Anssi Mänttäri
Known For & Full Filmography21 Titles
Drama Series - 1995, 16 episodes • as Huonekaveri sairaalassa
An outstanding performance featuring brilliant storytelling, high stakes drama, and unforgettable character arcs.
Movie - 1965, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
Emotions is an episodic film compiled from the theatrical short films of four first-time directors. Directed by Kalevi Korte, Liukastelua tells the story of a young man who helps a woman who has slipped on the street. The accident marks the beginning of a romance. Confiteor, based on a screenplay by Jyrki Lappi-Seppälä and directed by Jaakko Talaskivi, is a story about the friendship between two men that ends with the death of one of them. Leena Salokangas' Toivo, rakkaus (Hope, Love) is the story of a young married woman's one-night stand with a stranger. The final episode is Kristiina, directed by Asko Tolonen. Kristiina Halkola, who plays the title character, suspects she is pregnant.
Movie - 1997, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
The story of a modest man, played by Ilkka Heiskanen, who decides to become a mercenary in the Yugoslavian civil war. This decision leaves him completely destitute. His parents do not approve of his decision, nor do his friends at the local bar.
Movie - 1985, 2h 15m • as Tied Man
A group of men all called Frank—except for one named Pekka—have had enough of life in their working-class neighborhood, so they set off for a better existence in the magical seaside district of Eira. But the way is long, and the group face many hurdles including stray dogs and defunct streetlights.
Movie - 1986, 2h 15m • as Punapartainen
Redbeard leaves Finland to spend time in Berlin wandering in and out of bars. He meets up with a beautiful Italian waitress, who spends one night with him but is then dismissed.
Movie - 1970, 2h 15m • as Special Effects Man (uncredited)
Finnish porn movie producer Pertsa returns from America to his home country to continue his profession with hopelessly small budgets and incompetent casts and crews. A self-ironic satire about director Donner's scandalous fame in late 1960s Finland, notorious for a graphic long shot of his penis pointing northeast.
Movie - 2012, 2h 15m • as Tapsa
The egocentric author Jalo Rautakumpu welcomes a visitor to his cabin in the Lappish wilderness. After sauna and a bottle of alcohol, the friendship is formed. But friends can be bad for business.
Movie - 1984, 2h 15m • as Kirurgi / Kuvajainen ikkunassa
The Torniainen are a couple consisting of Raija, a flight attendant, and Hanski, a civil engineer. They have long wanted to have a child. Tests show that Hanski is infertile, and the doctor offers little hope.
Movie - 1970, 2h 15m • as Öykky - vasemmistolainen opiskelija (uncredited)
Jussi, a student admired by all women, is inadvertently selected to represent both left-wing and right-wing parties in the parliamentary elections. All Jussi cares about is the beautiful, blonde Irmeli.
Movie - 2009, 2h 15m • as Kanta-asiakas
A young woman recovering from a suicide attempt arrives in a war-torn city and gets a job as a waitress at a local bar. Jeanne befriends the author of an unpopular drunkard, but fate has other plans for their relationship .
Movie - 2011, 2h 15m • as Palotarkastaja
Surrealistic black comedy about a safe insurance inspector looking into one company's fate.
Movie - 1988, 2h 15m • as Nyysönen
A well-known Finnish man is found murdered in a popular Sicilian resort, and a Finnish police officer who happens to be there begins to investigate the case on his own.
Movie - 1997, 2h 15m • as Presenter
Finnish documentary about Cuba.
Movie - 2016, 2h 15m • as Himself
A movie about a movie that was never made.
Movie - 2000, 2h 15m • as Mies pankin ovella (uncredited)
Businessman Erkki Hakala returns to Ostrobothnia after years in Florida and buys a metal workshop in Jalasjärvi from the unknown Partanen brothers with his business partner Taisto Matsomppi. Erkki misses his wife Kaisu, who back in the day stayed in Finland, and his child, but will the man be forgiven for years of absence?
Movie - 1974, 2h 15m • as Michael
A middle-aged man becomes deeply involved with the affairs and criminal connections of a mysterious girl.
Movie - 1963, 2h 15m • as Mänttäri
Lieutenant Takala meets his fellow partisans of 20th division many year after the war. With flashbacks we see the events of summer 1944.
Movie - 1990, 2h 15m • as Taiteilija Kurhonen, "Kurde"
A comedy of an amateur puppet theater, eviction and modern women with their old-fashioned methods.
Movie - 1985, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
Anssi Mänttäri’s low-budget movies with their intimate content have become classics. In this black comedy that takes place in Helsinki in summer the main character (played by Mänttäri himself) jumps from one bar and bed to the next. Especially vulgar black humour.
Movie - 2025, 2h 15m • as self
Kari Uusitalo, a regular visitor to the Tampere Film Festival, delved into the state of Finnish cinema of the mid-1980s, while getting to know the new generation of filmmakers in Anssi Mänttäri's comedic short documentary. Deep in Reppufilmi's cellar, in addition to director Mänttäri, we meet Pirkko Hämäläinen, Markku Toikka, Matti Pellonpää, Paavo Piskonen and Pauli Pentti. The film poses the question: why is a person, an artist, willing to risk everything over and over again?
Movie - 2024, 2h 15m • as Self
Anssi Mänttäri is a living legend of Finnish cinema. Having been involved in over a hundred industry projects as a producer, screenwriter, and actor, Mänttäri’s personal directing credits include 26 feature films, as well as TV movies, series, short films, and documentaries. The documentary chronicles Mänttäri’s career chronologically. His theatre aspirations led to his first role in Mikko Niskanen’s Commando Assault, getting established in the film industry, and finally, his debut as a director with The Holy Family. With plenty of footage of Mänttäri’s films over the years, this biographical documentary meticulously combs through his filmography, also touching on his thoughts about winning a Jussi Award and founding the organisation ELKE ry.