''The Winter War'' () is a 1989 Finnish

war film War film is a film genre concerned with warfare, typically about navy, naval, air force, air, or army, land battles, with combat scenes central to the drama. It has been strongly associated with the 20th century. The fateful nature of battle s ...

directed by

Pekka Parikka Pekka Parikka (2 May 1939 – 21 March 1997) was a Finnish film director and screenwriter. His 1989 film ''The Winter War (film), The Winter War'' was entered into the 40th Berlin International Film Festival. He is buried in the Hietaniemi C ...

, and based on the 1984 novel '' Talvisota'' by

Antti Tuuri Antti Elias Tuuri (born 1 October 1944, Kauhava, Southern Ostrobothnia) is a Finnish writer, known for his works dealing with Southern Ostrobothnia. The ''Äitini-suku''-series tells the stories of the Finns who immigrated to the United State ...

. It is set in the 1939

Winter War The Winter War was a war between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet invasion of Finland on 30 November 1939, three months after the outbreak of World War II, and ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peac ...

and tells the story of a Finnish

infantry regiment Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

from

Southern Ostrobothnia South Ostrobothnia ( ; ) is one of the 19 regions of Finland. It borders the regions of Ostrobothnia (administrative region), Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, Pirkanmaa, and Satakunta. Among the Finnish regions, South Ostrobo ...

fighting on the

Karelian Isthmus The Karelian Isthmus (; ; ) is the approximately stretch of land situated between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia, to the north of the River Neva. Its northwestern boundary is a line from the Bay of Vyborg to the we ...

, focusing mainly on a platoon of

reservist A reservist is a person who is a member of a military reserve force. They are otherwise civilians, and in peacetime have careers outside the military. Reservists usually go for training on an annual basis to refresh their skills. This person ca ...

s from

Kauhava Kauhava is a List of cities and towns in Finland, town and municipalities of Finland, municipality of Finland. It is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia regions of Finland, region, northwest of Helsinki and by the main railway from Helsinki to Oul ...

. ''The Winter War'' was released in Finland on 30 November 1989. It was Finland's most popular film with over 600,000 admissions. It won six

Jussi Awards The Jussi Awards are Finland's premier film industry prizes, awarded annually to recognize the achievements of directors, actors, and writers. History The first Jussi Awards ceremony was held on 16 November 1944 at the Restaurant Adlon in Hel ...

and was Finland's entry for the

Best Foreign Language Film The following is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various films, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Bes ...

at the

63rd Academy Awards The 63rd Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), took place on March 25, 1991, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles beginning at 6:00 p.m. PST / 9:00 p.m. EST. During the cer ...

, but was not accepted as a nominee.

Plot

On 13 October 1939,

s of the

Finnish Army The Finnish Army ( , ) is the army, land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Finnish Army is divided into six branches: infantry (which includes armoured units), field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, Combat engineering, engineer ...

are called up for active duty as the threat of

Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

invasion becomes likely. Martti and Paavo Hakala, two farmer brothers from

, join other men from the municipality in a half-

platoon A platoon is a Military organization, military unit typically composed of two to four squads, Section (military unit), sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the Military branch, branch, but a platoon can ...

under the command of Second Lieutenant Jussi Kantola. After mustering at the local school, the men ride the train to

Seinäjoki Seinäjoki (; "Wall River"; , formerly ) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of South Ostrobothnia. Seinäjoki is located in the western interior of the country and along the Seinäjoki (river), River Seinäjoki. The population of Sein ...

to join the rest of the Finnish Army's 23rd Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Matti Laurila. After weeks of practice, the regiment goes to the

, where Kantola's men help civilians evacuate their village in the potential war zone. Laurila gives a speech to the regiment before marching to the Taipale River, where Kantola's men help in building defenses in preparation for the anticipated Soviet attack. On 6 December, the

Battle of Taipale The Battle of Taipale was a series of battles fought during the Winter War between Finland and Soviet Union from 6 to 27 December 1939. The battles were part of a Soviet campaign to penetrate the Finnish Mannerheim Line in the Karelian Isthmus ...

begins on

Finnish Independence Day Independence Day ( ; ) is a national public holiday in Finland and a Flag flying days in Finland, flag flying day held on 6 December to celebrate Finland's Finnish Declaration of Independence, declaration of independence from Russia after the Bol ...

