Promise
Lupaus

Finland 2005 colour 112min Fantasiafilmi Oy

****½

Drama, war

cast: Laura Birn (Mona), Karoliina Vanne (Anna, Mona’s sister), Hanna Lekander (Ruth), Ilkka Villi (Veikko Vuori), Turkka Mastomäki (Lasse Edelman), Kari Hietalahti (Ville Sorvali), Pertti Sveholm (Mr. Moisio, Mona’s father), Miitta Sorvali (Mrs. Moisio, Mona’s mother), Anja Pohjola (Fanny Luukkonen), Kari-Pekka Toivonen, Ville Virtanen, Kai Lehtinen, Pekka Huotari
credits: Ilkka Vanne, DOP Jani Kumpulainen, staging Pentti Valkeasuo, music Tuomas Kantelinen, costumes Auli Turtiainen, script Inkeri Kilpinen and Elina Halttunen, prod. Asko Apajalahti

There’s so many Finnish movies about war(s) between Finland and Russia (1939-1944) that you could think there’s nothing new to tell about them. This movie is still different. It’s about Lotta Svärd, women who were there to help wounded and transport messages and goods on the battlefield. The main character of this movie is young Mona, who has just graduated and who wants to be a vet. But then starts the war and she has to learn to think also other people and not only herself.

The movie is really well photographed, the light (you should see that perfect moonlight!), costumes, staging and makeup – they’re all very realistic. That’s no wonder since the budget of this flick was about 3 million euros (an average Finnish movie has not usually even half of it). The director Ilkka Vanne has got the women of this movie look and sound in all ways pretty modern but still you can believe that these ladies are from 1940’s.

The only problem in this movie is – it is pretty similar with other common war movies (about Finnish wars). This is almost like new Unknown Soldier/ Tuntematon sotilas – only this time it’s a lady who is in war, not just a soldier.

TRIVIA: After wars Lotta Svärd was many years like a tabu in Finland. For some reason people thought it was shameful to talk about these bold women and their good work.

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