Talvisota (1989)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Pekka Parikka

Writers:

Pekka Parikka (writer)
Antti Tuuri (novel)

Release Date:

30 November 1989 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Tagline:

They held back the Russian Juggernaut in a frozen Hell!

Plot:

Russia attacked Finland in late November 1939. This film tells the story of a Finnish platoon of reservists...

Plot Keywords:

Russia | Finland | Farmer | Past | Patrol

Awards:

7 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Taneli Mäkelä	...	Private Martti Hakala
Vesa Vierikko	...	2nd Lieutenant Jussi Kantola
Timo Torikka	...	Private Pentti Saari
Heikki Paavilainen	...	Private Vilho Erkkilä
Antti Raivio	...	Corporal Erkki Somppi
Esko Kovero	...	Medical Corporal Juho Pernaa
Martti Suosalo	...	Private Arvi Huhtala
Markku Huhtamo	...	Private Aatos Laitila
Matti Onnismaa	...	Corporal Veikko Korpela
Konsta Mäkelä	...	Private Paavo Hakala
Tomi Salmela	...	Private Matti Ylinen
Samuli Edelmann	...	Private Mauri Haapasalo
Vesa Mäkelä	...	Lieutenant Yrjö Haavisto
Aarno Sulkanen	...	Captain Sihvo - battalion commander
Kari Kihlström	...	Lieutenant Jorma Potila

Also Known As:

The Winter War (International: English title)
Vinterkriget (Finland: Swedish title)

Runtime:

195 min | USA:125 min | Finland:265 min (TV version) (5 parts)

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Norway:18 (1990) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Haapamäki, Finland

Company:

National Filmi Oy

Trivia:

Director Pekka Parikka wasn't actually planning to make an extended TV version back in the late eighties. He received financial help from Finnish Broadcasting Company, and they wanted him to make a miniseries for Finnish TV. It has an hour of additional footage compared to the original theatrical version.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the battle of Äyräpää, some attacking Russian soldiers can be seen wielding modern assault rifles.

Quotes:

Corporal Erkki Somppi: Paavo, you stay here.
Paavo Hakala: Is this a bad spot?
Soldier that leaves the position.: Nothing but bad spots here, pal.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Matka suomalaiseen elokuvaan: Muistoja sodasta (#1.1)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Ich spür' in mir

One Of The Most Realistic War Movies Ever Made

The subject is the little-known war between Finland and Russia in WWII. It is hard to imagine such a small country standing up against mighty Russia, but it happened. You get a vivid sense of the despair and carnage of fighting against overwhelming odds. The random nature of combat also strikes hard. The visuals are graphic and stunning without being over dramatized. The craziness of war is brought home by a Finnish soldier who laughingly lights up a cigarette after having his uniform set aflame by a Russian tank. Quiet moments off the battlefield intersperse the intense battle scenes. If you are a war movie fan then this is a must-see movie!

Reviewed was the English sub-titled version. For anyone primarily fluent in English it is quite interesting to hear dialogue in Finnish, a language far removed from English.