Sisu

Nazi soldier: "Do you really think he's immortal?"
captive woman: "No. He just refuses to die."

release year: 2022
genre: action/adventure
viewing setting: home Bluray 3/23/24 and 9/6/23 and theater 5/6/23

synopsis: In World War II Finland, a solitary miner is accosted by greedy and brutish Nazis...and makes them pay.

impressions: Anyone can see from the previews that the old miner is, well, more than just an old miner. This becomes apparent at the 22-minute mark, when he swiftly executes the people who were about to execute him. Shortly thereafter, the rest of the Nazis learn that this is a guy they really shouldn't mess with, but they do anyway, and thus begins a long and bloody series of conflicts. The movie's title refers to a concept in Finnish culture, having to do with raw determination...and that's evident here. The protagonist simply refuses to give up, and in the process does all sorts of badass things which I could spoil here but won't. Well, here's one: he climbs atop a tank and starts assaulting its top hatch with his pickaxe. That's just cool.

body count: 26 humans, 1 horse

acting: Jorma Tommila is a man of few words, a stoic expression, and much violence. He just wants to be left alone, but when that doesn't happen, he deals with things. Aksel Hennie is the leader of the Nazi soldiers, and makes a good villain without going over the top. Jack Doolan is a particularly unlikeable Nazi right-hand-man. Mimosa Willamo is the most outspoken of the Finnish captives the Nazis are hauling around.

final word: This is like a Quentin Tarantino movie pared down to its raw core, with plenty of violence but no unnecessary dialogue. Well worth watching!

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