The Winter War (1989)

In 1939, two Finnish brothers are conscripted in the army to fight in the war between Finland and the Soviet Union.

Director:

Pekka Parikka

Writers:

Pekka Parikka, Antti Tuuri (novel)

Stars:

Taneli Mäkelä, Vesa Vierikko, Timo Torikka

7 wins & 1 nomination.

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 (as Samuli Edelman)
Vesa Mäkelä	...	Lieutenant Yrjö Haavisto
Aarno Sulkanen	...	Captain Sihvo - battalion commander
Kari Kihlström	...	Lieutenant Jorma Potila

Storyline

Set during World War 2. After Nazi Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, Russia attacked Finland in November 1939. Finnish reservists leave their homes and go to war. The film focuses on two farmers from the municipality of Kauhava in the province of Pohjanmaa/Ostrobothnia, brothers Martti and Paavo Hakala, serving in a Finnish platoon.

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Plot Keywords:

winter war | charge | blown to pieces | platoon | russia | 

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Taglines:

They held back the Russian Juggernaut in a frozen Hell!

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site (in Finnish)

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Release Date:

December 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Winter War

Filming Locations:

Haapamäki, Finland

Box Office

Budget:

FIM23,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Filmi Oy

Technical Specs

Runtime:

199 min 125 min (International Cut) 265 min (miniseries)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most expensive film ever made in Finland (2006).

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Goofs

Near the end of the movie, Private Pentti Saari shoots a captured Semi-Automatic Rifle SVT-40, but he reloads after each shot (it is possibly caused by shooting blanks, which have not enough power to reload the rifle). The SVT-40 itself was introduced after the war, and it should be older, slightly different model SVT-38.

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Quotes

Jussi Kantola: They ordered us to drive the Russians away from our positions. I'm going to the headquarters to ask them: with what men?

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Alternate Versions

5×50min TV-series includes some extra scenes not shown in the original theatre release.

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Connections

Followed by Paradise America (1990)

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Soundtracks

Emma
Performed by Timo Torikka

User Reviews

The greatest Finnish war movie ever made

I have watched Talvisota for two times and it was even better than in the first time. It's a very realistic movie about the 105 day Winter War, which was fought between Finland and Russia in 1939-1940. The movie follows an infantry regiment from Lapua, and particulary private Martti Hakala. The movie starts when the men are called to an extra training session, but soon they are transported near the border and, soon after that, to the frontline, where they are trying to stop all the russian attacks. The combat scenes look good and realistic. They usually consist of Finns trying to stop the Russian human wave from getting in to the Finnish trenches, but every battle is still different, when the number of Finnish soldiers is decreasing and decreasing and the battles are getting more desperate. And of course, sometimes it's the Finns attacking. Technically the movie is also very good. The sounds really make you feel as if you where there, in the middle of combat, thanks to the sound designer Paul Jyrälä. I have always liked scenes with added slow motion, especially in war movies. This movie features some, and they are in really great places (for example, in one scene a soldier is running to the HQ during a bombardment, trying not to get hit by a grenade. And all is shown in a cool slow motion!) The explosions also are very well done, with pieces of ground, ice and trees flying in the air.

I can't say anything bad about this movie. Sometimes it reminds me of Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan (I also like both of them) but unlike them, Talvisota tells about a war not so famous. I guess that almost everyone of you has heard about the invasion of Normandy and Operation Market Garden, but how many has heard about Taipale? How many has heard about the Winter War?