Sisu – TIFF 2022
September 8 to September 18, 2022
Content Advisory: Animal cruelty or animal death
A lone prospector tries to protect his stash of gold from a group of Nazis in Sisu. In 1945 Finland, at the tail end of World War II, former soldier Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) strikes it big when he uncovers a large deposit of gold. While on his way to bring the gold back to the city, Korpi crosses paths with a squad of Nazis led by SS Obersturmführer Bruno Helldorf (Aksel Hennie) and his second-in-command Wolf (Jack Doolan). Helldorf decides to take the gold for himself but soon learns that Aatami Korpi is an infamous killing machine who epitomizes the quintessential Finnish concept of “sisu” — a white-knuckled form of courage and unimaginable determination in the face of overwhelming odds.
Sisu, also known as Immortal, is a World War II action film from writer/director Jalmari Helander (Rare Exports, Big Game). The film stars Helander’s frequent collaborator Jorma Tommila as Aatami Korpi, a retired soldier trying to make a living as a prospector. However, when Korpi crosses paths with an SS Death Squad, he is forced back into action to take the Nazis out and free a group of imprisoned women led by Aino (Mimosa Willamo).
There isn’t all that much plot and story-wise to Sisu, other than a “lone one-man army fights off against a squad of Nazis.” Jalmari Helander is very much going for a “Mad Max meet Rambo” aesthetic with Sisu, particularly the latter’s penchant for gory violence. The end result is a satisfying action film that should satisfy the audience’s bloodlust.
Trailer for Sisu – TIFF 2022
