Based on the Finnish national epic Kalevala, a folk narrative handed down over centuries, Sampo tells the story of the sinister witch Louhi, who kidnaps a beautiful maiden in an attempt to force her father to hand over the "Sampo"-a magical mill that will produce endless salt, grain, and gold. When the hero, Lemminkä;inen, attempts to stop her, Louhi literally steals the sun, plunging the world into darkness. Sampo was released here in a severely edited, pan-and-scan version as The Day the Earth Froze. This series presents the first-ever U.S. screenings of the full-length, widescreen original! Among the fantastic animist elements are a fire-breathing iron horse, a talking birch tree, and the personification of a well-traveled road. "(Ptushko's) glorious return to magical fantasy (and) one of his most imaginative and likeable works." (Alan Upchurch)