---
title: "Sisu"
year: 2022
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/sisu"
fi1m_id: "sisu"
imdb_id: "tt14846026"
tmdb_id: 840326
wikidata_id: "Q111803528"
fi1m_score: 70
critics_score: 72
critics_reviews: 12
published: "2026-09-10"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:06.350292+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Sisu (2022)

Directed by Jalmari Helander · 1h 31m · MPA R · Action, War, Thriller

## Identity

Sisu

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/sisu
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** sisu
- **IMDb ID:** tt14846026
- **TMDB ID:** 840326
- **Wikidata ID:** Q111803528
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14846026/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/840326, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111803528

**Fi1m score: 70** · Critics 72 from 12 reviews

*In a sentence:* An old Finn with a bag of gold declines to die, repeatedly, and the Nazis take it personally

> Jalmari Helander’s revenge film has one idea, an old prospector who will not die and an SS platoon that keeps trying, and runs it for 91 minutes. The set pieces are brutal and inventive; the last half hour is the same set piece again.

## Synopsis

Finnish Lapland, 1944. The German army is pulling out of Finland and burning what it leaves behind. Aatami (Jorma Tommila), an old prospector working a riverbed alone with a dog and a horse, strikes gold and sets off across the scorched country to bank it. On the road he meets a retreating SS platoon under Bruno (Aksel Hennie) and his lieutenant Wolf (Jack Doolan), travelling with a tank and a truck of Finnish women prisoners, among them Aino (Mimosa Willamo). They want the gold. He wants to keep it, and he does not say so, or much else. Jalmari Helander writes and directs, dividing the pursuit that follows into chapters.

## Review

Lapland, 1944. The German army is leaving Finland and burning it on the way out, and an old man is digging for gold in a riverbed with nobody for company but a dog and a horse. A card at the start tells us that sisu is a Finnish word with no English equivalent, something like stubbornness carried past the point where stubbornness makes sense. Jalmari Helander’s film then spends 91 minutes demonstrating the word with a pickaxe. It has one idea, executes it with real skill for about an hour, and then keeps executing it.

Jorma Tommila plays Aatami with a face like a quarry wall and almost no lines. His body is a map of old wounds, and each new one is treated as an inconvenience. When a platoon of retreating SS men, led by Aksel Hennie’s Bruno, stop his horse on a scorched road and take an interest in his saddlebags, Tommila does not act menace. He waits, and the waiting is the performance. We believed he could not be killed some time before the film got round to explaining why.

Kjell Lagerroos shoots the north as a flat, ashen plain under a low sun, smoke on every horizon, the colours narrowed to mud, soot and the occasional flare of blood. Otso Linnalaakso gives the platoon a tank, a truck and a string of burned villages to pass through, all of it rusted and blackened, so the war looks over already and these men simply have not been told. Anna Vilppunen puts Aatami in a coat that seems to have survived several wars on its own. Tuomas Wäinölä and Juri Seppä’s score is twanging guitar and low drone, borrowed from the spaghetti western and not shy about it, and the chapter cards that break the film into sections make the debt plainer still.

The set pieces are the reason to go. There is a minefield, and what Aatami does with it made us laugh out loud and then wince, in that order, about a second apart. There is a hanging that does not go the way hangings go. There is a passage under a lake in which he solves the problem of breathing in a way we did not see coming and will not describe. Helander stages each of these in clean wide shots, so we always know where the mines are and where the men are, and Juho Virolainen holds on the aftermath a beat longer than is comfortable.

Hennie plays Bruno as a man who knows the war is lost and has decided the gold is his pension, which gives the villain a motive the genre usually cannot be bothered with. Jack Doolan’s Wolf is his nastier lieutenant. Mimosa Willamo’s Aino, one of a truckload of Finnish women the platoon is carrying as prisoners, is the film’s bid for stakes beyond the saddlebags. It is a thin part, but Willamo gets one look, late on, that says more about what these women have been through than the script does.

The trouble is that the film has only the one shape. The Germans close in, Aatami should be dead, Aatami is not dead, the Germans are. It is a fine shape. It is the same shape the eighth time as the first, and somewhere in the last half hour the injuries stop registering as injuries and the physics stops bothering to pretend. The digital effects grow larger and less convincing as the stunts grow larger and less plausible, and a speech about the legend of the man does work the pictures had already done better. We were never bored. We had simply stopped being surprised, and surprise is most of what the film has.

Helander’s *Rare Exports* (2010) took a small, silly idea and kept a straight face all the way through, and the straight face is still his best trick. *Sisu* is the same trick at a higher volume. If a quiet Finn killing Nazis in inventive ways for an hour and a half sounds like your evening, it is your evening, and the film will not waste a minute of it. If it does not, nothing here will change your mind. It runs 91 minutes and carries a 15 certificate, and both are the right numbers.

