Miia Tervo has succeeded in summarizing the relationship between Finland and Russia in the 1980s in one sentence.
Missile
Finland, 2024
Directed by: Miia Tervo
IL rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Missile-film is not afraid to laugh at serious themes. Supervisor Miia Tervo has ensured that the work based on true events will satisfy viewers who love political themes as well as relatable protagonist stories.
The film is a time travel to 1984, when a Soviet missile crashed into Lake Inarijärvi. The theme of the film is also very current considering the current world situation.
Amid a serious theme, the film follows single mother Niina in a difficult life situation. Divorced from a violent man, Niina ends up working as a reporter for a local newspaper after an accident. Soon, a bang is heard in the city, about which no one seems to have any information. The news about this is painfully slow.
Niina sets out to investigate the case with determination, but is belittled. Even those close to her doubt Niina’s abilities, and some urge her to get back together with her violent ex-husband.
Niina’s biggest obstacle is her cautious nature. The main character’s sister calls him an eye worm that you can ride a bike over. Throughout the film, Niina learns to say no. This is frustrating to watch, but at the same time, many will surely relate to the struggle with themselves.
However, the viewer hardly has time to feel sympathy for Niina, because the clumsy character also arouses sympathy. This happens, for example, in the scene where Niina holds the radio covered in her father’s excrement in front of the soldier.
One theme emerges from Niina’s story above all others: the position of women in society. Niina lives in a world that belittles women and experiences sexual harassment. Things that many women still experience today.
Acting like that I am Airola recently told Iltalehte that he hoped that viewers would wake up to this topic in particular.
– I would hope that someone would recognize that they are a person who defines others grossly. I think it would be great if someone was found to be abusing their power in relation to others, he said.
The soldiers who have arrived in the city and some of the city’s residents are constantly trying to silence Niina. The reason is the fear of war and nuclear weapons.
The soldiers try to calm the locals by assuring and laughing that the missile is not a Russian attack, and it does not contain a nuclear weapon. Soldiers even laugh at people who say otherwise. One of the most clichéd twists in the work is when the situation turns into panic among the soldiers.
The film reminds us what kind of destruction nuclear weapons can do. However, information on nuclear weapons does not exhaust all viewers. Rather, it awakens even more to how great power the rulers’ playthings have.
The film makes one wonder how easily the Soviet missile was swept under the rug. The film perfectly describes how in the 80’s Russia was still attacked, no matter how hard it hit. Tervo has succeeded in summarizing the topic in one sentence, which is heard from the mouth of a supporting character sitting in a bar in the film.
– Is that Russian ass so sweet that you have to lick it?
However, the film does not get a five-star review. The movie has too many themes and movie genres at the same time. Sometimes the viewer gets confused, but the movie still entertains. Plus points for the ingenious script and Airola’s wonderful acting.
Missile is not just a film that scares with war and Russian insolence. A serious film laughs, teaches and provokes thought. Making such a film is by no means easy. The film is indeed a great masterpiece from Tervo.
Ohjus premieres on Friday, February 2.
If the link doesn’t appear, you can watch the movie trailer from here.