Sisu is a gripping action thriller film from 2022, crafted by writer and director Jalmari Helander and produced by Petri Jokiranta. The story unfolds during the Lapland War, a conflict between Finland and Nazi Germany towards the conclusion of World War II. This film is a collaborative effort between Finland and the United States, filmed in 2021 near the village of Nuorgam in Utsjoki, Lapland, with a production budget of approximately $6.5 million. Sisu is a successful movie at Box Office.
It follows a legendary Finnish Army commando who has transitioned into a gold prospector, as he fights to protect himself from a ruthless Waffen-SS platoon led by a corrupt officer intent on robbery and murder.
Initially, Helander had planned to direct the science fiction comedy Jerry and Ms. Universe as his next venture after Big Game. However, the COVID-19 pandemic altered his course, leading him to create Sisu instead. Helander drew inspiration from the 1982 film First Blood and the real-life Finnish sniper Simo Häyhä, who valiantly fought against the Red Army.
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions secured the global distribution rights for the film outside the Nordic countries, while Lionsgate obtained the North American distribution rights from Stage 6 Films. Sisu made it’s debut in the Midnight Madness section at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2022. It premiered in Finland on January 27, 2023, and was released in the United States on April 28, 2023, garnering positive reviews from critics.
