The screen opens to a bearded, visibly weathered old man digging for gold alone in the picturesque Finnish wilderness.

From the narration, we gather that this is during World War II. We see hope in his eyes as he finds a pebble-sized gold nugget, and then he intensifies his search, digging endlessly until Lady Luck smiles. The man finds the biggest chunk of gold that most viewers may have ever seen. It’s enough for us to be wishfully transported into the scenery ourselves, hoping for the riches. The man’s joy-filled scream is relatable. It is palpable, the happiness. And then reality strikes. Of course, things are not going to be easy!

In contrast, we are introduced to Nazi soldiers who are moving back to Germany but killing people on their way, burning to dust whatever good they find! The evil is established. And then so is the clash. There could have been no better way to get us to root for our man, who we then find is named Aatami Korpi, an ex-commando who gave up on the war, but not before being nicknamed “Koschei” (the immortal) by the Russian army. To make him more likeable, the writer adds a dog, a lovable Bedlington Terrier, who follows Korpi and becomes part of his legend. How can you not like this man? Especially when he is facing off with devilish Nazi soldiers who have even taken several Finnish women hostage, sexually exploiting them.

But despite all the fervent rooting, little do we expect to see the brutal beating and near-impossible survival that the screenplay offers. This is where the movie justifies its name. As explained right at the beginning, Sisu is a Finnish word that stands for absolute courage in the face of adversity. There is evidently no English word that is close enough to denote an exact translation. From a quick Google search, I gather it is defined by behavioural scientist Emilia Elisabet Lahti as “life force in times of adversity.” Resilience on steroids, if you may.

Of course, it isn’t just the characters that work for Sisu. It fires heavily on every possible front of filmmaking. Kjell Lagerroos creates compelling visuals, using every bit of the stunning Finnish landscape, even as he masterfully captures the emotions on the faces of each character. No surprise that he went on to win some acclaim and awards for this work. Dialogues are limited and impactful. And most importantly, each actor delivers big. Jorma Tommila adds credibility to Aatami. Aksel Hennie and Jack Doolan as the Nazi officers make Tommila’s job easier.

Jalmari Helander’s Sisu is every bit over the top. It is a man who survives being hung by the neck by simply deriving support from a large iron wedge that he pushed deep inside his thigh muscles. His actions justify his legend. Heck, the man might as well survive a hydrogen bomb! But never once does Sisu feel silly despite being such an improbable story. It is what we may call in India, “paisa vasool.” For the non-desi, that’s “bang for the buck”!

Currently, Sisu is streaming on Sony LIV in India.

For more reviews – click here

—

If you wish to create your own blog, you will need a domain and hosting space. Personal recco – get the best deal on Hostinger. Click here