Framom främsta linjen (2004)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Åke Lindman

Writers:

Stefan Forss (screenplay)
Harry Järv (diary)

Release Date:

5 March 2004 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

A story of the infantry regiment 61 that fought from Syväri to the Karelian Ishtmus.

Plot Keywords:

Continuation War | Based On Diary | Based On Historical Events | WWII

Cast

Tobias Zilliacus	...	Harry Järv
Ilkka Heiskanen	...	Lt.Col. Alpo Marttinen
Christoffer Westerlund	...	Allan Finholm
Kim Gustafsson	...	Björk
Martin Bahne	...	Lindblad
Carl-Gustaf Wentzel	...	Forss
Jan-Christian Söderholm	...	Klas Helèn
Sampo Sarkola	...	Kaustinen
Johan Rönneholm	...	Händig
Joachim Thibblin	...	Bertel Söderman
Oskar Silén	...	Lt. Mattas
Paavo Kerosuo
Patrick Henriksen	...	Rosenlöf
Peter Kanerva	...	Olof Fagerström
Jan Korander	...	Löfman

Also Known As:

Beyond Enemy Lines (International: English title)
Beyond the Front Line (International: English title)
Etulinjan edessä (Finland)
Vad fria män förmå (Finland: Swedish title) (working title)

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

Finland

Language:

Swedish | Finnish | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Vekarajärvi, Valkeala, Finland

Company:

Åke Lindman Film-Productions

Movie Connections:

Edited into Etulinjan takana (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Ilta Kannaksella

A Finnish propaganda film for Swedes

Lindman's film shows a story of a Finnish platoon leader Harry Järv, who during the Fenno-Russian War of 1941-44 led several successful raids against Russian strongpoints. Instead of any artistic ambitions, Lindman has meant his movie to be a true-story documentary about one historical person. While the film is a documentary drama, it lacks the horror and excitement one could expect from a war film. This approach has its reasons, because the film starts from the period of war during which only small-scale action was carried out between Finns and Russians. The action in the Finnish front during period of 1942-43 mostly consisted of Finnish patrols making havoc at the Russian lines, Russian snipers annoying Finnish watchmen and such.

The Finnish platoon leader Harry Järv appears in the film as one of the most valiant soldiers there could be. He is not only good soldier. He is also cultivated. He reads classical philosophy and is eager to share his knowledge with his men. As a platoon leader he is unlike those USMC centurions, because he leads by his example. He never says "go!" but "come!". He speaks with his officers and men both Swedish and Finnish.

I call this film propaganda only because it is so clean, although faithful depiction of actual events. Lindman has had an intention to teach the Swedes about war and explain why Soviet Union did not end up as a new neighbor for Sweden. It was rather geography and not politics at all that dragged Finland into the war! It should be admitted, that there was much worse in war, more blood and screaming, and all of the Finnish officers were not like Järv. There was however, plenty enough like him.

As a whole, this is a unique film. Not great, but good and serves well all those who want to know about history. Framom främstä linjen has many little details that didn't surface up during watching it for the first time. I only began to like the movie only after watching it for the fourth time. For weapon freaks this movie offers a real rarity: the German StuG IIIg appearing at one scene. The DVD should have had a commentary and/or trivia track, because only Finns are enough familiar with their history and nature of their army.