Käsky (2008)

Director:

Aku Louhimies

Writers:

Leena Lander (novel)
Jari Rantala (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 August 2008 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Cruelty | Spring | Love | Execution | 1910s

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Samuli Vauramo	...	Aaro Harjula
Pihla Viitala	...	Miina Malin
Eero Aho	...	Emil Hallenberg
Eemeli Louhimies	...	Eino
Miina Maasola	...	Martta
Riina Maidre	...	Beata Hallenberg
Sulevi Peltola	...	Konsta
Oskar Pöysti	...	Paasonen
Mikko Kouki	...	Vääpeli
Janne Virtanen	...	Jääkäriluutnantti
Robert Hedengren	...	Valkokaartilainen
Viktor Idman	...	Valkokaartilainen
Miska Kaukonen	...	Valkokaartilainen
Ilkka Heiskanen	...	Frans Rapola
Riitta Salminen	...	Saara Rapola

Also Known As:

Käsky. (Finland) (promotional title) (Finland) (DVD title)
Die Unbeugsame (Germany) (TV title)
Naarassusi (Finland) (working title)
She-Wolf (International: English title) (working title)
Tears of April (International: English title)

Runtime:

France:110 min (Cannes Film Festival) | Finland:115 min

Country:

Finland | Germany | Greece

Language:

Finnish | German | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Hong Kong:III (Hong Kong International Film Festival)

Filming Locations:

Jurmo, Finland

Company:

Helsinki Filmi Oy

Soundtrack:

Gnossienne No. 1

In search of humanity

Taking place in the Finlands civil war, "whites vs reds", a woman soldier of reds is captured by the whites. She is ordered to be executed, but saved by an idealistic soldier. Together they begin a journey to face the field court, which becomes the main stage for the drama.

All the acting is done with care. Main characters played by Vauramo and Viitala are easy to relate to. Eero Aho is also quite impressive in the role of judge Hallenberg, a talented writer whose ideology is ruined by the war. Judge Hallenberg is easy to see as the most interesting character in the movie, its up to viewer to decide if hes good or bad. Also a side role of sergeant-major played by Mikko Kouki is worth mentioning for. He seems to be just the right person to play this character representing absolute moral decay of war.

As Im not the biggest fan of finnish movies I was not expecting much but Käsky (translation:order) really impressed me. Director Aku Louhimiehi is one of the top directors in finnish movie and I'd say Käsky might really be his best work. The overall mood in the movie is a bit tense, usually dramatic piano and string music playing. Great filming and good nature shots make it exceptionally beautiful. The script has just the right twist to keep the viewer entertained. I really enjoyed Käsky for the philosophical side of it, thought some of the viewers might find this movie too shocking.

9/10