Tuntematon sotilas (2018–2019) User Reviews

Very, very good - must watch for fans of WW2-material

[nphilip21 · 9/10 · 6 July 2020]

1941, the finnish army is on the offensive.

A year after fighting a legendary war against the invading russians, the finns take to the offensive as Nazi Germany and the axis powers invade USSR in the largest invasion in the history of the world.

We follow the finnish army pushing into Russia and then follow the same troops as they retreat back towards Finland three years later.

The action is very good, the character developement is very good, the acting is very good.

At times it's moving, grizzly and even slightly absurd.

This is basically Band of Brothers on the russian/finnish front.

Very good.

Watch it!

A Finnish Band of Brothers

[merlin_harps · 10/10 · 3 June 2020]

I don't normally bother writing reviews, as scores speak for themselves, however, this is an exception.

This is a gritty and down to earth realistic look at warfare. No plot armor, no heroes, just people surviving the hells of war as best they can. It gives a unglamorous look into what normal people go through on the front line.

Without going into details, I can without a shadow of doubt say this is up there with BoB and other such series. The cast is phenomenal in every aspect. They feel like real people living in real circumstances.

It's just long enough to give the impact it needs to. Being based of real accounts and giving the material the honor it deserves really shows through the runtime.

From the first scene to the last, it's sneaked it's way into my top 10 of all time series up there with BoB, The Pacific etc. Feels like a Finnish Stalingrad of Iron Cross. If you have 5 hours to live, this isn't a terrible choice of viewing material and really delivers a memorable performance you wont soon forget.

Can't be better!

[thomahal · 10/10 · 2 June 2020]

Forget Hollywood war movies and series.

It doesn't get more realistic than this. Here we follow a Finnish infantry unit in the continuation war, after Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.

Finland wanted to take back the territories they lost during the winter war 1939. The first filming came in the 50s, the next in the 80s and the last film in 2017. This is a mini-series based on the latest film. If you appreciate good realistic war movies, this is one of many good, made by the Finns!

Epic and realstic. Best since Band Of Brothers.

[henrysaeteren · 10/10 · 5 June 2020]

I feel urged to rewiew this mini series due to the fact that an 2 hour 15 minutes version (edited from this mini series) was released in 2018 and that was just a pale version of this masterpiece. If someone have seen that movie - forget it! This is the what you should watch! Here it is no heroes, no glory. Just pure realism who mirrors the life in northern Finland and Sovjet in the 40's, shows the horrors of war, but also the friendship between the soldiers. I'm 58 and have waited all my life for a worthy filming of Väinö Linnas Tuntematon Sotilas (Unknown Soldier) from 1954. That book is said to be the second most read book after the bible. Personal I equals this series with Band Of Brothers in quality and realism.

The Unknown Soldier, a heartbreaking and phenomenal story with beautiful cinematography

[Holt344 · 10/10 · 8 June 2020]

I've never seen the movie, I almost watched it at the cinema. Years later, here I am, watching the mini series so five parts with 50 minutes each. The production itself is huge and phenomenal, the amount of detail if it's small or large they made an authentic World War 2 mini series/movie. One thing stood out the most, the realistic sets which was mostly forests and the way they used the light was the right choice as it wouldn't have been the same with fake light. Every single part of the production screams authentic and they want you to immerse yourself into the war and it feels like you're there with them.

The mini series is similar to Band of Brothers in how great it is, I know nothing can beat that masterpiece but this comes close to being on the same level. This is another section of the war, a very interesting one. We get to follow a couple of soldiers, most are young and we get to experience what they experience, how the events change them. It have been done before, the director and the cast make it a success. But the thing this movie and its story and characters do best is how realistic it is to what war probably was like. They never shine away from the realism, it's there from start to finish and it's a trip that I would like to go back to. Eero Aho as Rokka, the more experienced and older soldier quickly became my favorite. All the characters are perfect and brilliantly acted, but Eero's acting in this mini series is truly superb.

Aku Louhimies directed and cowrote the movie/mini series and he made a visual masterpiece. The musical score fits and it's fantastic. I really recommend this mini series, I didn't think it was going to be this good but it was a masterpiece.

This Mini series > The movie

[peteimm · 10/10 · 17 June 2020]

I went and saw the movie few years back and thought it was good but for example the lines of the characters were cut so much you couldn't feel bond with them at all. This mini series however was perfect of telling a bit more of the characters which gave a more immerse feeling to the story. I only wished they released this series FIRST and not the movie. This would have reached more audiences that way. Anyway I'm super glad they released this since this is one of the best WW2 series released. Highly recommend watching this over the movie on Netflix.

I'm in awe after finishing this one - A true classic!

[idavainionpaa · 10/10 · 29 November 2020]

Through Tuntematon sotilas you really get insights into how these Finnish soldiers experience the war during the 1940s. It begins with a few men leaving their homes off to start fighting and you also see the army men wary of what is going on, when they're told to pack up their bunks and get ready. Get ready for what?

Then follows 4 hours of spectacular scenes, bombing, shooting, air attacks, crossing a river while getting shot at, but not in your typical action film kind of way. No, it's with emotion and caution that you follow this journey, through the lenses of all the brave soldiers.

My grandfather himself fought in this war and I simply just can't believe all the things these people went though, And just to imagine that this is all real, I'm simply at a loss. Can we please show this film to everyone in the world? Let everyone get the same perspectives, Seeing people get killed over a piece of land. Seing your friend get shot just after asking finishing a joke. It's inhumane that this has happened.

Everyone involved, so glad that this film has been made. A classic. Everyone must see it. Glad that Väinö Linnas book can be viewed as a film and series. Yes, the film exists as a 2 hour something film so make sure to watch the longer version and experience the raw Finnish/Sovjet war. No glory just war,

Has it all

[dahlterje · 10/10 · 21 June 2020]

This series is a gem, realistic, exciting, sadnes, hope - and more... Magic schenery and great actors, i hawe been few times in Finnish woods and i swear i could smell them.-thats how good the cinematiography is. And of course ; Hollywood war movies cant really get too this "realistic level" - its culture i think - i guess war isnt a sports-event, and here you cant tell what everyone is going too say ore mimic; ore not say - a finnish thing so on the spot in my opinion.

Horribly realistic

[baz-woxell · 10/10 · 27 January 2021]

This mini series has it all. The brotherhood, the family, blood, sweat and tears. A reality where no character is ever safe. Nail biting scenes, beautifully portrayed. This is a series to be remembered.

Exceptional Series a Must Watch.

[vikingtales · 10/10 · 2 March 2023]

I watch a lot of European movies and tv series, and followed an actor from another Finnish tv series to see what else he had done, and found Tuntematon Sotilas.

And what a treat this mini series is, great production, great acting, some awesome vista's, but some absolute heart breaking moments sadly, but what I found out I never knew...was Finland sided with the Germans in WW2 against the Russians to fight for their homeland, so this is a true story and what a story, it must have been hell living in Europe during those days, and in the UK, we were sort of shielded from the Nazi invasion, but in 2022/23 all the more poignant with Russia invading the Ukraine, which I hope ends soon with Russia realising it's colossal error and ending the war, without any more lives being taken.