Born American (1986)

Three American students vacationing in Finland, cross the border into Russia for fun of it. When they are spotted by the Russian soldiers who are shooting to kill, it's not fun anymore. ... See full summary »

Director:

Renny Harlin

Writers:

Renny Harlin (screenplay), Markus Selin (screenplay)

Stars:

Mike Norris, Steve Durham, David Coburn

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mike Norris	...	Savoy
Steve Durham	...	Mitch
David Coburn	...	K.C.
Thalmus Rasulala	...	The Admiral
Albert Salmi	...	United States emissary
Piita Vuosalmi	...	Nadja
Vesa Vierikko	...	Kapsky
Ismo Kallio	...	Zarkov
Laura Munsterhjelm	...	Irina (as Laura Heimo)
Antti Horko	...	Cossack
Pauli Virtanen	...	Sergei
Jone Takamäki	...	Interrogator (as Jouni Takamäki)
Inkeri Luoma-aho	...	Female Guard
Markku Blomqvist	...	Irina's Father
Sari Havas	...	Girl at Party

Storyline

Three American students vacationing in Finland, cross the border into Russia for fun of it. When they are spotted by the Russian soldiers who are shooting to kill, it's not fun anymore. Captured and thrown in jail, they find it's not fun either. It's a nightmare.

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Plot Keywords:

russia | soldier | american | finland | border | 

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Taglines:

Freedom is just a word...until you lose it.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Finland

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 August 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pasaporte al infierno

Filming Locations:

Enontekiö, Finland

Box Office

Budget:

$3,401,376 (estimated)

Gross:

$3,388,020 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema Group Ventures, Larmark Productions Inc., Man & Gun Film Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most expensive film ever made in Finland in that time.

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Quotes

Interrogator: [while torturing Mitch] We really do have all the time in the world.

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Connections

Referenced in Luonteita: Renny Harlin (1990)

User Reviews

A good film

I am a 60-year old Russian born in Estonia (a Baltic country annexed and occupied by Russia 1940-1991). I have travelled a lot by hitch-hike around the USSR and seen what the life was like there. I know the grim Russian reality first-hand.

That is why I disagree with a comment saying that Born American "is a bad, bad film and it's made worse by the fact that it portrays every level of Russian society in a very unflattering manner".

In fact, the film is realistic -- therefore its portrait of the Russian society is unflattering. The Finnish producer seems to know much more about the real life in Russia than many in the West. Later the film turns into an 'action'. But the general picture of the Soviet-time Russia is true.

Until the Soviet bloc collapsed this film could not be demonstrated here: it was banned. Moreover, Moscow made a protest to the Finnish government, even demanding that the film be banned from cinemas in Finland! Can there be a better proof that the film demonstrates the Soviet/Russian reality in a honest way?

Indeed, for a person in the West it may be hard to believe that such reality can exist. But may I tell you that an elderly Estonian exile once told of having cried watching a film about Russian slave labour camps, while other western audience laughed. People just couldn't believe it was possible -- but she knew, and she cried.

Valeri Kalabugin Tallinn, Estonia