The Winter War movie became a hit with the audience. However, it did not save from financial loss.
Talvisoda, realized with a million budget, became a success with viewers. National-Filmi Oy. / Over
Lines for handshakes, cheese plates and war memories are an inseparable part of Finnish Independence Day celebrations.
At least the last of these can be started in advance. Namely, Yle presents Antti Tuurin based on a novel Winter War(1989) on TV today.
Pekka Parikan the film directed by was released on November 30, 1989, the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Winter War.
The film project was viewed with suspicion, because Rauni Mollbergin Unknown Soldier had appeared just moments before.
The film’s budget was also somewhat massive. Elonet– website’s database reveals that the originally planned 13 million marks dwindled quickly, as an extended five-part television series was also released from the theatrical version.
The final production costs were FIM 19 million, which in today’s money is equivalent to almost six million euros. Among other things, the Finnish Film Foundation came to the project with 3.7 million marks.
Vesa Vierikko, who played Vänrikki Jussi Kantola, was awarded the State Film Artist Award for his role. National-Filmi Oy. / Over
Worries about the interest of yet another war film turned out to be unfounded: Talvisota gathered almost 630,000 viewers and became the second most watched Finnish film of the entire decade.
The million budget, on the other hand, proved to be fatal. Talvisota left its production company at a loss. National-Filmi managed to release only two films before its closure in 1990.
Talvisota today on TV2 at 21:00 & Arena. See all TV programs and broadcast times in Telku’s TV guide.