Käsky (2008)
Directed by Aku Louhimies
Genres - War |
Sub-Genres - Period Film, Romantic Drama, War Drama |
Countries - Germany, Finland, Greece |
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Synopsis by Nathan Southern
This historical drama from celebrated Finnish director Aku Louhimies is set in Finland circa 1918, at the tail end of that nation's bloody civil war. At the outset, hundreds of members of the White Party, backed by the Finnish government, set about rounding up and annihilating the Social Democratic Reds; among the murdered are an estimated 2,000 women who fought among them. Private Aaro Harjula (Samuli Vauramo), however, is shocked by the massacres -- to such a degree that when he locates a survivor, a Red platoon leader named Miina Malin (Pihla Viitala), he decides to personally accompany her to a military tribunal to ensure that she gets a free trial. Inevitably, though, feelings begin to develop between the two, which overcomplicates the situation and challenges Aaro's loyalties -- especially when he learns that the tribunal judge is a debauched, cruel hedonist, merely interested in stirring up base pleasures for himself and his wife. As Aaro assesses the situation, he realizes that he will do anything he can to save Miina's life and future.
Characteristics
Keywords
bourgeois, civil-war, escape, Socialism, soldier, trial [courtroom]