Flame Top (1980): cast, story & where to watch
1980 · Film · ★ 5.3
Released in 1980, Flame Top is a drama film directed by Pekka Lehto, running about 155 minutes.
What it’s about. This biographical film celebrates the little-known life of the Finnish novelist and revolutionary Maiju Lassila (Asko Sarkola), born in 1868. Lassila's early years are briefly shown, then the film richly details his active and paradoxically reclusive adult life, beginning with his sojourn in St. Petersburg, working as a businessman. Unable to stay away from politics, he caused the assassination of a high-ranking Czarist and as a result, had to run back to Finland to hide. Once established in the comparative safety of a small village, he taught school in order to support his real vocation as a writer. Always living on the edge of poverty, if not square in the middle of it, Lassila continues to avoid public contact - he keeps his identity low-key and camoflages it by publishing under a variety of pseudonyms.
Who’s in it. Flame Top stars Asko Sarkola as Writer Algot Lassila, aka Maiju Lassila, aka Irmari Rantamala, Rea Mauranen as Olga Esempio, Kari Franck as Gunnar Avanto and Ari Suonsuu as Kalle, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.3/10, Flame Top has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Flame Top page.
If you liked it. Fans of Flame Top tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Flame Top (1980)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Flame Top change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Flame Top worth watching?
- Flame Top holds an audience score of 5.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Flame Top?
- Flame Top stars Asko Sarkola, Rea Mauranen, Kari Franck, Ari Suonsuu and Ritva Juhanto.
- When was Flame Top released?
- Flame Top was released in 1980, with a runtime of about 155 minutes.