Jean-Marie Carrier

C/o Ariel Goldberger

Review of the movie “The Winter War of Finland and Russia”

      This week’s viewing assignment that I decided on is a history documentary, rather than a film on Finland and culture because it seemed to go well with the paper I completed a week ago about the book “A History of Finland” by Eino Jutikkala.  The history of Finland is a tumultuous one, loaded with both civil and military unrest, as well as a constant struggle for independence. This movie is a riveting account of the one of the bloodiest and most remarkable skirmishes in Finnish history, the war between Finland and Russia, known as “The Winter War”.

   Produced and directed by Ben Strout and  narrated by Phil Riesen, the movie was filmed on location in Finland during similar conditions as those experienced during the Winter War, which I believe gives the film an element of authenticity that is normally not found in war reenactment films. The reenactments of the soldiers on the battlefield are presented in a close and personal perspective that enables the viewer to feel as though he/she is right there with the soldiers in the thick of the action . Aiding this element of realism were the many groups and clubs which specialize in reenacting the Winter war on an annual basis, such as Red Army club of St. Petersburg, 4th Jaeger Battalion St. Petersburg,  Za Rodinu Reenactment Club  St. Petersburg,  Soldiers of the Fatherland Reenactment Club St. Petersburg,  Border Guards Reenactment Club St. Petersburg,  North Front, St. Petersburg, and the Finnish Reservists Association.  These clubs provided an unbiased vantage point, being from both Finland and Russia, which makes this film exciting to watch because, it in no way feels like a propaganda film to me.  I believe this to be a very good film because of the minimal level of bias stemming from either side of the conflict, and the heartwarming verbal recollections of some of the soldiers, soldiers wives, and children.

     The film manages to explains some aspects of Finnish culture that were prevalent at the time, which I think was a key factor in the success of this film as a documentary and educational tool. Issues such as living situations for Karelian Finns, gender roles, survival skills during extreme weather conditions, and preparations taken by Finnish fighters, before military conflicts are presented both in incredibly dynamic re-enactments accompanied by actual footage, and narrated and  in a context in which the viewer can correlate how these subjects have always been a large part of the culture and folklore of Finland, and how they provided strength enough for the Finnish military when faced with seemingly  insurmountable odds.  One such example was that every single Finnish soldier that fell and lost his life in combat was first thawed, then washed, redressed, placed into a coffin, and given a hero’s burial. It was the women that thawed and washed the bodies of the soldiers, and made sure that he was taken back to his home for burial.  These same women were known as “The Lotta Svärd”, which was a wartime organization of women that  tended to the soldiers There were approximately 100,000 women in the “Lotta Svard”, and these women supported the war effort in many way. They cooked, provided medical care, served as look outs, even wrote letters to the troops. They also made sure that mail was delivered. All of the tasks performed by the” Lotta Svard” were chores which were taught to young Finnish women growing up,  in case of a shortage of men, and proved more than handy when the support and morale of the war effort was concerned.  

     Another example, and my favorite, lies in the uniform of the Finnish soldier, and it’s simplicity and functionality. The uniform of the Finnish soldier is nothing like the uniform of the Russians, Finland’s adversary.  All white, intended to keep the Finn camouflaged and comfortable in nearly intolerable conditions, and minimally decorated, the Finnish uniform is a testament to the work ethic and priorities of the Finnish Military. I believe it to be an example the mindset of the Agrarian Finn, and a belief in the importance of skill and perseverance,   rather than reputation and image. The Russian soldiers wore brilliantly decorated uniforms of bright red and green, and the pride of the Russian soldier seemed to be in the image that they portrayed as a “force”, rather than their competence on the battlefield. The brightly colored uniform made them a better target for the Finnish riflemen because the reds and greens against the snow covered back-drops could not have stood out any more obviously.  From a very young age, Finnish children are taught survival skills and how to survive out the brutal winters. It would be these cultural traits, combined the utilization of local knowledge, the use of skis, and unyielding desire to remain independent, that would save Finland from Soviet occupation.

     Finland is a very small country that is steeped in conflict, dating back thousands of years, but never  before in Finland’s history had the country or its soldiers encountered a force as large in numbers or as  intimidating as the Russian forces. 

     The year was 1939, and the Winter War began with a Soviet offensive on the 30^th of November, just three months after the start of the 2^nd World War. The Soviet forces were massive, roughly two million soldiers, with over one million more in reserves. In addition, the Soviet forces were well equipped with tanks and planes of the most recent technology, and more than enough ammunition to last them well throughout any conflict. The Russian forces knew that they had the upper hand in the conflict. The Finnish forces were a meager 380,000 soldiers, with no reserve soldiers, one functioning tank, and out  dated planes that were half as fast as the Soviet planes. The Finns, having no idea what was coming their way, prepared for the battles as best they could. The two greatest weapons in Finnish possession would prove to be the knowledge that they gained as children about survival, and the sheer stubbornness of the Finnish people.

     Where the Russians made their biggest mistake was that they underestimated the Finnish military forces and intelligence. This miscalculation would be a fantastic and logical choice for a children’s book about the evils of overconfidence, or why you should never judge a book by its cover.  

