The Winter War
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Movie Reviews of The Winter War
Movie Review: Superb Historically Accurate Flik
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is about as accurate a depiction of a historical event as you are going to find. Despite what Mr. Kessel has to say, the portrayals of the Soviet soldiers as "cardboard cutouts" are authentic. That is exactly the way the war was fought in Karelia. The Soviet troops advanced in human waves, utterly indifferent to casualties. Some Finnish soldiers collapsed from physical and psychological exhaustion after inflicting such horrendous casualties on the Russians in just one day of battle. There were even instances of Russian soldiers being forced to link arms and set off across mine fields to clear them for the next wave of troops to come through. As for the Mannerheim Line: Check your facts Sir. The Mannerheim line did not get breeched until mid-February 1940 after two and a half months of relentless artillery and air bombardment and that with the Finns short of ammunition and anti-tank weapons.
As for the movie itself, a warning to those of you looking for an oscar winning tour de' force (God I hate that term) in the American sense; this movie is not for you. It is very foreign in its presentation (and music) but that only enhances its authenticity instead of turning it into Enemy at the Gates, e.g. Its not Englishmen or Yanks playing Russians and Germans but Finns playing Finns and Russians playing Russians.
For military and history buffs who will appreciate the beauty seeing an authentic T-26 tank in action of half-scale models of DB-3's, SB-2's and I-16's making ground attack runs, this movie is a definite must see.
Movie Review: "None of us will come back alive."
Summary: 5 Stars
Pekka Parikka's masterpiece "Talvisota" (The Winter War) is one of the most brutally realistic war films ever made, providing viewers with a gut-wrenching view of a bloody war fought in trenches, foxholes, bunkers, and bomb craters. Based on the wartime journals of the 23rd Finnish Infantry Regiment and veterans' memoirs, it tells the story of the Winter War through their eyes. Some viewers may find it annoying that there is no real protagonist in this film. Characters are hard to distinguish from one another in the harsh setting, but that is precisely the director's point: The hero in this film is the entire Finnish army, which fought on for over 100 days against the vastly larger Soviet army.
The battle scenes in "Talvisota" are amazingly realistic. The terror of a Russian frontal attack with huge masses of infantry is shown again and again, and you realize that these brave Finns fought against such unbelievable odds for so long. Aside from Russian infantry assaults, they also had to deal with brutal artillery and ariel bombardments. From the Soviet fighter planes and tanks to the Finnish army equipment, everything looks authentic in this film, something that history buffs will appreciate. Not all viewers will enjoy the director's techniques in retelling this incredible story from World War Two, but I consider it one of the greatest war films ever made and highly recommend it.
Movie Review: A FITTING TRIBUTE
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is a fitting tribute to the "Talvisota." I have a personal connection - my father was among those on the front lines, those that the movie depicts. He was one of TWO men to survive from his unit, and while he didn't like to speak of the war, the movie was extremely accurate from the accounts my father did share. As for the ending, I noted one of the reviewers didn't "get it." My dad said that one day they were shooting at each other, and the next they were fishing together. So, yes, the brutal combat ended in the blink of an eye, as soon as word came. Neither the young Finns nor the young Russians wanted to be there, they were just serving their respective countries.
As for the subtitles, I speak fluent Finnish, so I enjoyed the movie immensely. My husband, who is not fluent, wasn't particularly taken with the translation, so I translated for him and he enjoyed it more. All in all, though, I thought this was a fitting tribute to the young Finns who sacrificied their lives, and their youth - as my father did - to serve in the front lines and defend their country. Most importantly: KNOW YOUR HISTORY - FINLAND IS THE ONLY COUNTRY TO EVER REPAY ITS WAR DEBT TO THE UNITED STATES.
Movie Review: I Know what you mean!
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes! I'm a finn and I cannot give you a totally perfect description about this movie. It just contains so much things that other people just are not able to understand.
For me this movie is so important as a finn. I'm not sure, but I think these guys where the only one in the whole world that had stopped the sovied army invation on their border.
The fact that both of my grandfathers had been fighting exactly same places in Taipale like this movie makes it special to me. They never talked about war to me, but my father told me that the coloned that appeared in the movie, Matti Laurila, actually visited my grandfather before the war.
I'm not going to judge the DVD because I have not seen it, but have seen the TV version and It's about 4 hours long. So I could imagine how much they have had to edit out.
I would to recommend this movie to all those who still believe in high spirit that no land cannot be taken over, if they are all just standing as a one solid nation. It does not matter small they are.
Movie Review: Brave Finns on the frontlines!
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the greatest, and most accurate war films made, yet little known by most English-speaking viewers. An army reserve unit is mobilized to man the fortified Mannerhiem Line, in the early days of World War II. The characters express all the usual concerns about the coming ordeal...and then it happens. The Soviet Union launches a massive armored onslaught against Finland. Despite Finland's lack of manpower, equipment, and supplies, they devasted wave after wave of Russian assaults. Finland had better-trained soldiers, repelling hundreds of thousands of expendable communist conscripts. In the years before, wisely foreseeing the inevitable conflict with the communist power to the east, Finland had a series of fortifications built in advance, and the Finns utilized these to maximum effect! This film portrays the frontline combat very well, but the entire war had various fascinating perspectives that should also be portrayed on film some day. To get a greater idea of the conflict, read the book, "A Frozen Hell" (which I have also reviewed).