The Cuckoo
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Movie Reviews of The Cuckoo
Movie Review: Remarkable Cuckoo
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an extraordinary tale of a Sami woman, a Russian Soldier, and a Finnish Conscript. The tale begins in Lappland, home to the Sami people, with the Finnish Conscript, garbed in SS costume, as a prisoner of the Russians being chained to a rock and left to die. Our Russian is himself a prisoner, taken to trial for his anti-Communist beliefs. On the road to his trial, he and his custodians are attacked by one of their own aircraft. The Finnish Conscript, a sniper on a suicide mission known as a "cuckoo," he bears witness to the events, but is more concerned with escaping from his bindings. This is where the Sami woman comes in. During the morning, while in search of materials, she comes across the carcasses of the Russian's captors, as well as the Russian who is dying after the attack. She buries the other Russians, and drags the Russian back to her encampment, and begins to nurse him back to health. Shortly afterwards the Finnish Conscript who had successfully freed himself from his chains, finds his way to the encampment. The story is about three people who speak three different languages, learning to communicate outside of language. This is not a war film, but an anti-war film. It is well written, well acted, and it is a story that will touch your heart. The actors are authentic, and the Sami actress, Anni-Christina Juuso, is extraordinary. The movie is beautifully photographed. It is funny, sad, and touching. Highly recomended.
Movie Review: One of the greates anti-war movies
Summary: 5 Stars
I would put this movie in the top ten war-movies ever made. The storyline is powerful, actor's play - magnificent and camera work - flawless. The only drawback is that viewer really ought to know at least one language - Russian, Finnish or Lapp to truly enjoy the intricacies of "he-said-I-perceive" word play that flows through the movie. For English speaking viewer it really helps to start not with the movie itself but go to "Special Features" and see "Making of Featurette" to fill the gaps in particular points of Russo-Finnish war in 1944 and better understand the movie. Like, a question that clearly baffles some of the reviewers- why was that Finn soldier (Veikko) chained to the rock by the fellow Finns and changed to the SS uniform? Well, for one, SS soldiers, being staunch followers of Nazi ideology and major participant in all these countless war crimes they committed against citizens of USSR, were rarely taken prisoners on Eastern front. Thus, for Veikko accused of being pacifist, the only way to prolong his own life, was to kill any Russian soldiers on sight. The morbid irony of this situation was not lost for him or his executors and was obviously intended as an additional punishment. Its quite useless to tell the story line - everybody will have own perception of the story and emotional impact of this movie also, will be different for every person. One thing is certain- this movie is definitely worth seeing.
Movie Review: War, friendships and kindness of strangers
Summary: 5 Stars
Of all WWII films, this one is one of the most unusual and entertaining I came across lately. We meet Finish soldier who is abandoned to die because he refuses to fight any more; Russian soldier on his way to excution who is deemed not loyal and Lapp woman who has spent last four years alone fighting for her own survival and waiting for her husband to come back from the war. These three people strike unlikely bond, which is even more amazing considering that they each speak different language. We learn thru their interaction that they deeply care about each other -- but in their own ways. They also seem to want to think that whatever it is that they are thinking is what the other person is thinking too. So it comes this wonderful tale about three people who live real life together close to the very end of the war, but at the same time they all build their own reality too. I particularly liked the female character who is strong, self-sifficient adn resourceful. She knows what she wants and goes for it. She is an enchatress, hunter, cook, wife, lover and mother. It is almost funny when a Russian soldier calls woman like that, living all alone in the cold mountain "stupid woman", considering she managed to survive on her own for all that time. Absolutely entertaining and touching movie.Movie Review: "My soul's been emptied by the war"
Summary: 5 Stars
Somewhere in the isolated and stark Lapland countryside a few days before Finland pulls out of World War II a Finnish sniper is chained to a rock after being accused of being a pacifist and a reluctant fighter. After he is deserted and left for dead he struggles and perseveres to unhinge the chains and break free. He then befriends a Lapp woman farmer and an AWOL Russian soldier on the farm and hides until he can safely return home. What follows is a marvelous film of friendship between unlikely individuals in difficult circumstances. There are obvious language barriers between the three but they continue speaking with each other in their own tongues. The farm is almost completely self-sufficient so there is much hard work to do before the winter sets in. In addition there are apparent romantic feelings between the farmer and one of the soldiers that leaves the other feeling bad. All three elements add for an interesting DVD experience.The cinematography of THE CUCKOO is excellent and the story is captivating. This is the second terrific Finnish film I have seen lately (THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST being the other) which makes me believe that Finland can produce entertaining and innovative films. I will definitely keep my eye out for more DVDs from this small yet impressive country.
Movie Review: Three Cultures In One, Not Bad
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Cuckoo" is a wonderful russian film from 2003. Its plot of three people all of different cultures and speak different languages who meet and become friends is brilliant. The layering of the three different languages blend perfectly: russian, finnish, and lapp. The dramatic theme builds interestingly as the film reveals the characters' backgrounds. Many conflicts arise as more secrets are revealed, especially when it's discovered that the two men are enemies. The plot adds some humor in the perfect times. One of the most interesting humorous scenes are when the russian soldier speaks in his native tongue what the other two think is his name: Gerlost, which actually means "get lost". Few movies accomplish keeping the audience's interest for the whole duration with only three characters throughout most of it. Besides the plot, the actors perform their roles beautifully. They add their own drama in the dramatic scenes and their own humor in the humorous scenes. Without such acting quality, this movie wouldn't be nearly as interesting. "The Cuckoo" is a great movie for those looking for a unique film. This is sure to please many audiences.