Sisu

Cast View all

	Jorma Tommila	Aatami
	Aksel Hennie	Bruno
	Jack Doolan	Wolf
	Mimosa Willamo	Aino
	Onni Tommila	Schütze
	Tatu Sinisalo	SS Soldier 1
	Wilhelm Enckell	SS Soldier 3
	Kimi Vilkkula	SS Soldier 4
	Arttu Kapulainen	Rower
	Elina Saarela	Saara
	Ilkka Koivula	Fighter Pilot
	Max Ovaska	Engineer
	Joel Hirvonen	Personnel Truck Driver
	Pekka Huotari	Pilot
	Severi Saarinen	Troop Leader
	Aamu Milonoff	Bank Teller
	Joonas Brilli	SS Soldier
	Nicholas Francett	SS Soldier
	Kevin Francett	SS Soldier
	Eemeli Franssi	SS Soldier
	Jussi Kaila	SS Soldier
	Jarkko Klemetti	SS Soldier
	Henri Koljonen	SS Soldier
	Pekka Laakso	SS Soldier
	Martti Näätä Leinonen	SS Soldier

Crew View all

Director	Jalmari Helander
Writer	Jalmari Helander
Producer	Mike Goodridge, Petri Jokiranta, Gregory Ouanhon, Sirkka Rautiainen, Antonio Salas
Musician	Juri Seppä, Tuomas Wäinölä
Photography	Kjell Lagerroos

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Notes

My quick rating - 7.1/10. This movie I checked out a while back by Jalmari Helander is a relentless, pulse-pounding ride through the Lapland wilderness during the waning days of World War II. The premise is simple but wildly effective: a grizzled ex-soldier discovers gold and sets out to bring his fortune to the city, only to be pursued by a unit of ruthless German soldiers. What follows is an adrenaline-charged spectacle of survival, vengeance, and sheer determination. Jorma Tommila shines as the nameless protagonist—a character whose stoicism and unstoppable nature feel like a fusion of Rambo’s raw resilience and the Terminator’s indestructible force. Tommila’s performance is a masterclass in physical acting, relying less on dialogue and more on action and expression. The film brilliantly encapsulates the titular concept of "sisu," a Finnish term that denotes a kind of unyielding grit and courage. By the end of the film, you’ll find yourself rooting for this seemingly invincible force of nature through every brutal and blood-soaked step of his journey. Director Jalmari Helander, known by me for the quirky holiday horror Rare Exports, brings his unique touch to this gritty action thriller. Helander’s direction ensures there’s never a dull moment in the film’s brisk 91-minute runtime. From harrowing minefields to heart-stopping aerial confrontations, the action is explosive and ceaseless, pushing the boundaries of plausibility in ways that demand some suspension of disbelief. But let’s face it, when you’re watching a gold-toting warrior mow down Nazis with whatever tools he can find, realism takes a back seat to sheer entertainment. While the film lacks the snappy one-liners often associated with similar action heroes, it compensates with brutal choreography and an unwavering sense of purpose. Helander skillfully uses the desolate landscapes of Lapland to heighten the tension, turning the wilderness into both a battleground and a character in its own right. The minimal dialogue and haunting score amplify the film’s raw, primal energy, allowing the visuals and action to take center stage. Still, the over-the-top feats occasionally verge on the cartoonish, which might pull some of you out of the otherwise grounded brutality. But in a film like this, where the protagonist is less a man and more a mythic embodiment of determination, these moments feel oddly fitting. It is a thrilling and unapologetically brutal action film that delivers exactly what it promises: high-octane thrills and an indestructible hero you can’t help but cheer for. Helander’s tight direction and Tommila’s commanding presence make this a must-watch for fans of gritty, no-holds-barred cinema. Just be prepared to leave your sense of realism at the door and enjoy the ride.

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