Preludes to Ecstasy (1961): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1961, Preludes to Ecstasy is a thriller, drama and romance film directed by T.J. Särkkä, running about 107 minutes.

What it’s about. Sten Lehtoja, a married, middle-aged businessman, picks up a young hitchhiker, Elsie, while driving to his summer home. Elsie spends the night and becomes his mistress. Later during the summer, Elsie also begins an affair with Reino, the teenage son of a local storekeeper. Sten offers to divorce his wife, and Elsie, attracted by the prospect of a secure social position, agrees to marry him when the divorce becomes final. One night when the couple are in bed, Reino climbs a ladder and attempts to force his way into their room; he falls and breaks his neck, and to avoid scandal Sten hides the body. But the strain of guilt ruins the romance, and Elsie contacts the police, who arrest her lover.

Who’s in it. Preludes to Ecstasy stars Liana Kaarina as Elsi Pettinen, Esko Salminen as Reino Tuomainen, Toivo Mäkelä as Sten Lehtoja and Eero Roine as Tuomainen, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 4.4/10, Preludes to Ecstasy has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Preludes to Ecstasy page.

If you liked it. Fans of Preludes to Ecstasy tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.