Name: Sisu
Genre: Action, War, Thriller
Released: 2022-09-09T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie, Jack Doolan, Mimosa Willamo, Onni Tommila

The opening shot of Sisu (2022) is a stark, frozen landscape, a lone figure trudging through the snow—a man alone against the vast, indifferent wilderness. This image, simple yet evocative, encapsulates the film’s central theme: the unyielding spirit of perseverance, known in Finnish as “sisu.” Director Jalmari Helander’s action-war hybrid isn’t just about gold and greed; it’s a brutal, darkly comedic exploration of one man’s tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds.

The film follows Aatami (Jorma Tommila), an ex-soldner who stumbles upon a treasure trove of gold in the Lapland wilderness. His journey to transport this wealth into the city becomes a relentless gauntlet against Nazi forces, led by the sadistic SS officer Bruno (Aksel Hennie). The premise is simple, but Helander elevates it with a gritty, almost mythic tone, grounding the fantastical elements—like Aatami’s seemingly superhuman endurance—in the brutal reality of wartime Finland.

What works best in Sisu is its unflinching commitment to visceral action. The fight scenes are brutally efficient, choreographed with a raw intensity that makes every punch, every gunshot, feel lethal. Tommila’s performance as Aatami is a standout; his stoic determination and quiet resilience make him a compelling, if enigmatic, protagonist. There’s a physicality to Tommila’s acting that sells the absurdity of Aatami’s endurance. Whether he’s outrunning tanks or surviving explosions, Tommila conveys a sense of quiet, unshakable resolve that grounds the film’s more fantastical elements.

Hennie, meanwhile, chews scenery delightfully as the villainous Bruno, embodying a cartoonishly evil Nazi whose sadism borders on the absurd. Hennie’s performance is a masterclass in over-the-top villainy, and his scenes with Tommila crackle with a dark energy. The dynamic between Aatami and Bruno is one of the film’s strongest assets, their battles not just physical but also psychological, a clash of wills as much as weapons.

The film’s dark humor is another highlight, providing moments of levity amidst the carnage. Aatami’s deadpan reactions to increasingly absurd situations—like using a tank to crush Nazis or setting up elaborate booby traps—add a layer of wit that keeps the tone from becoming too grim. These moments of levity are crucial, as they allow the audience to catch their breath between the film’s more intense sequences.

However, Sisu isn’t without its flaws. The pacing can feel uneven at times, with long stretches of quiet interspersed with bursts of chaos. While this mirrors Aatami’s journey through the wilderness, it occasionally makes the film feel disjointed. Some of the supporting characters—particularly the various Nazi soldiers—lack depth, serving more as obstacles than fully realized individuals. This is a missed opportunity, as fleshing out these characters could have added another layer to the film’s exploration of resilience and adversity.

The cinematography is another strong point, with sweeping shots of the Finnish landscape that underscore the isolation and desolation of Aatami’s quest. The sound design is also noteworthy, using silence and sudden bursts of noise to heighten tension. These technical elements work in tandem to create a visceral, immersive experience that draws the audience into Aatami’s world.

Sisu is a film that thrives on its central premise and Tommila’s compelling performance. It’s a brutal, darkly humorous take on the action-war genre, one that doesn’t shy away from violence but also finds moments of levity in the face of adversity. The film’s exploration of “sisu” is particularly noteworthy, as it delves into the psychological and cultural significance of this concept. Through Aatami’s journey, Sisu offers a unique perspective on resilience and determination, one that resonates long after the final credits roll.

In terms of genre fit, Sisu straddles the line between action and war film, with a dash of dark comedy thrown in for good measure. This hybrid approach is both its strength and its weakness. On one hand, it allows the film to stand out from more traditional entries in these genres. On the other hand, it can make Sisu feel tonally inconsistent at times.

Ultimately, Sisu is a film that will appeal to fans of visceral action and dark humor. It’s not for the faint of heart, as its brutal violence and intense sequences may be too much for some viewers.