*Fi1m score 70, published 10 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics take Sisu on its own terms and enjoy it there: a Finnish gold miner against a Nazi platoon, told in comic-book chapters with a spaghetti-western spine, and dispatched with escalating, inventive gore. The praise clusters on two things. One is the violence itself, which reviewers repeatedly find imaginative rather than merely plentiful, likened more than once to a live-action cartoon. The other is Jorma Tommila, whose stony, near-silent lead performance is credited with holding the mayhem together. Jalmari Helander’s confidence and pacing draw approval too.

The reservations are consistent but mild: the premise is one note, the killing grows repetitive, and several reviews call it fun that will not linger. The spread is narrow, most landing between good and very good. The clear dissenter is The New York Times, which finds the carnage tame and short on wit, a view almost nobody else shares. IndieWire and Time Out sit in the middle, enjoying the set pieces while noting filler between them.

## Straight answers

**Is Sisu worth watching?**

*Sisu* is worth watching if a near-silent old Finn killing Nazis in inventive ways for 91 minutes sounds like your evening, and we scored it 70. The first hour is brutal, clean and often funny; the last half hour repeats the same set piece with bigger effects and less surprise. If the premise does not appeal, nothing here will change your mind.

**How long is Sisu, and what is it rated?**

*Sisu* runs 1h 31m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is an action and war film.

**Where can I watch Sisu in the US?**

*Sisu* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Sisu, and is it suitable for children?**

*Sisu* carries a UK 15 certificate and is not suitable for children. The violence is constant and graphic, with mines, hangings and close-quarters killing shown at length, and the film holds on the aftermath longer than is comfortable. It is not frightening in the horror sense, but the squeamish will find little relief across its 91 minutes.

**What should I watch after Sisu?**

After *Sisu*, try [*Mad Max: Fury Road*](https://film.one/film/mad-max-fury-road) (2015, Fi1m 88): One long chase, almost no dialogue, and every set piece readable at a glance. Then [*The Good, the Bad and the Ugly*](https://film.one/film/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly) (1966, Fi1m 92): Where the twanging guitar, the gold and the silent man all come from.

