Portraits of Women

Pertti, a pornographic filmmaker, returns from America to Finland and moves in with his old student friends Jussi and Liisa. The quiet reunion provides a base for his evolving plans and the social tensions among the group. The stage is set for a complicated web of relationships and artistic ambitions to unfold.

At a crayfish party hosted by Jussi and Liisa, Pertti meets Saara, who is preparing to divorce her husband. Saara rejects Pertti’s attempt to take her home, signaling a wary start to their relationship. Meanwhile Pertti seduces Liisa, his old friend, the next morning.

That night, Saara settles her relationship with her husband and decides to move in with Jussi and Liisa by morning. Her choice reframes the household’s dynamics and complicates Pertti’s position. The day breaks with new entanglements influencing everyone.

Pertti commits to Liisa and they become lovers in the morning, further entangling the trio. The early affair foreshadows the ethical murkiness of Pertti's ambitions. The household atmosphere grows tense and uncertain.

Pertti becomes obsessed with reinventing Finnish romance and studies film history to shape his project. He interviews an actress who refuses to undress, insisting she is interested in a political film instead. These conversations reveal his ambitious but limited vision as a filmmaker.

Sven and Ulla, who have appeared in Pertti's 'Summer Love' material, express a desire to pursue a political film. Pertti sees a chance to capture spontaneous love within a larger political frame. The trio begins to shape a new project together.

Saara takes Pertti on a city tour and they share a drink, signaling a deeper personal interest. The filming for Pertti's new project begins at a villa on the archipelago, with cinematographer Peter von Spaak pushing for a modern approach. The crew aims to capture Sven and Ulla's authentic romance on film.

Pertti meets Saara again at the summer villa and they become lovers, spending the night together. They also sleep at Liisa and Jussi's place, where Liisa discovers the affair and threatens to tell Jussi. The looming exposure casts a chill over their apartment-sharing arrangement.

Ulla reveals she had an argument with Sven, while Pertti continues filming the other side of the couple making love. Peter von Spaak warns him to keep his own head out of the frame as tensions heighten. Sven eventually arrives and reconciles with Ulla.

Liisa reveals her relationship with Pertti to Saara, who then finds Pertti's notebook listing contact information for 38 women. Pertti explains that his interest in women is professional, not personal, and they end up making love in Saara's school ballroom. The moment marks a shifting boundary between art, desire, and trust.

Sven and Ulla announce their engagement, and Pertti pays for the marriage certificate while hosting a wedding lunch. The film producer informs Pertti that he faces a lawsuit for violating sexual discipline. The looming legal pressure adds urgency to the already tangled relationships.

Pertti decides to flee the country and boards a ship, while Ulla and Sven also face lawsuits but survive by presenting their marriage certificate. Saara chases the ship in a motorboat and finally confesses her love for Pertti. She throws Pertti's films into the ship, but he manages to hide the negatives, setting the stage for a precarious future.

On the ship's wake, Saara and Pertti finally give in to their feelings and make love. The moment is underscored by the Maamme song, lending a bittersweet finish to their relationship. Pertti hides the negation of his film as they drift toward an uncertain future.