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Talvisota
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Talvisota (1989) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
8.2/10   3,316 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Pekka Parikka
Writers:
Pekka Parikka (writer)
Antti Tuuri (novel)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Winter War on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
30 November 1989 (Finland) more
Genre:
Drama | History | War more
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... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
7 wins & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
One Of The Most Realistic War Movies Ever Made more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Winter War (International: English title)
Vinterkriget (Finland: Swedish title)
more
Runtime:
195 min | USA:125 min | Finland:265 min (TV version) (5 parts)
Country:
Finland
Language:
Finnish
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Norway:18 (1990) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15
Filming Locations:
Haapamäki, Finland more

Fun Stuff

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. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: During the battle of Äyräpää, some attacking Russian soldiers can be seen wielding modern assault rifles. more
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.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Matka suomalaiseen elokuvaan: Muistoja sodasta (#1.1)" (2006) more
Soundtrack:
Ich spür' in mir more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
43 out of 44 people found the following comment useful:-
One Of The Most Realistic War Movies Ever Made, 21 April 2005
9/10
Author: carol-160 from United States

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.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Talvisota (1989)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Anyone know when the extended TV version is coming out on DVD? The_Khazi
Question about Russian uniforms orkgeneral
How are the Russians portrayed in this film? Boris T
SUOMI PERKELE! D-M-X
Do Finns Still hate Russians Because of what happened in the Winter War? VictorArakelian
inga svenska frivilliga fy fan! athol-murray
more

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