### Reviews we read (19)

- **Empire**, Alex Godfrey (85/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as relentlessly entertaining pulpy fun with gnarly, inventive violence that knows exactly what it is. Jorma Tommila's charismatic, granite-faced lead performance as the one-man army is singled out as the standout element that makes the mayhem irresistible. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sisu/)
- **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (4/5): The critic describes it as a hugely entertaining and goofy action epic that is hilariously gruesome and completely preposterous. It singles out the comic-book chapters and spaghetti-western heart for making it absurdly enjoyable popcorn gore. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-d0dvku/sisu/)
- **Variety**, Dennis Harvey (80/100, inferred): Helander’s comeback is an outrageously entertaining Finnish fantasy of WWII payback, a gleefully over-the-top one-joke movie that sustains the joke with esprit. It resembles a live-action Road Runner cartoon with graphic gore, a bad-taste feel-good exercise. [Read](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/sisu-review-1235375854/)
- **Vulture** (80/100, inferred): The critic calls Sisu a deserving cult hit that succeeds through increasingly creative and ambitious ideas for dispatching Nazis, turning a standard killfest into something with emotional depth about survival and sisu itself. It is singled out for its gonzo stylization, visual poetry, and blend of the elemental and ethereal. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-in-sisu-a-finnish-loner-takes-on-the-nazis.html)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Brian Tallerico (70/100, inferred): It works on its own B-movie terms as a robust old-fashioned action movie with comic-book level violence done with craftsmanship. The film gets a bit repetitive and lacks much beyond its gore but has a refreshing lack of pretension. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/tiff-2022-how-to-blow-up-a-pipeline-sisu-blueback)
- **IndieWire**, David Ehrlich (C+): The critic finds the film a fun, gory riff on Fury Road that pits a grizzled Finnish man against Nazis in a one-note premise executed with some killer set pieces but also filler. It is praised for its outrageous violence and Helander's ambition but noted as overextended at times. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/2023/04/sisu-review-1234831480/)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (3/5): The review calls it a fun but throwaway Tarantino-derivative action-thriller whose violent thrills outstrip its surprises and waning stakes. It singles out the inventive grindhouse violence and chapter structure for praise. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/sisu-2023)
- **The New York Times**, Calum Marsh (40/100, inferred): The film is a blandly gratuitous World War II action movie where a seemingly invincible former commando goes on a rampage. It is brisk and bloody but the mayhem lacks wit or imagination, making the Nazi-killing feel pretty tame. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/27/movies/sisu-review.html)
- **Financial Times**, Danny Leigh (★★★☆☆): Gleefully gory movie translates Finnish stoicism into stone-faced comedy as a lone gold miner takes on retreating Nazis. Energy unflagging with inventive carnage, though fleeting moments of breath are memorable. [Read](https://www.ft.com/content/6f82f1f9-3ba9-49c9-a336-b1d49df07498)
- **Screen Daily**: The review calls it a dark and ultra-violent survival chiller with outlandish gory action that makes up for its lack of nuance. It singles out the escalating extreme violence and Western framing in the Lapland setting. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/sisu-toronto-review/5174024.article)
- **Sight and Sound**: The critic finds the film a satisfyingly grisly but surprisingly solemn WW2 action story rooted in Finland’s history. It praises the brisk set pieces, brutal economy and Tommila’s stony gravitas as the protagonist. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/sisu-brutal-pulpy-enjoyably-ludicrous-finnish-war-movie)
- **The Guardian**: Cheerfully entertaining action film follows a granite-faced Finnish gold miner as he kills Nazis in wildly silly and extravagant ways. The film offers super fun entertainment that feels tongue-in-cheek but is unlikely to linger long in the mind. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/24/sisu-review-nazi-killing)
- **The Telegraph**, Tim Robey: Slam-dunks its basic remit of one man versus an entire Nazi platoon with satisfying craft, virtuosic VFX and make-up, and inventive gore. Not spiritually enriching but effective meathead karma. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/sisu-review-this-man-vs-an-entire-platoon-of-nazis/)
- **The Times**, Kevin Maher (★★★☆☆): Outrageously gory splatterfest with verve and blood-drenched efficiency from Helander. The repetition of Nazi mayhem eventually becomes tiresome. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/sisu-review-nazi-b-movie-has-verve-but-becomes-tedious-6k8zzjqkh)
- **Eye for Film**, Jennie Kermode (85/100, inferred): The critic highlights the director's absolute confidence, perfect pacing, and the gruffly charismatic lead performance that makes even the most unlikely action believable, calling it one of the best films of the year so far. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/sisu-2022-film-review-by-jennie-kermode)
- **The Playlist**, Andrew Crump (B+): The critic enjoys the bloody, Looney Tunes-esque gory action and black humor as a Finnish prospector takes revenge on Nazis in Lapland, praising its Spaghetti Western influences and entertaining excess. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/sisu-review-jalmari-helanders-wwii-action-film-makes-history-fun-and-incredibly-gory-20230426/)
- **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (B): The critic calls the film a gleefully bonkers and ridiculous action movie that revels in its absurdity, with Helander delivering over-the-top violence against Nazis in inventive ways. The lead performance grounds the mayhem as an unstoppable force of determination. [Read](https://collider.com/sisu-review-jalmari-helander-tiff-2022/)
- **/Film**, Erin Brady (7.5/10): The critic finds the film delivers exactly the schlocky, over-the-top fun of watching Nazis get blown up in a lean, Midnight Madness-style package at TIFF. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1002180/sisu-review-jalmari-helander-reminds-us-of-the-joys-of-seeing-nazis-get-blown-up-tiff/)
- **The Wrap**: The critic finds the film a polished but shallow action exercise that works best as energetic genre thrills for festival crowds. Cinematography and editing are singled out for keeping the brisk, violent set pieces moving. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/sisu-movie-review-jalmari-helander-wwii-action/)

## Details

- **Director:** Jalmari Helander
- **Director:** Jalmari Helander
- **Writer:** Jalmari Helander
- **Cinematography:** Kjell Lagerroos
- **Editor:** Juho Virolainen
- **Music:** Tuomas Wäinölä, Juri Seppä
- **Production design:** Otso Linnalaakso
- **Costume design:** Anna Vilppunen
- **Producer:** Petri Jokiranta
- **Cast:** Jorma Tommila as Aatami; Aksel Hennie as Bruno; Jack Doolan as Wolf; Mimosa Willamo as Aino; Onni Tommila as Schütze; Tatu Sinisalo as SS Soldier 1; Wilhelm Enckell as SS Soldier 3; Kimi Vilkkula as SS Soldier 4
- **Runtime:** 1h 31m
- **Certificate (MPA):** R
- **Release (the US):** 28 April 2023
- **Genres:** Action, War, Thriller
- **Budget:** $7 million
- **Box office:** $14 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2k4QAItiSA

## Where to watch in the US

- Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-10.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BG, BR, CA, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, ES, FI, FR, GB, HR, HU, IE, IN, IT, JP, MX, NO, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Sitges Film Festival Best Feature-Length Film award 2022: Sitges Film Festival Best Feature-Length Film award (won)

## If you liked this

- *Rare Exports* (2010): Helander’s earlier film: a feral Father Christmas, played entirely straight, in the same snow.
- *Mad Max: Fury Road* (2015), Fi1m 88: One long chase, almost no dialogue, and every set piece readable at a glance. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/mad-max-fury-road.md)
- *The Good, the Bad and the Ugly* (1966), Fi1m 92: Where the twanging guitar, the gold and the silent man all come from. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly.md)
- *Dead Snow* (2009): Norwegian Nazis in the snow, undead this time, dispatched with the same cheerful excess.
- *The Unknown Soldier* (2017): The same Finnish war fought without jokes, for those who want the history straight.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/sisu