Movie Review: Sisu

Sisu (2023) 

Directed by Jalmair Helander 

Written by Jalmari Helander 

Starring Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie, Jack Doolan 

Release Date April 28th, 2023 

Published April 24th, 2023 

Sisu is a Finnish word that, essentially, means extraordinary determination in the face of extreme adversity. That is a strong descriptor for the main character of the movie, Sisu, a man referred to as The Immortal for his uncanny ability to survive any kind of attack. Indeed, the former Finnish commando, Aatami Korpi, played by Jorma Tommila, does appear to be immortal. The things that Korpi survives in Sisu threaten to turn the movie into a Monty Python-esque parody of what the human body is capable of surviving. 

That the film doesn't descend into parody likely comes from how satisfying it is to watch a man brutally destroy Nazis, seemingly the last group of people we collectively enjoy watching die horribly. Rarely will you hear someone try and say, can't we just let the Nazis be, and that's the way it should be, no quarter for Nazis. Depicting Nazis being brutally decimated should not only be protected, it should celebrated and shown to actual Nazis as a warning of what we collectively will do if they think about trying to come back. 

But I digress. Sisu is told over several chapters. Chapter 1 introduces Korpi as a man mourning the death of his wife and setting out into the world to seek his fortune. Chapter 2 quickly follows and shows Korpi striking it rich, finding a rich vein of gold that should set him up for life and beyond. But, that's only if he survives to get the gold to the Finnish capital where he can exchange it for his life changing fortune. This task is rendered impossible when Korpi is accosted by Nazis who are fleeing in the dying days of World War 2. 

It's 1944 and Finland has been convinced to come over to the side of the allies and banish the already fleeing Nazi army. Running away with their tale between their legs, the Nazis can't help but try to start something with an old man just trying to reach the next outpost. Korpi doesn't want trouble but the Nazis sure do and when they attack, they find out that the old man they believe they can bully and rob on their way of town is not the man to mess with. Indeed, Korpi brutally murders his attackers but in doing so, he catches the attention of a fleeing German convoy, one equally eager for a reason to fight. 

The convoy turns back to attack Korpi and a brutal and deadly game of cat and mouse ensues with Korpi somehow surviving multiple bullet wounds, losing his horse to a mine in a stomach-churning scene of violence, and a near drowning. He will survive even more than that as Sisu plays out its story but that's for you to discover when you Sisu. Korpi also gives as good as he gets as he inflicts deathly wounds on Nazis using any manner of bloody, bloody, violence. As I said earlier, it's incredibly satisfying seeing Nazis on the receiving end of this kind of brutality.

It certainly doesn't make up for the real life crimes of Nazis but since we are not currently murdering Nazis, there is a reasonable satisfaction in seeing figurative Nazis get slaughtered. If you're mad that I am saying this about NAZIs, you might want to have a long talk with yourself or maybe a therapist and consider why someone talking about the brutal, bloody, eviscerating of Nazis bothers you. Most people don't deserve this but Nazis do. Being a Nazi is not an ideology, it's not a debate, it's just wrong and should be met with that in mind. 

Find my complete review at Geeks.Media.