The Light Behind the Shade

The Light Behind the Shade
FinnishValo varjon takaa
Directed byArto Halonen
Produced byArto Halonen
StarringKari Mikkonen
Production
companies
  • Art Films Production AFP
  • Yleisradio TV2/Urheiluohjelmat
  • Yleisradio TV2/Yhteistuotannot
Release date
  • 1990 (1990)
Running time
46 minutes
CountryFinland
LanguageFinnish

The Light Behind the Shade (Finnish: Valo varjon takaa) is a 1990 documentary film by Arto Halonen about 110 meters hurdler Arto Bryggare, who attempts to return to the top of his sport after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Filming began in 1988 and continued for a year and a half.

The Light Behind the Shade premiered on Yle's television channels in the spring of 1990. According to film critic Kari Salminen [fi] of Turun Sanomat, the film is a unique portrait of an athlete, as it gives its "subject" ample space to express his own views: "It does not overlook his achievements, but also reveals a subjective depth behind them. This approach would not even be possible in conventional sports programmes." The film was also screened in November 1990 at Kettupäivät [fi], a showcase for Finnish short and documentary films. Helena Ylänen [fi], a film critic for Helsingin Sanomat, wrote that "Halonen's work is unusually tightly constructed and dynamically varied; it has a distinctly professional feel while still being clearly personal."

The DVD release of the film in 2005 included bonus material covering Bryggare's later career, as well as interviews with people close to him. The DVD was released together with Halonen's other documentary film, Ringside (1992), about boxer Tarmo Uusivirta.

Credits

References

  1. ↑ Väisänen, Ritva (14 May 1989). "Halonen elokuvaa Bryggarea". Karjalainen. p. 18.
  2. ↑ "Bryggaresta tehdään TV-dokumenttia". Urheilu Freetime lehti. 20 February 1989. p. 2.
  3. ↑ "The Light Behind the Shade - Art Films Production". artfilmsproduction.com. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "PÄIVÄN DOKUMENTTI". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 24 May 1990. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  5. ↑ "Valo varjon takaa". Elonet.
  6. ↑ Salminen, Kari (24 May 1990). "Arto Bryggaren muotokuva". Turun Sanomat.
  7. ↑ Helena, Ylänen (10 November 1990). "Dokumenttien tekijät antavat aiheilleen vallan". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  8. ↑ "Ringside". Finna.
  9. ↑ "Ringside : viimeinen erä : Tarmo Uusivirta ; Valo varjon takaa : Arto Bryggare". Finna.