'The Partisans'
Sissit (Stridspatrull/Fjärrpatrullen)
Stridspatruljen (Norway)
Kamppatruljen (Danish title)
Les patrouilleurs (French title)
Die Partisanen (German title)

Finland 1963 B/W 102min Fennada-Filmi Oy

***½

War

cast: Matti Oravisto (Erkki Takala), Kauko Laurikainen (Järvelin), Paul Budsko (Hanhivaara), Heimo Lepistö (Orava), Erkki Siltola (Kokkonen), Tea Ista (Maria Takala), Anja Pohjola, Ritva Vepsä (Riitta), Anssi Mänttäri, Mikko Niskanen, Kauko Helovirta, Laila Rihte
credits: dir. Mikko Niskanen script with Matti Kassila and Jouni Apajalahti, based on a story by Paavo Rintala, DOP Esko Nevalainen

Ex-soldiers gather together after war. The war has left a certain mark into them. We'll see a long flashback where lieutenant Takala and his men try to survive in the brutal reality of the war. Many of the lieutenant men (and even himself) are near to loose their mind.

This movie shows well what the war really is and what it makes to people. Matti Oravisto in the main role is quite good and the other cast has also been picked well. What's wrong in this movie is the language which sounds sometimes too formal into people's mouth. If you'll forget it, it's a fine picture.

TRIVIA: This movie was the most expensive of all the movies of Fennada-Filmi 'till 1963 (400 000 FiMK).

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