     The Narrator guides you through actual news footage of the Second World War, combined with digital animations, relevant facts and figures in text, first person interviews, and dramatizations filmed on the actual front lines, making the story easy to follow and deeply informative.

     In the true tradition of PBS films, the information presented is very well researched by credible historians (which they name, but are too numerous to list), resulting in a very well balanced and unbiased perspective. There was, however, the presence of a sense of humor in the narrator’s voice when detailing the Soviet Governments overconfidence. I felt as though the narrator was making an effort to impress upon the viewer how disastrous this variety of miscalculation can be, especially when fueled by vanity. It was during the recounting of the story of Stallins approaching 60th birthday that this underlined humorous tone seems most obvious. Stalin’s generals had promised him Finland as a gift by his upcoming 60th birthday in December, “despite the heavy losses, and the realization that their own continued personal well-being depended on keeping that promise.”

     The Soviet battle plan was a simple one: frighten them into submission. They believed that there wasn’t going to be any combat, all they were going to have to do was make a loud enough noise and the  Finns would surrender. Their plan was to advance up a small land division in the center of Finland, known as the Karelian Isthmus, and capture the Finnish military headquarters, which they estimated would be accomplished by Stalin’s birthday in December (less than a month). They didn’t take into consideration that the Finns were fighting for more than their reputation, they were fighting for their independence again, and they refuse to give it up.

     During the recounts of the first wave of Soviet advancements, the narrator is joined by eye witness testimonies and first-hand experiences of soldiers that participated in the skirmishes, both Russian and Finnish.  The first Soviet advance caught the Finns off of their guard. They had never seen a tank headed invasion before, now, all of the sudden, there was a wall of tanks, heading straight for them. They were driven back and had to regroup, and reevaluate their strategy. It would be about this time that the soldiers on the front line would receive communication from the Finnish Military headquarters informing them that a very new and powerful anti-tank weapon would be delivered to them, which, unlike ammunition, there was no shortage of, the Molatov Cocktail. It was with this simple weapon that the Finns would wipe out 7 full battalions of Soviet soldiers, suffering minimal losses. When the Peace Treaty was finally signed in 1940 the Soviets had lost approximately one million soldiers, according to Finnish estimates, and over 400,000 Karelian Finns lost their home.

     The Soviet government was so ashamed of their losses at the hand of the Finnish military, they denied the death count and tried to cover up the miserable loss with propaganda. The Finnish were left with mountains of frozen Soviet corpses, that they could not return home, and would not honor with proper burials. They were buried in mass graves, which are located along the Karelian Isthmus. 

    In closing, I would recommend this film highly because of its deep and intimate detail of the Winter war, and because of the lengths to which the writers have gone to make the movie more informative. If you like war histories, and route for the under-dog, you will love this movie.

Winter War of Finland and Russia. PBS. YouTube,. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i53O0yefdg&feature=share>.

“Fire and Ice: People and Places.” WFYI Indianapolis. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. <http://www.wfyi.org/fireandice/people_places/role_women.htm>.

Detailed information about the PBS movie “Fire and Ice, the Winter War of Finland and Russia”

“The Winter War – Soviet Union Finland The Winter War During World War II – Russian Winter War.” Military History – Warfare through the Ages – Battles and Conflicts – Weapons of War – Military Leaders in History. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. <http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/navalbattles1900today/p/winterwar.htm>.

Military history, details of the Winter War between Finland and The Soviet Union

The National Museum of Finland presents Finnish life from prehistoric times to the present.

The permanent exhibition is divided into six departments. The Treasure Troves present the museum’s collections of coins, medals, orders, decorations, silver and weapons. The Prehistory of Finland is Finland’s largest archaeological exhibition. The Realm tells of the history of Finnish culture and society from the Middle Ages until the beginning of the 20th century. A Land and Its People presents rural life in Finland before industrialisation.

The interactive VINTTI Workshop for the whole family is open Tue – Sun from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

http://www.nba.fi/en/mmf

Paikkari Cottage, Sammatti

Cottage of Elias Lönnrot, Finnish philologist who compiled the sacred texts of Kalevala.

The collector of folklore and the compiler of the Kalevala, Elias Lönnrot(1802-1884) was born in Paikkari Cottage which was built around 1800 by his father, a tailor. The Lönnrot family lived in the cottage until 1875. Under the Finnish senate a decision was made to protect the cottage as a relic of the young Elias Lönnrot’s life.

The cottage includes a living-room which is the oldest part of the house and a porch and a chamber which were built slightly later. Elias Lönnrot’s cradle and kantele (traditional finnish folkinstrument) are displayed in the living-room. Items he used, such as an inkstand, a shelf for manuscripts and a bookshelf are also displayed.

After renovation Paikkari Cottage was opened to public at the turn of the 20^th century. It became a state museum in 1928.

