Best Finnish war movies

Promise (2005)

The film tells about members of Finnish women's Lotta Service during the Second World War through the eyes of three young women.

Under the North Star II (2010)

Akseli Koskela returns from prison and tries to learn living again. He's not allowed to take part in politics anymore, but he sees a lot of injustice around him. He raises a family with his wife Elina while another war is around the corner...

The Boys (1962)

When Continuation War started in Summer 1941, German soldiers arrived to Oulu. With their charm they conquered women and town boys. Finnish boys communicated with them on many levels: had trades, worked as interpreters, rotated business, spied on German love adventures and fought with each other about the favor of soldiers. In autumn 1944, the war was ending. Germans left Oulu by leaving behind fragile relationships, bastard kids and unfinished businesses. The most shocking of all was the faith of young Jake...

The Manila Rope (1976)

Manillaköysi is a cult status holding TV-movie adaptation of the satirical war novel by Veijo Meri. Manillaköysi has an endless list of classic one-liners, but it is still not based on cheap laughs or anything like that. The whole humouristic aspect of it comes from describing the absurdity of war, and the whole military system, by looking it with the eyes of a simple man, who's thrown into it, and who simply does not give a rats ass of it all. The tone of it is not overly preachy or moralizing. If I would have to describe it with one word, it would be: unglamourizing. The main point of Manillaköysi is pretty much compressed in one of the most famous quotes of it: There is nothing supernatural about war, it is just work like anything else.

The Nordic War (2006)

In August-September of 1939 Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin divided up the European countries between themselves, via a secret annex protocol in the Soviet-German non-aggression pact. Empowered by this document, Germany invaded Poland on 1. September 1939. Two days later Britain and France declared war on Germany. The Second World War was on. Due to the territorial divisions of the secret annex protocol, Finland ended up the target of attacks lunched by the Soviet Union, first on 30. November 1939 (the Winter War) and then again on 25. June 1941 (the Continuation War). In spite of the harsh conditions and having to fight an overwhelming enemy, Finland managed to keep her independence.

Commando Assault (1963)

Lieutenant Takala meets his fellow partisans of 20th division many year after the war. With flashbacks we see the events of summer 1944.

Pedon merkki (1981)

Set during the Second World War in the Finnish war zone.

When the Night Falls (2022)

The dance film When the Night Falls tells the story of a woman fleeing the horrors of a collapsing society in the near future. Along the way, she encounters people on whose trust her entire future depends on.

Hylätyt talot, autiot pihat (2000)

A war movie that takes place in Finnish Karelia in 1944.

Hetkesi Koittaa (2022)

A short story of Juho Ojala — a young solider during the Finnish Continuation War.

Ratkaisun päivät (1956)

Lotat (1995)

Lotat is a Finnish Documentary about the Lotta Svärd, a Finnish voluntary auxiliary paramilitary organization for women.

Sotapoika (1993)

During the Continuation War, mother Kaarina and son Erkki live at home in a small town while father has been sent to the front. One day the family's life is turned upside down when the father returns home as a deserter from the front .

Päämaja (1970)

The Unknown Face of Finland in War (1995)

Documentary about Finnish concentration camps build for Russians inhabiting the Karelia area during the Continuation War.

Sven Tuuva the Hero (1958)

For six hundred years Sweden had controlled most of Finland until the war with Russia that ended in 1809, when Finland became a Grand Duchy of the Russian Czar. This period drama is set during that early 19th-century war and focuses on one of its heroes, Sven Tuuva. Sven is a decent yet not too brilliant soldier, and his exploits are partly balanced here by the charms of a compatriot.

Rintamalotta (1956)

Irma has been sent to the front immediately after her marriage to Erik Vuori. Irma and her new "Lotta" companions find themselves in many dangerous situations during the fighting of the Continuation War. Irma is also concerned about Erik's loyalty.

The Price of Our Liberty (1991)

The film is about the Winter War 1939-40 in Uusimaa, Turku, Pori and Vyborg.

Women in Arms (1981)

Interviews with key military woman guerrilla leaders, and young girls and old women who took part baring arms or making artisanal bombs, against the regime of General Somoza.