Laugh or Die

In 1918 Finland after the civil war, Toivo Parikka, the famous actor of the Workers’ Theatre, is caught and sent to a prison camp where his remaining comrades languish on the verge of death. Parikka defies execution by cracking jokes in front of the squad and getting a laugh out of the guards. Seeing this, Captain Kalm, the camp commandant, gives Parikka an unexpected offer: if the actor and his fellow captives can put on an entertaining play for his German guests, they will be spared. (Austin Film Festival)