The Day the Earth Froze (Sampo)

1959 · adventure · fantasy · Aleksandr Ptushko, Risto Orko

The Day the Earth Froze (Sampo) — 1959 Soviet-Finnish fantasy film directed by Aleksandr Ptushko. It is based on the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. The film combines elements of fantasy and mythology, featuring a magical mill called the Sampo, which produces grain, salt, and gold. The story revolves around Lemminkäinen, who seeks to win the love of Annikki. The evil witch Louhi kidnaps Annikki to force her brother, Ilmarinen, to create the Sampo. When Lemminkäinen fails to retrieve the Sampo, Louhi steals the sun, plunging the world into darkness. The film culminates in a battle where Lemminkäinen and his allies attempt to recover the sun and restore light to their land.