Sorting Manager Kuoriainen
Arnold Cautious and the Happiness Stone was filmed in Finland and Latvia. The film was made in collaboration with Latvian production company Tasse Films.
Trailer
Crew
Script: Arto Halonen & Jukka Itkonen
Directing: Arto Halonen
Cinematography: Tuomo Virtanen
Music: Tuomas Kantelinen
Song lyrics: Jukka Itkonen
Sound design: Kirka Sainio
Editing: Armands Začs
Production design: Teppo Järvinen
Costume design: Jaana Aro
Make up design: Maija Gundare
Choreography: Sami Vartiainen
Producers: Arto Halonen & Aija Berzina
Production company: Art Films production & Tasse Film
Characters
JULIUS
(Emil Paloniemi) Seven-year-old Julius devours comics and vampire stories. As his first school year approaches and the possible separation of his parents haunts his mind, Julius tries to find a solution with the help of his imagination, and his mysterious new friend Arnold Cautious, to find the keys to happiness for his parents.
ARNOLD CAUTIOUS
(Mikko Nousiainen) Arnold Cautious is a degenerated vampire with skittish traits and a protocol-defying, strawberry-based diet that puzzles other adults. Guided by his grandmother's recipe book, Cautious helps Julius in his mission to bring his parents back together. In the recipe book, they discover not only a delicious strawberry juice recipe but also the recipe for The Happiness Stone.
ILONA
(Luna Huotari) Nine-year-old Ilona, Julius's sister, is a top student who has friends and a sense of style - unlike her little brother. Sometimes Ilona is annoyed and worried about Julius's lively imagination and peculiar stories. Ilona and Julius lean on each other when they don't know how to deal with their parents' situation.
DAD, KULLERVO KIRVINEN
(Mikko Töyssy) Kullervo is an absent-minded and gentle father. He works as a construction manager, but dreams of his own design and patent for a perfect flyswatter, to not only remove the flies, but also the gap in between him and Julius's mother.
MOM, PAULIINA KIRVINEN
(Maria Ylipää) Paula is an active, energetic and accomplished style master. She works at a government agency but spends her free time designing and sewing clothes. She is concerned about Julius and how will he adjust to school. Paula shows her love through her clothes and makes a graduation dress for Ilona, while planning a headgear for Kullervo - if he only wanted one.
GRANDMA
(Tuija Ernamo) Julius's and Ilona's grandmother wears animal prints and is a real bundle of joy. Her goal is to bring laughter and comfort to Ilona and Julius in the difficult situation. Luckily, Grandma can provide strawberry juice, meatballs, long jumps, and great advices when ever needed.
The book
You can find Arnold Cautious and the Happiness stone also as a book. The book features lively vampire comic strip illustrations!
Authors: Jukka Itkonen, Arto Halonen, Lotta Taarasti
Publisher: Tammi
Publication: August 2023
Number of pages: 128
Age group: 7+
Cover designer: Laura Lyytinen
Graphic designer: Laura Lyytinen
Cover illustration: Mia Selin