Release date is 2025-07-14

Tapio Riikonen

"Salapolttajat : Kolminäytöksinen kansannäytelmä by Emmi Haapanen" is a three‑act folk play written in the early 20th century. Set in a Finnish village, it dramatizes illegal moonshining, a rising temperance movement, and a tug‑of‑war between greed and conscience that entangles a family and their neighbors. The plot follows Hakola farm’s proud mistress, who pushes her daughter Tyyne to marry the well‑off Mäkelä, while Tyyne loves the honest farmhand Erkki and joins a local drinking strike. Behind the scenes, moonshiners Toukka‑Hennu and Takasuon Junttu, with village layabout Aapeli and the swaggering Jussilan Matti, supply the countryside and help Mäkelä plan wedding liquor. Liisa, Tyynen aunt, uncovers the scheme and works to protect the young couple. A raid on the forest still scatters the bootleggers; officials eventually burst into Hakola’s house and arrest Mäkelä just as he tries to force a betrothal. Faced with public disgrace, the mistress repents of her greed and asks Liisa to reunite the “children.” The play ends with reconciliation in sight and the temperance celebration beckoning as a sign of a cleaner future. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: Hämeenlinna: Arvi A. Karisto Oy, 1930