janeblevins This movie was a huge disappointment. After reading several glowing reviews on this website and seeing the astronomical rating, I thought it would be a great way to learn a little bit about the Winter War and see some good war drama. It is a terrible movie: there is no plot whatsoever (and hey, I live in Europe so I am used to, and even enjoy, low tension plot) but even for a lover of Eric Rohmer films, this was a long, hard slog through through endless (and yes I DO mean endless) scenes of battle which alternate between Russians advancing, then retreating, or characters you don't know that well or care to know that well, getting blown to smithereens. Then, as a scene changer, there are shots of planes flying which are always Russian and are always just about to strafe some Finnish guy who is way too far from his trench. There are 3 whole hours to kill this way sans any directorial intelligence or insight to be found anywhere in the vast winter wastelands he manages to create. By the end, there seems to be only one game left to play: find a way to shoot explosions in yet another setting, because Finland is not that big.If you're looking for a quality war movie from a European perspective (and which take place in Winter) Stalingrad is much, much better than this impressively made but utterly empty and lumbering production.

Petri Pelkonen This movie tells about the military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland.It was fought between 30 November 1939-13 March 1940.Talvisota (1989) is directed by Pekka Parikka.The script is based on Antti Tuuri's novel.The movie has got the finest actors playing their roles.Taneli Mäkelä plays Private Martti Hakala.Vesa Vierikko is 2nd Lieutenant Jussi Kantola.Timo Torikka portrays Private Pentti Saari.Heikki Paavilainen is Private Vilho Erkkilä.Antti Raivio is Corporal Erkki Somppi.Esko Kovero is Medical Corporal Juho Pernaa.Martti Suosalo plays Private Arvi Huhtala.Markku Huhtamo is Private Aatos Laitila.Samuli Edelmann is Private Mauri Haapasalo.Vesa Mäkelä is Lieutenant Yrjö Haavisto.Aarno Sulkanen plays Captain Sihvo.Esko Salminen portrays Lieutenant Colonel Matti Laurila.Kari Sorvali is Sergeant Major Hannu Jutila.Ari-Kyösti Seppo plays Private Ahti Saari.Esko Nikkari is Private Yrjö "Ylli" Alanen.Ville Virtanen is 2nd Lieutenant Jaakko Rajala.Eero Melasniemi is Private Eino Nisula.Pertti Sveholm plays Private Antti Jouppi.Kalevi Kahra is Mr. Ylinen.Leena Suomu is Liisa Hakala.Miitta Sorvali plays Karelian Woman.Leea Klemola is Aino.Ahti Kuoppala portrays Ship Captain.Ilkka Järvi-Laturi is Private by the River Bank.Santeri Kinnunen is Private.Mika Nuojua plays Fleeing Soldier in his debut.Eero Saarinen is 2nd Lieutenant Lehtinen.Martti Tschokkinen is Storekeeper.The movie is filled with great battle scenes and uses some cool slow motion.This movie really shows the reality of war.You see men going in pieces in bomb attacks, you see the fear on these men's faces.In this movie the war doesn't look pretty.

N. N. Honestly, I can't understand why Russia was unhappy with the release of this film. After all, there was only one unfriendly line about the Soviet Union in the whole film, namely the complaint about the use of explosive ammunition, deemed forbidden by a Finnish soldier and probably was that too, but I don't know the Geneva Convention that well.On the other hand... after a Finnish soldier decides to use a communist pamphlet for wiping purposes, he gets blown up as the appropriate form of punishment for that kind of sacrilege, I presume...And that's not the only politically cautionary measure here. The Soviet Union wanted only to secure Leningrad and if the Finnish would have been more reasonable and less mistrustful the bloodshed would have been avoided. That pretty much is the political take on the events back then and it is awfully close to a fairytale.That becomes clearest during the discussion of military support. First the soldiers express hope that Sweden might help, later there's talk of America. But for whatever weird reason the word "German" or "Germany" isn't uttered a single time in the whole film. Just for your information, Ribbentrop's own son was actually fighting in a Finnish unit during that time, as a personal guarantee that the Ribbentrop-Molotov-treaty wasn't meant that way. Plus the fact that Germany build its submarines in Finland already during the Weimar Republic, in secrecy, since the treaty of Versailles forbade it.Both sides are shown by far more innocent here than they were and that is an important misrepresentation for the message of the film to make sense.But o.k., enough of that. Considering the action, I must say that the film I alluded to in the title of this comment was a pretty strong source of inspiration too. It's not black and white and it's set in snow and pine and birch forests, but that sums up the differences pretty much.The strongest part of the film is actually the psychological presentation of its main characters and the spirit of the Finnish army. That is done skillfully, I have to admit. But that is about it. Honestly, the war scenes in "A very long engagement" were by far better, but the budget of that film was also bigger, granted.All in all I can't give more than 6 out of 10.

Zugvogel1 It's a Film that is Limited to the Main story,the Soldiers at the Front.It's shows without Mercy also a Sad Site with Fight from Ditch to Ditch.But not like a Rambo Film.It's made in a very realistic Style.The Russian Army had about 4,5 Million,Finland had only about 330000 Men.And this is also in the Film visible.It was a Gruesome War where the finish Puuko,(the well known Finn-Knives,sharp like a Shaving Knive),was really used to cut the Russian Soldiers throat's.(Was me personally telled by a Finish War Veteran.).Not a fine war,but a fight to keep alive. I have read also the Book and have seen now the Film.The Adaption is very realistic told,with much little Details,that give this Film a special touch.The sound is good and the Camera leading excellent.A MUST for every finish History fan.Greez ZV