Talvisota (film)
Encyclopedia
The Winter War is a 1989 Finnish war film directed by Pekka Parikka
, based on The Winter War, a novel by Antti Tuuri
. It tells the story of a Finnish infantry regiment "JR 23", which consists almost solely of men from Southern Ostrobothnia
, focusing mainly on a platoon of reservists from Kauhava
. The film was released in Finland
and Sweden
on the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Winter War
.
The film uses a wide array of genuine wartime vehicles and artillery, and when not possible, replicas are used. These include the T-26
light tank, the Tupolev SB
fast bomber, the Polikarpov I-16
and the 37 mm PstK/36
anti-tank gun. Animated
special effects were used to simulate tracer projectiles
.
was nominated for a Golden Bear
in the category of Best Director at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival
in 1990.
On the Jussi Awards the same year, it received six awards:
The movie received an award in the category of Best Actor at the Rouen Nordic Film Festival
as well.
Pekka Parikka
Pekka Parikka was a Finnish film director and screenwriter. His 1989 film The Winter War was entered into the 40th Berlin International Film Festival.-External links:...
, based on The Winter War, a novel by Antti Tuuri
Antti Tuuri
Antti Elias Tuuri is a Finnish writer, known for his works dealing with Southern Ostrobothnia....
. It tells the story of a Finnish infantry regiment "JR 23", which consists almost solely of men from Southern Ostrobothnia
Southern Ostrobothnia
Southern Ostrobothnia is one of the 20 regions of Finland.Seinäjoki is the regional centre and by far the largest city in the area.- Historical provinces :For History, Geography and Culture see: Ostrobothnia- Municipalities :...
, focusing mainly on a platoon of reservists from Kauhava
Kauhava
Kauhava is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region, northwest of Helsinki and by the main railway from Helsinki to Oulu. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
. The film was released in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
on the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
.
The film uses a wide array of genuine wartime vehicles and artillery, and when not possible, replicas are used. These include the T-26
T-26
The T-26 tank was a Soviet light infantry tank used during many conflicts of the 1930s as well as during World War II. It was a development of the British Vickers 6-Ton tank and is widely considered one of the most successful tank designs of the 1930s....
light tank, the Tupolev SB
Tupolev SB
The Tupolev ANT-40, also known by its service name Tupolev SB , and development co-name TsAGI-40, was a high speed twin-engined three-seat monoplane bomber, first flown in 1934....
fast bomber, the Polikarpov I-16
Polikarpov I-16
The Polikarpov I-16 was a Soviet fighter aircraft of revolutionary design; it was the world's first cantilever-winged monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear. The I-16 was introduced in the mid-1930s and formed the backbone of the Soviet Air Force at the beginning of World War II...
and the 37 mm PstK/36
Bofors 37 mm
The Bofors 37 mm gun was an anti-tank gun designed by Swedish manufacturer Bofors in the early 1930s. Licensed copies were produced in a number of countries. The gun was used by some European armies during World War II, mainly at the early stage of the war.-Development history:The gun was...
anti-tank gun. Animated
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
special effects were used to simulate tracer projectiles
Tracer ammunition
Tracer ammunition are bullets that are built with a small pyrotechnic charge in their base. Ignited by the burning powder, the phosphorus tail burns very brightly, making the projectile visible to the naked eye...
.
Awards
Pekka ParikkaPekka Parikka
Pekka Parikka was a Finnish film director and screenwriter. His 1989 film The Winter War was entered into the 40th Berlin International Film Festival.-External links:...
was nominated for a Golden Bear
Golden Bear
According to legend, the Golden Bear was a large golden Ursus arctos. Members of the Ursus arctos species can reach masses of . The Grizzly Bear and the Kodiak Bear are North American subspecies of the Brown Bear....
in the category of Best Director at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival
40th Berlin International Film Festival
The 40th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from February 9 to 20, 1990.-Jury:* Michael Ballhaus * Margaret Ménégoz * Vadim Abdrashitov* Suzana Amaral* Steven Bach* Roberto Benigni* Lívia Gyarmathy...
in 1990.
On the Jussi Awards the same year, it 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).
The movie received an award in the category of Best Actor at the Rouen Nordic Film Festival
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 and Baltic countries, Holland and Belgium...
as well.
TV series
An extended TV version was also made, consisting of five episodes, each with a running time of over 50 minutes. The series has been aired three times on Finnish TV (in 1991, 1999 and 2009).Cast
- Taneli Mäkelä – Private Martti Hakala
- Vesa VierikkoVesa VierikkoVesa Tapio Vierikko 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 director Timo Koivusalo and actors such as Martti Suosalo, Heikki Nousiainen and Seela Sella and Miina...
– 2nd Lieutenant Jussi Kantola - Timo TorikkaTimo TorikkaTimo Torikka 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 in Pekka Parikka's film Talvisota...
– Private Pentti Saari - Heikki Paavilainen – Private Vilho Erkkilä
- Antti Raivio – Corporal Erkki Somppi
- Esko KoveroEsko KoveroEsko Kovero is a Finnish actor. He is known best as the role of Ismo Laitela in the Finnish soap series Salatut elämät of MTV3, but he has appeared also in few movies and the theatre. He had finished from Theater school for Master of Theater Arts in 1983. Among other things, he has occupational...
– Medical Corporal Juho Pernaa - Martti SuosaloMartti SuosaloMartti Juhani Suosalo is a Finnish actor and singer.Suosalo began his career in 1986 appearing on a mini TV series...
– Private Arvi Huhtala - Markku HuhtamoMarkku HuhtamoMarkku Huhtamo is a Finnish actor.Huhtamo entered film in 1977 and has appeared in over 30 Finnish films and TV series between then and the present although mostly in film....
– Private Aatos Laitila - Matti Onnismaa – Corporal Veikko Korpela
- Konsta Mäkelä – Private Paavo Hakala
- Tomi Salmela – Private Matti Ylinen
- Samuli EdelmannSamuli EdelmannSamuli Casimir Edelmann is a Finnish actor and singer.-Family and career:Samuli Edelmann is the son of actress Marja-Leena Kouki and composer Toni Edelmann. Edelmann has two children, Venla and Ilmari, with his wife Laura Tuomarila...
– Private Mauri Haapasalo - Vesa Mäkelä – Lieutenant Yrjö Haavisto
- Aarno Sulkanen – Captain Sihvo - Battalion commander
- Kari Kihlström – Lieutenant Jorma Potila
- Esko NikkariEsko NikkariEsko Nikkari was a prolific Finnish actor who made more than 70 appearances on film and television. He debuted in 1974 in the movie Karvat....
– Private Yrjö 'Ylli' Alanen
See also
- Rukajärven tieRukajärven tieAmbush is a 1999 Finnish war film directed by Olli Saarela. Literally "The Road to Rukajärvi", the film debuted on 22 January 1999 in Finland, after which it was released internationally. The film is based on a book written by Antti Tuuri and its leads are played by Peter Franzén as Lt. Eero...
a film of another Antti Tuuri novel about Finland's Continuation WarContinuation WarThe Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
. - The Unknown Soldier (1955 film)The Unknown Soldier (1955 film)The Unknown Soldier is a Finnish film directed by Edvin Laine and premiered in December 1955. It is based on The Unknown Soldier, a novel by Väinö Linna. The story is about the Continuation War between Finland and the Soviet Union as told from the viewpoint of ordinary Finnish soldiers...