A Tarantino-esque Film from the Land of a Thousand Lakes
Finland is known mainly for its unspoiled nature and good hockey. As far as cinema is concerned, it hasn't been much to write home about so far. Well, they might make good movies, but they rarely reach international distribution. Sisu, however, is an exception.
This film is the work of director Jalmari Helander. He is by no means part of any directorial elite. So far, he has only directed average films like Big Game and Rare Exports.
Given the success of Sisu, however, he's on track to finally join the Hollywood elite. His latest work is a very well-made and entertaining piece that, in its style and rawness, most closely resembles the films of Quentin Tarantino.
Sisu is set at the end of World War II, when the Germans are still applying Blitzkrieg on the battlefield, except this time toward their own homeland. And Finland isn't exactly in ideal condition at that time either.
The Finns were friends with the Germans for most of the war. However, when the Soviets started knocking on the door again for the second time in the last few years, Finland changed sides overnight and stood against the Germans.
Since the sudden change in Finland's position slightly irritated the Germans, they decided during their retreat to kill or rape everything alive. And this is exactly how one half-forgotten SS unit is passing the time on their way out of Finland.
But their good fortune won't last much longer. They dare to touch Aatami's gold, a living legend who put hundreds of Soviets in line during the Winter War. And the same fate awaits these SS soldiers.
A Brutal Ride from Beginning to End
Sisu lasts about an hour and a half, which is just right. The film is about only one thing - killing Nazis. You won't find any plot arcs here, and there's no character development to expect. From about the tenth minute, when the first German blood is spilled, it's clear how this film will end. And that's not a problem; quite the opposite.
The main hero mows down Nazis with both melee and firearms, and when he doesn't have either at hand, he throws landmines at his enemies. They don't take it easy on him either. They try to drown him, have him attacked by dogs, and even hang him. However, Aatami is a tough guy who simply refuses to die, which of course frustrates more than one German soldier.