Sisu (2022)

My dad tried describing this movie to me when I visited two weeks ago (chimney cleaning successfully completed for another year!), but he was doing so out of sequences, so it was hard to understand. Beyond the obvious that this Finnish guy kills a bunch of Nazis, of course.

The Finn, Aatami (Jorma Tommila), had been mining for gold out in the tundra. He found some gold, and on his way back to civilization, meets a company of Nazis retreating and destroying everything in their path. Yet they let him pass, until he meets four of them over the next rise. Covering the escape I guess, although they also mined the road for some reason. Keep in mind, there's nothing in sight in any direction. Just open ground.

The four hassle Aatami, then decide they'll take his gold and kill him. He kills them instead, the rest of the company comes back to investigate and find out Aatami's got all this gold. The gold does act as an excuse for the Nazi company leader to pursue Aatami, because otherwise he's a damn idiot to chase this one dude around when he ought to be trying to get out of Finland. But he knows the war's a lost cause, and figures all that gold will help with starting a new life elsewhere. So there's the justification for the carnage that follows.

Most of the film is at a, measured pace, maybe. The Nazis pursuing, Aatami resting or trying to find some way to put some distance between him and them, picking them off one or two at a time. Stretches of quiet tension, Aatami trying to remain hidden or evade their dogs, or the Nazis watching and waiting for him to reveal himself.

When then quiet tension breaks, things get crazy. He lights himself on fire to repel an attacking job, then jumps in the river. Survives being lynched, survives two plane crashes. The Nazis have abducted several women for their own enjoyment, and in an effective scene near then, one woman (Aino, played by Mimosa Willamo) explains to two soldiers that all the women know who that guy is. 

Now, the company leader already clued us in on Aatami's rep earlier, that the man supposedly killed over 300 Soviets when they invaded Finland, that eventually his commanding officers just stopped trying to rein him in. With that, it was the leader's acknowledgement this could be tough, which plays up his desperation for the gold. With Aino, it's how she explains Aatami will win this struggle, not because he's stronger, but because he refuses to die. No, they aren't saying he's immortal. He just refuses to die.

It's a nice scene because you know something's about to happen. Aatami's going to prove the truth in her words and things are about to get crazy, you just don't know when or where it's coming from.

Tommila plays the role much like how she describes him. Rarely shows much expression beyond a sot of dead-eyed glower. Doesn't talk much. Nothing flashy when he's killing. Just keeps moving steadily towards his objective. Nazi in his path? Grab him, stab him in the head or slit his throat. he tries to shoot you, jerk his arm so he shoots his pals instead. Move to the next. Brutal, but an unhurried efficiency to it.

Willamo doesn't get a lot of screen time, but she infuses Aino with a nice level of, resigned defiance. She seems to have accepted the Nazis will kill her and the others when they cease to be useful, so she refuses cower. The Nazis use her and another woman to lead through the mine field when the Nazis decide they gotta chase Aatami. The other woman walks fearfully, every step hesitant like she thinks she can step on the mine and jerk back before it blows her up. Aino's stride is almost lazy, putting a little kick in each step. A Nazi mine or a Nazi bullet. At least this way they can't use her to help them anymore. (And maybe she's enjoying the thought of what's going to happen if they catch their target.)