Tali-Ihantala 1944 (2007)

Directors:

Åke Lindman
Sakari Kirjavainen (co-director)

Writers:

Stefan Forss (written by) and
Benedict Zilliacus (written by)

Release Date:

7 December 2007 (Finland)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Continuation War

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Rauno Ahonen	...	Lieutenant Colonel
Mikkomarkus Ahtiainen
Frank Biermann
Jussi Brech
Mikko Bredenberg	...	Captain Carl-Birger Kvikant
Riko Eklundh	...	Colonel Sven Björkman
Marc Gassot	...	Sergeant Reino Lehväslaiho
Marcus Groth	...	Major General Ruben Lagus
Johan Hallström	...	Second Lieutenant Thorbjörnsson
Kari Hevossaari	...	Lieutenant Puhakka
Aku Hirviniemi
Antti Holma
Jani Honkaselkä
Markku Hyvönen	...	Lance Corporal Ville Väisänen
Janne Hyytiäinen	...	Major of Air-force
Tatu Hämäläinen
Viggo Idman	...	Lieutenant Stig Hästö
Olli Ikonen	...	Major General Einar Vihma
Emil Johnsen
Tapani Kalliomäki	...	Major Antti Suurkari
Janne Kallioniemi	...	Lieutenant Mauri Sartio
Santtu Karvonen
Sampo Kerola
Kari Ketonen	...	Major Eero Leppänen
Sami Kojonen
Jarno Kolehmainen
Riku Korhonen	...	Staff Sergeant Urpo Lempiäinen
Johannes Korpijaakko
Lauri Kortelainen
Teemu Koskinen
Timo Kurvi
Matti Laine
Pete Lattu	...	Radio Operator Kärkkäinen
Antti Launonen
Karo Lauronen
Tommi Liski	...	Lieutenant Osmo Mustakallio
Harri Liuksiala
Janne Lonka
Jesper Malm	...	Lieutenant Orvar Nilsson
Timo Mann
Tatu Mönttinen
Jussi Nikkilä
Kasperi Nordman
Mika Nuojua	...	Radio Operator Haapanen
Lauri Nurkse
Jarkko Nyman
Taisto Oksanen	...	Major Heikki Mikkola
Mikko Paananen
Teemu Palosaari	...	Staff Sergeant Risto Miikki
Jukka-Pekka Pentikäinen	...	Lieutenant Bertil Torstila
Pirkka-Pekka Petelius	...	Lieutenant General Aksel Airo
Samu Pulkkinen
Jukka Puotila	...	Lieutenant General Karl Oesch
Oskar Pöysti
Matti Raita
Juhani Rajalin
Taisto Reimaluoto	...	Major smoking pipe
Tuomas Rinta-Panttila	...	Sergeant Veikko Tiippana
Tarmo Ruubel	...	Major Jouko Hynninen
Joonas Saartamo
Christian Sandström	...	Staff Sergeant Börje Brotell
Aleksi Sariola	...	Second Lieutenant Erkki Teppo
Asko Sarkola	...	Mannerheim
Lutz Schröter
Antti Seppänen
Fabian Silén	...	Lieutenant Lars Holmström
Mikko Silventola
Mitja Siren		(as Mitja Sirén)
Robin Svartström	...	Captain Lars Lazén
Jan-Christian Söderholm	...	Second Lieutenant Lars Forss
Kristian Thulesius
Onni Thulesius	...	Lance Corporal Olof Lagus
Jarkko Tiainen	...	Driver
Antti Timonen	...	Lance Corporal Heino Savukoski
Timo Torikka	...	Colonel Albert Puroma
Timo Tuominen	...	Partisan Group Leader
Janne Vakio
Jose Viitala
Ilkka Villi	...	Corporal Olli Taponen
Mario Vorwerk	...	Pilot 3
Jakob Öhrman
Filip Brenner
Jussi Hakanen
Eino-Heikki Jokelainen
Nikke Karjalainen
Tapio Korpisaari
Fredrik Liukkunen
Tuomas Salla
Kalle Sulalampi
Jussi-Petteri Viljanen
Tomi Etelävuori	...	Lieutenant Harry Berner
Niklas Hutton
Pyry-Pekka Kantonen
Mio Korkman
Markus Kuuskoski
Jani Markkinen
Joel Sjögren
Ilkka Tuomisto
Jevgeni Haukka	...	(voice)
Andrei Tsumak	...	(voice)
Viktor Kukkonen	...	(voice)
Jukka Voutilainen	...	(voice)
Kent Sjöman	...	(voice)
Gustav Wiklund	...	(voice) (as Gustaf Wiklund)
Ivo Uukkivi	...	(voice) (as Ivo Uukivi)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Juha Tetri	...	Captain Olev Õun (uncredited)