, and the Finns are shelled by Soviet

artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...

advancing to the frontline. The

Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People ...

gathers outside the Finnish

trench A trench is a type of digging, excavation or depression in the ground that is generally deeper than it is wide (as opposed to a swale (landform), swale or a bar ditch), and narrow compared with its length (as opposed to a simple hole or trapping ...

es, and the next day the Finns are strafed by the

Soviet Air Force The Soviet Air Forces (, VVS SSSR; literally "Military Air Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics"; initialism VVS, sometimes referred to as the "Red Air Force") were one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Sovie ...

as the Red Army launches a

human wave attack A human wave attack, also known as a human sea attack, is an offensive infantry tactic in which an attacker conducts an unprotected frontal assault with densely concentrated infantry formations against the enemy line, intended to overrun and ...

with

T-26 The T-26 tank was a Soviet light tank used during many conflicts of the Interwar period and in World War II. It was a development of the British Vickers 6-Ton tank and was one of the most successful tank designs of the 1930s until its light ...

s, but hold them back. Paavo is wounded and sent home, where he attends the funeral of four Kauhava men killed in the attack. Paavo recovers and returns to the front, but is soon killed in a direct hit from Soviet artillery in front of Martti. Several times, the Soviets attack and enter the Finnish trenches, but the Finns manage to push them back. Kantola is ordered to retake a

casemate A casemate is a fortified gun emplacement or armoured structure from which guns are fired, in a fortification, warship, or armoured fighting vehicle.Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary When referring to antiquity, the term "casemate wall" ...

captured by the Soviets when he left it unattended, with the Finns driving out the Soviets but suffering high casualties in the assault and destroying the casemate. On 27 December, the Soviets halt their attack on the Taipale front and Kantola's men go to Yläjärvi for rest and recuperation, and Martti manages to get home leave. When Martti returns, the unit goes to Vuosalmi near the village of

Äyräpää Baryshevo (; ) is a rural locality on Karelian Isthmus, in Vyborgsky District of Leningrad Oblast. It is situated on the southern shore of Vuoksi River. Until the Winter War and Continuation War, it had been the administrative center of the ...

to prevent the Soviets from crossing the

Vuoksi River The Vuoksi (, historically: "Uzerva"; ; ; ) is a river running through the northernmost part of the Karelian Isthmus from Lake Saimaa in southeastern Finland to Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia. The river enters Lake Ladoga in three branches ...

. The Finns try to fend off Soviet human wave attacks but are overwhelmed and Martti is almost killed when a Soviet soldier

buttstroke A buttstroke or butt-stroking is the act of striking someone with the Stock (firearms), stock of a long gun, and is one of the most common types of the use of Firearm#Use as a blunt weapon, firearms as blunt weapons. Some buttstocks were intent ...

s him, forcing the Finns to retreat. On 5 March, Martti, Kantola and the surviving Finns cover a counterattack by the men of

Nurmo Nurmo is a List of former municipalities of Finland, former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated, together with Ylistaro to Seinäjoki on 1 January 2009. It is located in the provinces of Finland, province of Western Finland and is par ...

, but a delay allows the Soviets to get into an advantaged position. The Finns face more human wave attacks and are overwhelmed by the mass of Soviet soldiers. On the morning of 13 March, the Finns are almost overrun when the fighting stops at eleven o’clock as the

Moscow Peace Treaty The Moscow Peace Treaty was signed by Finland and the Soviet Union on 12 March 1940, and the ratifications were exchanged on 21 March. It marked the end of the 105-day Winter War, upon which Finland ceded border areas to the Soviet Union. The ...

takes effect.

Cast

Source: *

Taneli Mäkelä Taneli Mäkelä (born 10 March 1959) is a Finnish actor, singer and writer. He appeared in more than seventy films since 1985. Selected filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Makela, Taneli 1959 births Living people ...

- Private Martti Hakala, a farmer and a competent soldier. While the regiment is waiting near Taipale he plows the fields of a farmer who has gone to Rautu to build fortifications. *

Vesa Vierikko Vesa Tapio Vierikko (born 24 May 1956 in Lappeenranta, Finland) is a Finnish actor. Vierikko began acting in 1978 on television working consistently throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He starred in the 2003 film ''Sibelius'' working with Finnish d ...

- 2nd Lieutenant Jussi Kantola, Martti's immediate superior. He puts Paavo into Martti's squad at Martti's request. *

Timo Torikka Timo Torikka (born 1 February 1958, in Kerava) is a Finnish actor. He graduated from the Theatre Academy of Finland in 1982, after which he has worked both on the stage and onscreen. One of his most well known parts is the role of Pentti Saari ...

