A few days before Finland pulls out of World
War II, Veiko, a Finnish sniper, is denounced by his comrades for a being a
pacifist and a reluctant fighter. While a Russian officer, Ivan, is accused
by his army of being a traitor. As punishment, Veiko is shackled to a rock
and forced to wear a German uniform, knowing full well that Russian soldiers
have orders to shoot Germans on sight. While Ivan is sent off to face
certain death at the hands of his own countrymen. Both men escape their fate
and they cross paths, where a woman farmer, who speaks neither of their
languages, cares for them while they demonstrate their deep fear mistrust
for one another.
Starring: Anni-Christina Juuso, Ville Haapasalo, More
Director: Aleksandr Rogozhkin
Category: Foreign Language & Int'l
Format: Widescreen, More
Language: Russian
Subtitles: English
When you rent this movie at your video store, or get it from
Netflix, ignore the description on the sleeve. It’s is not even close, which
is often the case! The one you read above is my adaptation of it. That’s one
of the reasons that I love being a subscriber to Netflix because I can
preview so many of these movies on line before I have them sent!
First off! Ladies, you’ll love this, and men pay attention! The lead in this
movie is not just a strong, independent, resourceful and beautiful, woman.
She’s purely woman, rather than a woman simply playing a typical and fiery male
role. The approach regularly applied by American, big studio, film makers.
....This film is Russian.
This power of this film, for seekers, lies in the way it brilliantly and
eloquently demonstrates what I believe to be the top 3, key concepts, for
personal growth and understanding. Ready? Number one, it shows us the power
of love, as the cornerstone of one’s personal foundation. The cornerstone is
what I call the come from. Number two, is the clear example of the result
when the limiting, destructive and blinding nature of fear dominates the
personal come from. The number three demonstration is, the power of belief,
in that it has nothing to do with truth in it’s traditionally recognized
form, which so often requires some agreement! With belief, it’s personal,
and agreement isn’t necessary! The nature of belief transcends truth, in
that the belief alone is enough to create a 
beautiful and satisfying
reality.
A soft whisper toward a realization that, perhaps
one can even choose to believe something, just to create that which they
need or want!
The reason that this is so beautifully stated in this
film is that the woman is not choosing to believe differently than her
guests. It’s simply that her, come from, of love, rather than fear or
mistrust, generates belief that manifests a very fulfilling reality for her!
In spite of soldiers having killed her husband 4 years earlier, she’s still
guided by her come from, which is love. A native of a land, torn apart by
war, she still manages to live a simple, connected, and beautiful life,
while remaining fully conscious and accepting of the hardships associated
with it.
There are 3 languages spoken in this film (over English subtitles), and each
character only understands his/her own, preventing any of our characters
from truly knowing what the others believe or represent. So, as the
omniscient viewer, you’ll find yourself willing them to understand one
another as the Russian believes the Finn is a German because of the uniform
he had been forced to wear. And the Finn sees the hatred in the Russians
eyes so is afraid to let his guard down long enough to find a path (without
language) to understanding and détente. All this in stark cinematic
comparison, to our beautiful farmer, and her ways, as they all interact.
A final glimpse of a difference between truth and belief is given at the
end. With a hint that an inheritance of a beautiful reality can be as
easily passed on as one that is dark and tragic. ….and from this writers
belief, with a greater chance of evolutionary survival! Don’t miss this one.
There is so much here, and I’ve only scratched the surface!
Remember, you are what you watch!
Mark Firehammer, Life
Coach
