The Film you Mustn’t Miss

If you, like me like action films that are unlikely to be real, but could almost be then this film is for you. Pure adrenalin rush makes it pane out effortlessly from beginning to end. And what make this Finnish film a blockbuster is its action-packed hero struggles to survive, overcome adversities, and does what a true leader and victorious mindset expects.

Sisu (2022) is a Finnish action-thriller by Jalmari Helander, featuring a legendary, wordless gold prospector (Jorma Tommila) who single-handedly wages brutal war against a Nazi platoon stealing his gold in the final days of WWII, embodying Finnish "sisu" (guts/grit); it's praised for its over-the-top, gory, R-rated action, anti-heroic style, and homage to classic action films, though some find the protagonist's invincibility unrealistic. 

Key Aspects:

• Plot: A solitary gold prospector, Aatami Korpi, finds a massive gold deposit, but a ruthless Nazi squad tries to steal it, leading to a one-man war of revenge.

• Genre: Historical Action, War, Revenge Thriller, known for its extreme violence and dark humor.

• Director: Jalmari Helander, who also wrote the film.

• Starring: Jorma Tommila as the prospector, with Aksel Hennie as the Nazi leader.

• Themes: Courage, determination, survival, and revenge, all tied to the Finnish concept of sisu (unyielding grit). 

  
  

What Makes It Stand Out:

• Intense, Creative Violence: Features elaborate, cartoonish, and shocking action sequences, blending practical effects with CGI.

• Wordless Hero: Aatami rarely speaks, communicating through action, enhancing his legendary, almost superhuman status.

• Visual Style: A stark, beautiful, yet desolate portrayal of war-torn Finnish Lapland, with stunning cinematography.

• Homage: Often compared to Rambo and classic action cinema, delivering pure, unapologetic mayhem. 

Sisu is considered a perfect action film: suspense that goes hand in hand with a true warrior. One that you can only dream about. One that puts Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean-Claude Van Damme to bed.

Take care!

Prof. Carl Boniface

Vocabulary builder:

Pan out (phrasal verb) = means to develop, turn out, or succeed in a particular way, often successfully, originating from gold miners sifting dirt in a pan for gold; it's used informally for plans, situations, or ideas that either work well or fail to yield desired results.

Guts (n) = means courage, nerve, or boldness to face challenges or take risks, while Grit (n) = is passion and perseverance for long-term goals, often described as mental toughness to keep going despite setbacks, sometimes as an acronym: Guts, Resilience, Initiative/Intensity, Tenacity. Essentially, guts is the immediate bravery, and grit is the sustained, determined effort over time.