Directed by
Åke Lindman
Sakari Kirjavainen		(co-director)

Writing credits
Stefan Forss		(written by) and
Benedict Zilliacus		(written by)

Produced by
Alf Hemming	....	producer
Åke Lindman	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Timo Hietala

Cinematography by
Pauli Sipiläinen

Film Editing by
Juha Antti-Poika
Sakari Kirjavainen

Casting by
Christian Sandström

Costume Design by
Marjatta Nissinen

Makeup Department
Minna Hakala	....	assistant makeup artist
Jani Kylmälä	....	makeup artist
Tarja Lampi	....	makeup artist
Kata Launonen	....	makeup artist
Eija-Leena Lehmuskallio	....	makeup designer
Eija-Leena Lehmuskallio	....	makeup: Santahamina
Pia Mikkonen	....	makeup artist
Sini Muhonen	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Jukka-Pekka Pentikäinen	....	production manager: Germany
Karoliina Veijo	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Katri Kannisto	....	first assistant director
Kerkko Kuha	....	first assistant director
Victoria Oscarsson	....	third assistant director
Juha Pursiainen	....	action director: second unit
Suvi Salokoski	....	first assistant director
Christian Sandström	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Eric Cederberg	....	swing gang
Jussi Heikkinen	....	assistant to property master
Timo Heino	....	swing gang
Tommi Hourula	....	property master
Tatu Huotari	....	stand-by prop
Ari Jokela	....	swing gang: tanks
Risto Karhula	....	set designer
Jouni Liukkonen	....	swing gang
Timo Luukkonen	....	swing gang
Heikki Mattila	....	assistant property master
Sami Niemelä	....	graphic designer
Harri Nieminen	....	swing gang
Harri Poutiainen	....	props: Santahamina
Harri Poutiainen	....	set: Santahamina
Harri Poutiainen	....	stand-by prop
Petri Pystynen	....	graphic designer
Jouni Rantala	....	swing gang
Atte Henteri Rantanen	....	swing gang: tanks
Tuomas Salla	....	assistant to property master
Ville Turtiainen	....	swing gang: tanks
Johannes Turunen	....	swing gang: tanks
Markku Uosukainen	....	props: Santahamina
Juha Virtanen	....	swing gang: tanks
Mats Wägar	....	props assistant
Harri Willberg	....	swing gang: tanks

Sound Department
Johan Hake	....	sound recordist
Johan Hake	....	sound
Olli Huhtanen	....	sound effects editor
Olli Huhtanen	....	sound recordist
Pietari Koskinen	....	dialogue editor
Pietari Koskinen	....	sound effects editor
Pietari Koskinen	....	sound recordist
Heikki Kossi	....	foley artist
Sebastian Lindholm	....	sound assistant
Peter Nordström	....	sound re-recording mixer
Seppo Simonsuuri	....	sound equipment provider
Oskari Viskari	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Ari Arvola	....	special effects coordinator: Santahamina
Timo Halén	....	special effects technician
Jesse Halonen	....	special effects trainee
Riku Hämäläinen	....	special effects assistant
Tuomas Helminen	....	special effects technician
Jakke Huovinen	....	special effects technician
Jani Hynninen	....	special effects technician: Santahamina
Otto Ikäheimonen	....	special effects assistant
Amin Kassam	....	special effects technician
Matti Kihlström	....	special effects technician
Mikael Lysti	....	special effects technician
Konsta Mannerheimo	....	special effects coordinator
Salima Peippo	....	special effects technician
Jari Rinne	....	special effects technician
Joonas Selin	....	special effects trainee
Juuso Selin	....	special effects technician
Raine Toikkanen	....	special effects trainee
Joni Tuokko	....	special effects assistant
Tuomo Uusitalo	....	special effects trainee

Visual Effects by
Eki Halkka	....	digital effects artist (as Erkki Halkka)
Eki Halkka	....	digital effects coordinator (as Erkki Halkka)
Anna Konttinen	....	digital post-production producer
Olli Leppänen	....	visual effects
Antti Peltoranta	....	visual effects
Ville-Matti Vasama	....	visual effects
Martti Ylöstalo	....	digital post-production producer

Stunts
Jukka Jalkanen	....	stunt performer
Vesa Laakso	....	stunt performer
Esa Muittari	....	stunt performer
Mika Pietiläinen	....	stunt performer (as Mika Huisman)
Juha Pursiainen	....	stunt coordinator
Janne Turkki	....	stunt performer
H.-P. Virkki	....	stunt performer (as Harri-Pekka Virkki)

