Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Suomi taistelee, Osa 1

Finland Fights Part I. FI 1941. PC: Puolustusvoimat. DP: the Signal Corps cinematographers. ED: Turo Kartto 696 m / 25´26". A silent version. Betacam, alas. Viewed at Orion, Helsinki, 28 Sep 2005. Landscapes, the Polar Circle, winter warriors, burning barns. Animation on Finnish lost territories of the Winter War. Bitter scenes of refugees and their abandoned property. Epic views of hundreds of thousands on the march. Montage of the seasons: winter, spring, summer. The big flag is raised. The Soviet air raids, air defense, ruins of castles, impressive montages. Mannerheim mounts a train, long bicycle marches, mounted soldiers, camouflaged bazookas. Animation on the regaining of the lost territories. The march on the Karelian peninsula. Guns a'blazing, men on the march, a giant bridge in ruins, flamethrower. Animation follows the various attack wedges on the Karelian peninsula from the north to the south, culminating in the regaining of Viipuri. The film impresses visually even without sound.

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