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"This film... it’s about one retard who sings punk and three retards who play punk. You should watch it and think about whether you should hate disabled people or love and respect them." Kari Aalto, Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät

The Punk Syndrome is a film about Finland’s most kick-ass punk rock band, Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät. The band members, Pertti, Kari, Toni and Sami, have intellectual disabilities and they play their music with a lot of attitude and pride.

We follow these professional musicians on their journey from obscurity to popularity. We watch them fight, fall in love and experience strong emotions. We witness long days in the recording studio and on tour. They laugh, cry, drink and fight over who gets to sit in the front on the tour bus. Then it’s time to make up and go talk to people in the audience and tell them how great their band is.

Their songs are about the problems in society as well as about things that they face in their everyday life: how going to the pedicurist sucks and the misery of living in a group home. The guys give piece of their mind to both politicians and people whose attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities need improvement.

The Punk Syndrome is a film about the essence of punk. It’s a story of handicapped people rebelling against the mainstream. This time you’re allowed to stare and wonder why they act the way they do. And you’ll fall in love with them as you watch how the most kick-ass punk band in Finland conquers the world.

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Credits

Script:Jukka Kärkkäinen, J-P Passi, Sami Jahnukainen
Directors:Jukka Kärkkäinen, J-P Passi
Cinematography:J-P Passi
Editing:Riitta Poikselkä
Sound Recording:Antti Haikonen, Jukka Kärkkäinen
Dramaturgy:Magnus Gertten
Sound Design:Jørgen Bergsund
Sound Mix:Tormod Rignes
Colour Grading:Roberto Duarte
Graphic Design:Illusia Sarvas
Music:Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät
Additional Cinematography:Marianne Heikkinen
Additional Sound Recording:Peitu Korhonen, Kimmo Vänttinen
Stills Photography:Pekka Elomaa, Kalle Pajamaa
Production Manager:Katri Myllyniemi
Location Manager:Ville Toivanen
Editing Consultant:Mika Ronkainen
Assistant Editing:Illusia Sarvas
Additional Graphic Design:Laura Kiralfy
Translation:Aretta Vähälä, Rich Lyons, Kari Savonen, Apropos lingua, Tatu Henttonen
Producer:Sami Jahnukainen / Mouka Filmi
Co-Producers:Carsten Aanonsen / Indie Film, Magnus Gertten, Lennart Ström / Auto Images, Joakim Strand / Film i Skåne
Production Support:SES, Avek, ESEK, Luses, NFI, SFI
Broadcasters:Yle, SVT, NRK
Distribution in Finland:Buena Vista International Finland
International sales:Autlook Filmasales

For more information

Mouka Filmi

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