FAQ

No. The characters mostly speak English. A few sentences are spoken in Finnish with subtitles.

The film is based on a historical event known as the **Lapland War**, which was fought between Finland and Nazi Germany from September 1944 to April 1945 in Finland's northernmost region, Lapland. The war started after Finland signed an armistice with the Soviet Union, which demanded that Finland break diplomatic ties with Germany and expel or disarm any German soldiers remaining in Finland. The Germans refused to leave peacefully and tried to retreat to Norway, destroying settlements and infrastructure along the way. The Finns had to pursue them and force them out of their territory. So, even though Finland and Germany were allies earlier in World War II, they became enemies in the Lapland War.

Specifically in the film, Aatami crosses paths with a platoon of Germans, minding his own business. The Germans stop to harass him and attempt to kill his dog. Once they discover he has gold, they intend to execute him, prompting him to fight back.