The Maritime Museum of Finland

The Maritime Museum of Finland is a national maritime museum operating under the National Board of Antiquities whose role is to preserve and interpret the history of Finnish seafaring. The Maritime Museum collects and preserves objects, photographs, archival material and literature pertaining to seafaring and boating.Mercantile marine and the history of the Maritime Administration of Finland are among the special interests of the museum.
The Maritime Museum of Finland opened at the Maritime Centre Vellamo in Kotka on the 11th of July 2008. Besides the Maritime Museum of Finland other attractions at the Maritime Centre Vellamo are the Museum of Kymenlaakso, the Information Centre Vellamo, restaurant Laakonki and the Museum Shop Plootu.
In its main exhibition “North Star, Southern Cross” the Maritime Museum of Finland portraits the history of seafaring in Finland through different key themes. Maritime trade, voyagers, ships, travelling by sea and navigation are the main themes of the exhibition. Winter navigation is also one of the central elements of the exhibition.
Web page of the Maritime Centre Vellamo in english

The Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art –

Beginning from 1960, the museum is indeed one of Helsinki’s most peculiar but impressive attractions of the entire city. It has become over the years quite popular due to its unconventional conception of art. Whether it’s the minimalistic style that you like or you’re more into Expressionism, the Kiasma Museum is the ideal place to come and have a look at. The unusual vision towards everything that’s new has made the place a favorite tourist attraction. Admire the marvelous galleries, walk around the museum and esteem the architecture of the building as well, and find out more about the art that is embedded onto the city of Helsinki.

I was first introduced to Daniel Lioneye while watching Bam Magera’s show, in which King of Rock and Roll is the background song during the intro. I investigated it from there and also found that they had added music to the Dudesons movie as well!.

There is some rumor that the Daniel Lioneye boys are coming back for a third album!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gba0VaIiRGA

May I call you sometime?

Voinko soittaa sinulle joskus?

Mind you, this one is a GOOGLE translation., If you can suggest of a better way to say this one, please respond to this post! I would love that!

Is that your girlfriend?-Onko tuo tyttöystäväsi?

Beautifully situated on two islands between Lake Haapavesi and Lake Pihlajavesi, Savonlinna is an attractive town with an imposing medieval castle and a lively opera festival every July.

Savonlinna castle is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Scandinavia. Founded in 1475, it was occupied by the Russians from 1743 to the first half of the 20th century. Today, the castle hosts two museums that outline its history and display its orthodox treasures. Three historic ships, the Savonlinna, the Salama and the Mikko are moored alongside the museum – each housing exhibitions. Take a trip out to see Rauhalinna Villa, a romantic wooden-latticed lakeside villa built in 1900 by an officer in the Tsar’s army for his wife. The villa lies in a beautiful setting 16 kilometres north of the town and is now an excellent restaurant and hotel. Take a boat to the villa from Savonlinna harbour. Savonlinna is a great base from which to enjoy some spectacular cruises. Boats leave daily to cruise around the castle, to the Rauhalinna villa and around the archipelago. Alternatively, hire a bicycle and tour the quiet country lanes and lakes around the town.

For the month of July, Savonlinna castle is the setting for the most renowned and popular festival in Finland – the Opera Festival. Held in the courtyard of the castle, it is a four-week festival of high-class opera attracting top international performers and is well worth an attendance. Head for the lively kauppatori (market) for some excellent Finnish handicrafts and enjoy a meal in one of the many restaurants around it.

The above article is property of ALLtravelFinland.com

http://www.alltravelfinland.com/Finland/Destination_Guides/Cities/Savonlinna.htm

I know, I know- it’s not a folk metal band, but the band HIM arguably the most popular Finnish band of the time (and a band that I really appreciate!).

HIM is a Finnish rock band from Helsinki that began about 1991 with original line up of vocalist Ville Valo (who never really wanted to be a front man, he wanted to play drums), guitarist Mikko “Linde” Lindström, and bassist Mikko “Migé” Paananen. HIM’s current lineup consists of Valo, Linde, Migé, Janne “Emerson Burton” Puurtinen on keyboards and Mika Karppinen on drums. They have released seven full length albums to date, the latest, Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, released on February 8, 2010. On September 5, 2006, HIM’s fifth studio album Dark Light was certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), making HIM the first Finnish band to have a gold album in the .U.S.  HIM had five of their studio albums certified platinum in Finland with the album Razorblade Romance earning the band a double platinum in Finland and platinum in Germany. HIM’s front man, Ville Valo is considered a national treasure by the Finnish Government!

There is a rumor going ’round that the guys are working on a new album as we speak. I can imagine so, considering how disappointed some of the band members seemed to be with the last record release.

Him-Join Me in Death

oulutourism.fi

All images thanks to: Oulutourism.fi

oulutourism.fi

Founded by Carl IX in 1605, Oulu is a small city on the mouth of the Oulu river. A now well established trading center, the Oulu River Delta is a popular salmon trade hub. The city is small in comparison to Helsinki and only has approx. 141, 000 residents. The city is said to balance the Northern aspects of Finland (nature and culture) with modern day commerce and high tech capacity.

I really like it!

Pidan Siita todella!!