The Winter War

Original title: Talvisota

1989
3h 19m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

8.8K

YOUR RATING

In 1939, two Finnish brothers are conscripted in the army to fight in the war between Finland and the Soviet Union.

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22 Photos

Drama History War

In 1939, two Finnish brothers are conscripted in the army to fight in the war between Finland and the Soviet Union.In 1939, two Finnish brothers are conscripted in the army to fight in the war between Finland and the Soviet Union.In 1939, two Finnish brothers are conscripted in the army to fight in the war between Finland and the Soviet Union.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

8.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 7 wins & 1 nomination total

Trivia
The tanks used are original Soviet T-26, captured by the Finns during the Continuation War of 1941-44 and then used as the backbone of the Finnish tank forces. Several are in driving conditions in Finnish museums.

Goofs
Near the end of the movie, Private Pentti Saari shoots a captured Semi-Automatic Rifle SVT-40, but he reloads after each shot (it is possibly caused by shooting blanks, which have not enough power to reload the rifle). The SVT-40 itself was introduced after the war, and it should be older, slightly different model SVT-38.

Quotes
Vilho Erkkilä: They use explosive bullets! That's forbidden!
Arvi Huhtala: Go tell them it is.

Alternate versions
5×50min TV-series includes some extra scenes not shown in the original theatre release.

Connections
Featured in Matka suomalaiseen elokuvaan: Muistoja sodasta (2006)

Soundtracks
Jääkärimarssi
Composed by Jean Sibelius
Lyrics by Heikki Nurmio

User reviews45

Review

Featured review

10/10

Hollywood take note

Why are the Europeans so much better at producing hard hitting, gritty war films than those in Hollywood? I wish I knew. Talvisota is an excellent example of this and is infinitely better than what has been produced in the U.S. If you have seen "Saving Private Ryan" or "Enemy at the Gates" and think you have seen the best...you're sadly mistaken. Talvisota and other such films as the German film "Stalingrad" or the French film "Capitaine Conan" are much better at presenting the absolute horror of war and the desperation felt by those men forced to face combat.

I am looking forward to the release of "Pearl Harbor" but am afraid it too will only reinforce what I have stated here.

Rent Talvisota and hopefully you will agree that it is one of the better war films in terms of accuracy and unvarnished drama.