Yhden miehen sota (1973)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Risto Jarva

Writers:

Risto Jarva (writer)
Jussi Kylätasku (writer)

Release Date:

14 December 1973 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Man leaves his factory job and sells everything to buy an earth mover and start his own business, travelling...

Plot Keywords:

Business | Social Issues | Marriage | Entrepreneur | Construction Site

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Eero Rinne	...	Erik Suomies
Tuula Nyman	...	Liisa Suomies
Tauno Hautaniemi	...	Pete Vilpponen
Martti Pennanen	...	Matti Kivilahti
Aimo Heino	...	Vänni Piiparinen
Maarit Rinne	...	Susanna Suomies
Ruben Lehtonen	...	Männikkö
Jorma Pulkkinen	...	Helander
Matti Vienovirta	...	Arvi Suomies
Marita Vienovirta	...	Arvi's wife
Anna Hakala	...	Erik's mother
Hannes Veivo	...	Viljo Suomies
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Risto Jarva	...	Interview / Man in restaurant
Matti Kuortti	...	Tv-commentator (voice)
Timo Linnasalo	...	News photographer
Antti Peippo	...	Man in the office
Erkki Peltomaa	...	Technician
Orvokki Taivalsaari	...	Woman in restaurant

Also Known As:

One Man's War (International: English title)

Runtime:

108 min | 115 min (director's cut)

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-8

Filming Locations:

Lammi, Finland

Company:

Filminor

A harsh view at the realities of life

Yhden miehen sota is a very plain and harsh view at the life of poor working class families in Finland around the late 60's and the early 70's trying to stay alive on the breadline. Erik Suomies (Eero Rinne) is living on the edge of bankruptcy every day and struggling to feed his family, and yet all his friends have things even worse. He is trying his best to help them out, but there's only so much one man can do.

If you are not familiar with these distinctively depressing Nordic movies, I recommend you to start with a movie with smaller calibre of pessimism and anguish at first. The other distinctive element of Nordic, and especially (old) Finnish movies, that might feel a little strange or boring to most people is the really slow and simplified way of storytelling. Yhden miehen sota sure ain't no exception.

I can honestly say that I'm used to watch these kinds of slow and simplified movies, and I enjoy them quite a lot, but still this one was at the limits for me. So it's definitely not the movie for everyone, and it requires a lot of concentration and patience from it's viewer to get anything out of it, however if you do, it might be quite rewarding.