- Private Pentti Saari. He is usually eating something or playing his mandolin. He often complains about the lack of food. * Heikki Paavilainen - Private Vilho Erkkilä. Looking like a college student, he quotes patriotic poetry on the train. He is Martti and Paavo's half brother. * Antti Raivio - Corporal Erkki Somppi. The shortest man and leader of the 1st Squad in Kantola's half-platoon, he first appears issuing belts and cockades to the men at Kauhava School. *

Esko Kovero Esko Kovero (born 18 February 1958, in Kuusjärvi) is a Finland, Finnish actor. He is best known as Ismo Laitela in the Finnish soap opera ''Salatut elämät'' (1999–), but he has also appeared in movies and the theatre. Kovero graduated from ...

- Medical Corporal Juho “Jussi” Pernaa, the half-platoon's medic. *

Martti Suosalo (born 19 July 1962) is a Finnish actor and singer. Suosalo was born in Oulu, and began his career in 1986 with an appearance in a TV series. He began to work as a regular actor on Finnish television but also appeared in several films in the e ...

- Private Arvi Huhtala, a skirt-chaser who smokes cigarettes with built-in holders and combs his hair when he's nervous. * Markku Huhtamo - Private Aatos Laitila. An older and pious man, he finds humor in taking Soviet propaganda leaflets for “a little wipe”. * Matti Onnismaa - Corporal Veikko Korpela. A skilled machine-gunner, he gets blasted by a flamethrower tank, but survives, only mildly singed. * Konsta Mäkelä - Private Paavo Hakala, Martti's younger brother. * Tomi Salmela - Private Matti Ylinen, Anna Ylinen's older brother. On the train, he drinks liquor from a bottle Pentti claims is his. He carries a blue wind-up clock, whose ticking seems to calm his nerves. *

Samuli Edelmann Samuli Casimir Edelmann (born 21 July 1968) is a Finnish actor and singer. Family and career Edelmann was born in Pori, Finland, the son of actress Marja-Leena Kouki and composer Toni Edelmann. He has two children with his ex-wife, Laura Tuoma ...

- Private Mauri Haapasalo, a replacement who is so unprepared that Aatos gives him his gloves. * Vesa Mäkelä - Lieutenant Yrjö Haavisto, aide-de-camp to Col. Laurila. *

Aarno Sulkanen Aarno Sulkanen (born 1 April 1940) is a Finnish actor. He has appeared in more than 70 films and television shows since 1968. He was married to a Finnish actress, Marjatta Raita. Selected filmography * ''Here, Beneath the North Star ''Her ...

- Captain Kustaa Sihvo. He comes to the dugout to chew Kantola out when Russians take an unattended bunker. * Kari Kihlström - Lieutenant Jorma Potila. He stands with Colonel Laurila as Laurila inspires the troops. *

Esko Salminen Esko Salminen (born 12 October 1940) is a Finnish actor with careers on television, the stage and on the silver screen. Personal life Born in Helsinki, Salminen's parents were actor and actress . He is of partial Russian descent through his b ...

- Lieutenant-Colonel Matti Laurila, commanding officer of the 23rd Regiment of the Finnish Army. * Ari-Kyösti Seppo - Private Ahti Saari, Pentti Saari's younger brother. He is naive and inexperienced, so the act of killing Russians distresses him. * Kari Sorvali - Sergeant-Major Hannu Jutila. As a logistics officer, his first act is to find a field kitchen that has gone missing. *

Esko Nikkari Esko Nikkari (23 November 1938 – 17 December 2006) was a prolific Finnish actor who made more than 70 appearances on film and television. He was born in Lapua, and made his screen debut in 1974 in the movie ''Karvat''. Nikkari was a workhorse ...

- Private Yrjö “Ylli” Alanen, an older, experienced soldier who is almost always whittling a piece of wood. His participation in Finland's Civil War of 1918 gives him an insouciance regarding combat. * Ville Virtanen - 2nd Lieutenant Jaakko Rajala, an arrogant officer who bears a grudge against Martti for a minor act of insubordination. He becomes more humble as he witnesses the true nature of war. *

Pirkko Hämäläinen Pirkko Päivikki Hämäläinen (born 29 May 1959) is a Finnish actress. She has worked in theatres, films and on television. Frequently collaborating with director Mika Kaurismäki, she won the Best Actress Jussi Award for her role in Kaurismäk ...

- Marjatta Hakala, Martti's wife. * Leena Suomu - Liisa Hakala, Martti and Paavo's mother. She has asked Martti to watch over Paavo. * Tarja Heinula - Anna Ylinen, Paavo's fiancée and Matti Ylinen's sister. * Miitta Sorvali - Karelian hostess.