Camera and Electrical Department
Åke Brandhild	....	gaffer
Antti Härkönen	....	first assistant camera: Santahamina
Niklas Kullström	....	lighting assistant
Risto Laasonen	....	first assistant camera
Seppo Louhi	....	cinematographer: "c" camera
Kyösti Niva	....	camera assistant: "c" camera
Kyösti Niva	....	second assistant camera
Toni Pasanen	....	grip
Nea Salminen	....	camera assistant: "b" camera
Nea Salminen	....	first assistant camera: Germany
Miira Sipiläinen	....	still photographer
Ulf Sundwall	....	Steadicam operator
Ulf Sundwall	....	cinematographer: "b" camera
Ulf Sundwall	....	cinematographer: Germany
Kaj Troberg	....	lighting technician (as Kai Troberg)
Anne Vahlsten	....	second assistant camera: Santahamina
Anne Vahlsten	....	video assistant
Juha Virtala	....	lighting technician

Casting Department
Veera Reinhard	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jaana Behm	....	costumer
Janne Karjalainen	....	costumer
Janne Karjalainen	....	costumes: Santahamina
Päivi Koivula	....	costumes: Santahamina
Päivi Koivula	....	wardrobe supervisor
Teo Mähar	....	wardrobe assistant
Susa Moilanen	....	costumer (as Susanna Moilanen)
Niina Palin	....	seamstress
Riitta Peteri	....	costumer
Katri Saukonpää	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Greg Fisher	....	color grader: 2k
Mika Kongas	....	digital film recordist
Kari Manns	....	color grader
Antti Peltoranta	....	on-line editor
Anne Vahlsten	....	assistant editor
Ville-Matti Vasama	....	digital film recordist

Music Department
Tapio Aaltonen	....	musician: percussion
Timo Hietala	....	music arranger
Timo Hietala	....	music producer
Timo Hietala	....	musician: keyboards
Tuomas Kinberg	....	orchestra manager
Teemu Kirjonen	....	deputy orchestra manager
Eero Koskinen	....	music stage manager
Kari Kriikku	....	musician: clarinet
Mika Kupari	....	music stage manager
Jaakko Kuusisto	....	conductor
Topi Lehtipuu	....	musician: vocals
Antti Murto	....	music recordist
Heikki Nikula	....	musician: bass clarinet
Mikko Oinonen	....	music mixer
Pasi Pirinen	....	musician: trumpet
Olli Saraluoto	....	musical notes

Transportation Department
Claus Colling	....	pilot: Germany

Other crew
Tommi Aho	....	unspecified assistant
Markku Alanko	....	director: trailer
Henrik Amberla	....	unspecified assistant
Hannu Anttila	....	unspecified assistant
Juha Anttinen	....	unspecified assistant
Markus Backlund	....	unspecified assistant
John Bohman	....	unspecified assistant
Petja Eklund	....	unspecified assistant
Sampsa Fabritius	....	unspecified assistant
Tuomas Hänninen	....	unspecified assistant
Jukka Hanski	....	unspecified assistant
Juha Harju	....	unspecified assistant
Robert Hedengren	....	unspecified assistant
Jussi Heikkinen	....	assistant to location manager
Henri Heininen	....	unspecified assistant
Harri Hellstén	....	unspecified assistant
Kasperi Hietanen	....	unspecified assistant
Olli Holopainen	....	tank crew
Jukka Hoseus	....	unspecified assistant
Veli Hyypöläinen	....	unspecified assistant
Henri Inkinen	....	unspecified assistant
Santtu Jaakkola	....	unspecified assistant
Jussi Jääskeläinen	....	unspecified assistant
Hannu Jauhiainen	....	unspecified assistant
Rauno Jokela	....	unspecified assistant
Jani Jokinen	....	unspecified assistant
Jaakko Junnila	....	unspecified assistant
Liisa Juntunen	....	marketing manager
Heikki Juutilainen	....	unspecified assistant
Matti Kannisto	....	tank crew
Pasi Kannisto	....	tank crew
Jake Karhu	....	tank crew
Ari Karvinen	....	unspecified assistant
Kalle Kause	....	unspecified assistant
Pentti Keskimäki	....	film transfer
Outi Kinnunen	....	film transfer
Joonas Kivilaakso	....	unspecified assistant
Raimo Koivunen	....	unspecified assistant
Mika Kongas	....	film printing
Mauri Korhonen	....	unspecified assistant
Jouni Kortesato	....	location manager
Pekka Koskelo	....	unspecified assistant
Stefanus Koskinen	....	unspecified assistant
Sami Krause	....	unspecified assistant
Tuomas Kujansuu	....	unspecified assistant
Mira Kukkonen	....	catering supervisor
Niklas Kullström	....	production assistant
Paavo Kuosmanen	....	unspecified assistant
Jussi Kytö	....	quality control
Marko Lahti	....	unspecified assistant
Matti Lankinen	....	unspecified assistant
Sakari Lauriala	....	unspecified assistant
Jussi Lehtisaari	....	unspecified assistant
Janne Leivo	....	unspecified assistant
Tomi Levomäki	....	unspecified assistant
Anton Lindblom	....	unspecified assistant
Annika Lindén	....	production assistant
Franz Lindström	....	unspecified assistant
Tuomas Luttinen	....	unspecified assistant
Toni Maaninka	....	unspecified assistant
Hannele Majaniemi	....	script supervisor
Mikko Mäkelä	....	tank crew
Seppo Mäkelä	....	tank crew
Sami Mäki	....	unspecified assistant
Joonas Makkonen	....	unspecified assistant
Mikael Malinen	....	unspecified assistant
Tatu Masilkin	....	runner
Jaana Matson	....	runner
Heikki Mattila	....	assistant location manager
Tommi Merelin	....	web site designer
Tuomas Moilanen	....	production assistant
Jaakko Myrskyranta	....	unspecified assistant
Jukka Nenonen	....	unspecified assistant
Jorma Numminen	....	tank crew
Ari Ojala	....	tank crew
Tuomas Palola	....	director: teaser trailer
Tuomas Palola	....	editor: teaser trailer
Tuomas Palola	....	editor: trailer
Jukka-Pekka Pentikäinen	....	director: tank crew
Jukka-Pekka Pentikäinen	....	location coordinator
Jukka-Pekka Pentikäinen	....	production specialist
Jaakko Pihlaja	....	tank crew
Veera Reinhard	....	marketing assistant
Veera Reinhard	....	production secretary
Esko Salervo	....	script editor
Tuomas Salla	....	assistant to location manager
Mirja Salmenkivi	....	script supervisor: Santahamina
Veli-Pekka Sippola	....	tank crew
Evi Suppala	....	production assistant
Juha Tetri	....	advisor: uniforms
Paula Turku	....	production financing
Markku Uosukainen	....	advisor: guns
Markku Uosukainen	....	tank supervisor
Veli Uusitupa	....	gun assistant
Veli Uusitupa	....	production assistant
Noora Välikangas	....	catering assistant
Tanja Välikangas	....	catering assistant
Päivikki Välttilä	....	catering assistant
Mariia Viita	....	catering assistant
Sanna Vuorinen	....	production assistant
Sanna Vuorinen	....	production coordinator: Santahamina
Charlotta Weckström	....	production assistant

