Framom främsta linjen

This film is about the real life Finnish war hero Harry Järv, who is still alive in Stockholm and started a career as a literature scientist after the war. The film starts in his home (?), where Järv, wearing lots and lots of medals, together with a friend who hasn't really that amount of medals, tell the beginning of the story for a young woman.

When we move back to Russia in 1943 and the drama begins. Of course you can make a war movie like this, but it can be done much better. It is rather bad acting on many hands, although Ilkka Heiskanen passes as the lieutenant colonel. Although the battle scenes appear realistic, there is a kind of heroism here, which you thought died even before John Wayne did. Of course Finland's struggle was heroic, but the fact is that Finland 1941-1944 fought beside the Germans. They were brothers in arms. That might rise some questions, but hardly in this movie.

One did expect more. No medals for the director here.

I met Mr. Harry Järv at a lecture (about these events) at the Gothenburg City Library, sometime around the shooting of the movie. In the audience there were (my feeling), many other Strong, sharp veterans, with similarly sharp wifes.... This movie seemed 100% true. Not Rambo guys. Just like the rest of us But the best of us.

Dont expect "Wheels of Terror", "Fury" or "Hunde Wollt Ihr Evig Leben.". More, perhaps Bergmans "Shame". At least they looked like Max Von Sydow.

Same as North Africa, this was an Honourable front, from all sides. Far enough from the Chancellery, Saurons eye lost its might. Cant imagine how different history would have played out if the 20 july plot had succeded..

This is a movie about how your best and most pleasant neighbout almost single-handedly prevented his country from beeing occupied by Soviet.

I would consider this a realistic description of war. As always, in critical situations some people tend to stand out as heroes more than others, and this movie gives a nice picture of one of them, Harry Järv, the group leader of a group patrolling deep behind enemy lines. The war scenes in this movie are quite authentic, as opposed to many a Hollywood movie, those who have seen the German movie Stalingrad know what I mean. The actors are good, they give the impression of being real persons who you can relate to. Also, Finland had to ally with the Germans for a while (they actually used them to get weapons) but refused to be ordered around by the Nazis. The reason for this was that no western country helped Finland as the Soviets tried to conquer the country. This movie sets in the time when the Soviets pushed hard on the Karelian isthmus, with an overwhelming number of troops and material, and the Finns tried to hold the front. As a Finn, I am of perhaps overly patriotic in my review, but I would really recommend this movie for everyone who likes a historically correct, humane war movie.

Finland was the only country during world war two to fight both for the Axis and then later against it, alongside the Soviet Union.

This films focus is opening stages of the war which sees the Finns fighting with the Axis. That said, this film looks only at the conflict between the Finns and the Soviets. It accurately displays the Finns role as defenders attacked by the Soviets and their defense against a much larger enemy force.

This is an interesting, well acted film. It pulls no punches in showing the horrors of war and its easy to empathize with the Finns, whilst feeling sympathy for the men who die on both sides.

This film occasionally shows a patriotic side, especially in the latter half of the film. Thankfully, its not overdone and doesn't descend into jingoism. That said it is a little corny at times and some scenes of this kind might have been best left on the cutting room floor.

In summary this is a good quality film. Its polished and well directed. the sets are top notch and the battles scenes are convincing and at times, shocking. Its refreshing too, to see films that step outside the US/UK mold and for this reason alone, its worth a look. Seven out of ten from me.

I am a collector of movies about war and this film is a must have. I got some other titles about the Finnish winter war and i love them. The last weeks i have been sweeping the Internet for someone that sells the movie but with no luck. Well, i guess ill have to keep searching for it then. I recommend some other titles about the war in Finland during the WW2.

"Winter War" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098437/

"Ambush" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162625/

These are two very good movies that i really recommend to watch.