Nyrkki

The Finns are a dark and twisted people. A romantic comedy from Finland is dark. It is a barren and cold place.

This is real film noir, as good as it gets.

Perhaps the best spy flick I have ever seen? Real trade craft, not the "Good Guys" always win, car chases and explosions. There are no good guys in the real world. Or in 1956 Helsinki.

Finnish title is Nyrkki which means Fist, as in hand, so a bit of a play on words translated to English. Since it was funded by BBC and SBC Australia, the Finns were having a go. Dark and funny those Finns. >FIST was the Finnish Security Intelligence Service now known as SUPO. Helsinki and Berlin were Ground Zero during the Cold War. This film gives you that feel of uncertainty.

Shadow Lines draws a hypothetical plot based on real world events that took place in 1956. The height of the cold war. Historically accurate, amazing acting, breathtaking direction and cinematography.

Subtle and suspenseful. This is a gem. With all characters, Finns, Russians, and Americans speaking their native tongues and subtitles this is not a casual watch. Rather an immersive experience.

Not to be watched if the kids are running amok, the phone is ringing or you are distracted. You will miss all the subtlety. Rainy day and nothing on the agenda? Get the popcorn, the dogs and the blankets. Always cold in Finland!

OK, so here's the deal. NOT A SPOILER ALERT!!!! SHOULD READ BEFORE WATCHING The show begins in 1955. Finland is technically it's own country but it's under Soviet Union's Dictator/ Bad Guy/ Communism "you could be executed for stealing an orange" Rule (as well as that evil dudes federal police, the shady as f$&k The KGB). Some people in Finland want to still be Communists but be separate ("doesn't answer to Moscow") from the Soviet Union and have a Finish (but Russian ideology influenced) President who supports Communism. The main characters and plot revolve around several of these people. They also happen to be "The Security Police" to make sure this happens. Lastly, there are people in Finland that want to be "influenced by the west" and believe in Democracy like the Americans. The show is about these three sides.

I really know nothing about Finnish post war history. I have a vague knowledge of the Soviet invasions in the 1940s but that is about it so this cold war thriller is new territory.

A slow burn series that drew me in bit by bit and with quite a number of unexpected twists.

Who are the real heroes in this? That is perhaps the most difficult question of all.

But atmospheric design and music, quality acting, a script that seamlessly moves between Finnish, Russian, English and Swedish is a fine mix.

Recommended for lovers of cold war spy thrillers. But be warned, it is quite violent and explicit.

I liked this, I agree with the reviewer who said it could be confusing, it might help to watch the two seasons closer together in time than I did, I waited about a year between the two and struggled to keep up somewhat. It is very, very well acted, there is little to complain about there, EXCEPT perhaps for the American CIA (OSS?) agent whose cover is a musician. I found him a little unbelievable. But the story is pretty good, there are double and triple crosses and allegiances switched back and forth, at least apparently.....I'll leave it to you to try to pry the connections apart, might take a wrecking bar to do it, though.... There are some really stunning performances from female actors in this, the roles of Helena, Aune and the "Finn fatale" Tabe are really well done. Remind me not to cross Finnish women!!

It's a great idea. The production is a bit reminiscent of the surrealistic European films of the early '60s; and it becomes increasingly (literally) theatrical with studio shots and lighting. But potentially most confusing is the illogical action. One example: what seems likely to be a 99% certain death somehow becomes a 1% survival. Another, an killing is interrupted by the "timely" arrival of a distraction. The broad plot remains but details have to be simply ignored. The most obvious is how a mysterious person can obtain and sell a huge quantity of arms.

If we ignore this, we have a drama with endless twists, turns, and action.

And maybe, just maybe, they know something not in our history books!