Tuntematon sotilas (1985)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Rauni Mollberg

Writers:

Veikko Aaltonen (writer)
Väinö Linna (novel)

Release Date:

6 December 1985 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

This film is the second silver screen adaption of the Finnish war book by Väinö Linna with the same name as the film...

Plot Keywords:

Finnish | Finland | Infantry | Continuation War | Summer

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Risto Tuorila	...	Koskela
Pirkka-Pekka Petelius	...	Hietanen
Paavo Liski	...	Rokka
Mika Mäkelä	...	Rahikainen
Pertti Koivula	...	Lahtinen
Tero Niva	...	Vanhala
Ossi-Ensio Korvuo	...	Määttä
Mikko Niskanen	...	Salo
Pauli Poranen	...	Lehto
Hannu Kivioja	...	Riitaoja
Juha Riihimäki	...	Sihvonen
Seppo Juusonen	...	Suentassu
Timo Virkki	...	Honkajoki
Vesa Ala-Seppälä	...	Hauhia
Risto Hetta	...	Vuorela

Also Known As:

The Unknown Soldier

Runtime:

Sweden:195 min | Finland:220 min (uncut version) | 228 min (original) | Finland:199 min (theatrical version)

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish | Russian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Norway:16 (original rating) | Norway:18 (video release) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Fortress, Lappeenranta, Finland

Company:

Arctic-Filmi

Trivia:

With its 590 271 spectators ‘Tuntematon sotilas’ was the fourth highest grossing movie in Finland in the 80s. It was beaten by Uuno armeijan leivissä (1984), Talvisota (1989) and Uuno Epsanjassa (1985).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Corporal: The childhood plays are over now, recruit!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Molle - ohjaajamuotokuva akateemikko Rauni Mollbergista (1991) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Jääkärin marssi

I find the 1985 version superior over 1955 version.

I find the 1985 version of "Tuntematon sotilas" far superior over the older version. The new version is much more realistic in its description of the war. The actors are of real age instead of the original movie. Also all the battle scenes really give the feeling of chaos when defensive lines are shattered and despair takes over the men.

The film describes continuation war with good accuracy. Also I like how the characters develop over the film. At start the green men who are panicking easily and so afraid of the enemy who they don't even see... To the heroic defensive battles against Russian tank hordes at the end.

Many of the since-unknown actors have now become main pillars of Finnish movies and entertainment. Mollberg's idea of using less famous people than Laine did in his version works. When movie was released the faces weren't familiar - and so the characters are much more neutral.

All-in-all I consider the 1985 Tuntematon sotilas as one of the best and realistic war movies ever made, close to second is "Winter War" - another Finnish war movie.