The Unknown Soldier (2017). A review of the WW2 Finnish war film.
While honoring the soldiers' resilience, the film is firmly anti-war, focusing on the psychological toll and the "slow, grinding death of innocence" rather than glorifying the conflict. Characters Over Combat The Unknown Soldier (2017)
The cast underwent a military boot camp and filmed in harsh, sub-zero conditions in Finnish forests without trailers or artificial lighting to ensure an authentic sense of exhaustion and camaraderie. Characters Over Combat The cast underwent a military
The deep bonds formed between the young recruits and seasoned veterans provide the emotional weight that makes their eventual fates truly shocking. A Nuanced History It navigates the moral complexities of Finland's "strange
For international audiences, the film provides a rare look at a unique corner of WWII. It navigates the moral complexities of Finland's "strange bedfellows" alliance with Nazi Germany against the USSR without falling into jingoism. It highlights a Finnish army that wasn't big on traditional discipline—soldiers would occasionally abandon positions against orders, driven by a pragmatic desire to survive rather than die for a cause. Rating: 9/10
The film's most immediate strength is its commitment to realism. Eschewing the polished heroics of many Hollywood war films, Louhimies leans into a "raw and gutsy" depiction of combat.