A Respectable Tragedy (1998): cast, story & where to watch
1998 · Film · ★ 4
Released in 1998, A Respectable Tragedy is a drama film directed by Kaisa Rastimo, running about 112 minutes.
What it’s about. In the 1930s, middle-aged museum curator Tauno Saarinen yearns for a young beautiful maid and writes a lengthy confession about his feelings which he gives his wife Elisabet to read. Elisabet shows the writings to her husband's sister Naimi, an art critic who tries to reconcile with her ex-husband despite a spiteful mother-in-law. Meanwhile, things gets worse between Tauno and Elisabet when the young maid, seduced by Tauno, becomes pregnant. Based on a novel by Helvi Hämäläinen, first published in 1941 but partly censored until 1995 because allegedly based on true incidents involving well-known people.
Who’s in it. A Respectable Tragedy stars Ville Virtanen as Tauno Saarinen, Päivi Akonpelto as Elisabeth Saarinen, Henriikka Salo as Naimi Saarinen and Kyllikki Forssell as Ada, Arturs mother, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.0/10, A Respectable Tragedy has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch A Respectable Tragedy page.
If you liked it. Fans of A Respectable Tragedy tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch A Respectable Tragedy (1998)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for A Respectable Tragedy change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is A Respectable Tragedy worth watching?
- A Respectable Tragedy holds an audience score of 4.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in A Respectable Tragedy?
- A Respectable Tragedy stars Ville Virtanen, Päivi Akonpelto, Henriikka Salo, Kyllikki Forssell and Timo Jurkka.
- When was A Respectable Tragedy released?
- A Respectable Tragedy was released in 1998, with a runtime of about 112 minutes.