Production notes

Military hardware

The film depicts a wide array of genuine wartime vehicles and artillery; and when these were not available, replicas were used: *

; Light infantry tank (Soviet) *

Tupolev SB The Tupolev ANT-40, also known by its service name Tupolev SB ( – ''Skorostnoi Bombardirovschik'' – high speed bomber) and development co-name TsAGI-40, was a high speed twin-engined three-seat monoplane bomber, first flown in 1934. The Tup ...

; Twin-engine fast bomber (Soviet) *

Polikarpov I-16 The Polikarpov I-16 () is a Soviet single-engine single-seat fighter aircraft of revolutionary design; it is a low-wing cantilever monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear, and the first such aircraft to attain operational status. It "in ...

; Single engine, single seat fighter used for strafing runs (Soviet) * PstK/36; 37-mm anti-tank gun (Finnish) Animated special effects were used to simulate tracer projectiles.

Music

In addition to the main title and the incidental music, five pieces play an important role in the film: *'' Vilppulan urhojen muistolle'' is the march sung by Finnish troops as the 23rd Regiment marches out of Seinäjoki. *'' Oi Emma'' is a traditional Finnish waltz, in which the singer laments the behavior of a perfidious woman. It is the first tune that Pentti Saari plays on his mandolin. *'' Ah Jeesus Kristus armahda'' is the hymn played in Kauhava cathedral at the funeral in the middle of the film. It's Virsi 587 in the official 1938 hymnbook (Virsikirja) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. * ''Enkeli taivaan'' is the Christmas hymn sung by the men. *'' Ich spür in mir'' (I feel in me) is from ''

Mazurka The Mazurka ( Polish: ''mazurek'') is a Polish musical form based on stylised folk dances in triple meter, usually at a lively tempo, with character defined mostly by the prominent mazur's "strong accents unsystematically placed on the seco ...

'' (1935), a German film about a singer put on trial for murdering a predatory musician. Pentti plays it on his mandolin and the soldiers whistle it to express their displeasure at a situation that an officer has created.

Awards

was nominated for the

Golden Bear The Golden Bear () is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival and is, along with the Palme d'Or and the Golden Lion, the most important international film festival award. The bear is the heraldic an ...

at the

40th Berlin International Film Festival The 40th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 9 to 20 February 1990. The festival opened with ''Steel Magnolias'' by Herbert Ross, which was shown out of competition. The Golden Bear was awarded ''ex aequo'' to the American f ...

in 1990. At the

Jussi Award The Jussi Awards are Finland's premier film industry prizes, awarded annually to recognize the achievements of directors, actors, and writers. History The first Jussi Awards ceremony was held on 16 November 1944 at the Restaurant Adlon in Hel ...

s (Finland's premier film awards) the same year, Talvisota received six awards: * Best Actor: Taneli Mäkelä * Best Co-ordinator: Raimo Mikkola * Best Direction: Pekka Parikka * Best Music: Juha Tikka * Best Sound Recording: Paul Jyrälä and team * Best Supporting Actor: Vesa Vierikko Taneli Mäkelä also won Best Actor, for his role in the film, at the

Rouen Nordic Film Festival The Rouen Nordic Film Festival () was a film festival hold in Rouen, France for screening and competition films made in Nordic countries, Nordic and Baltic countries, the Netherlands and Belgium. In December 2010, the organizers, in conflict with t ...

TV series

An extended television movie version was also made, consisting of five episodes, each with a running time of around 55 minutes. The series has been aired four times on Yle TV2, in 1991, 1999, 2009 and 2015.

Home video

There are three cuts of the film: *International theatrical version (127 min at 24 fps) *Original Finnish theatrical version (197 min at 24 fps) *Extended Finnish TV series version (275 min at 24 fps) The abridged international cut was released on DVD and VHS in various non-Finnish countries and Blu-ray in Germany. The original Finnish theatrical version had a 4K digital restoration in 2013 as well as various DVDs, has been released on Blu-ray in Finland, Germany and Japan. As of June 2018, the extended TV version has only been released on a basic 2-DVD set in Finland. It is non-anamorphic, has only 2.0 stereo audio and no subtitles or extras.DVDCompare.net: ''Winter War'' AKA ''Talvisota'' (1989) Blu-rays
/ref>

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Winter War, the 1989 films 1980s war films 1980s Finnish-language films 1980s Finnish films Films based on Finnish novels Films based on military novels Films directed by Pekka Parikka Winter War in popular culture World War II films based on actual events Films set in 1939 Films set in 1940 Finnish World War II films Films based on works by Antti Tuuri