Thanks
Esa Harjula	....	thanks (as Luutnantti Esa Harjula)
Jussi Hautamäki	....	thanks (as Kenraaliluutnantti res Jussi Hautamäki)
Pertti Hautamäki	....	thanks (as Luutnantti Pertti Hautamäki)
Pasi Järvinen	....	thanks (as Luutnantti Pasi Järvinen)
Jouni Korhonen	....	thanks (as Yliluutnantti Jouni Korhonen)
Petra Koskelo	....	thanks (as Ylikersantti Petra Koskelo)
Caj-Cristian Liukonen	....	thanks (as Majuri Caj-Cristian Liukonen)
Santeri Martikainen	....	thanks (as Yliluutnantti Santeri Martikainen)
Anna-Maija Paananen	....	thanks
Sami Viitaniemi	....	thanks (as Kersantti Sami Viitaniemi)

Production Companies

• Åke Lindman Film-Productions

Distributors

• Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Finland (2007) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (2008) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Finland (2007) (Finland) (all media)

Special Effects

• KFX

Other Companies

• Crystal Sound  music recording
• Digital Film Finland Oy  post-production
• Film Element  trailer
• Meguru Film Sound  sound post-production
• Mokul Film Oy  foley
• North Coast Creative  web design
• Pannuhuone  music production
• Sinfonia Lahti  orchestra
• Soundtrack Studio  music mixing
• Suomen Elokuvasäätiö  funding
• Suomen elokuva-arkisto  archive material
• Transmix  sound equipment

Also Known As:

Mihin vapaat miehet pystyvät (Finland) (working title)
Tali-Ihantala (Finland) (short title)
Vad fria män vörmå (Finland: Swedish title) (working title)
Slaget om Finland (Sweden) [sv]
Tali-Ihantala - Slaget om Finland (Sweden) [sv]
Tali-Ihantala 1944 - Slaget om Finland (Sweden) [sv]

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish | Swedish | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Finland

Company:

Åke Lindman Film-Productions

Trivia:

Director Åke Lindman got seriously ill during the filming. He let editor Sakari Kirjavainen finish the picture.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Mannerheim: Perhaps I should go to bed.

Soundtrack:

Oi kallis Suomenmaa

So, another Finnish war movie

First of all, I have to say that I had huge expectations about the movie. I went to theater to see some mind-blowing action. I was hoping that Åke Lindman had made something spectacular as his last movie. I also believed in his directing talents. Now I sadly have to say that the movie didn't fulfill my expectations.

The movie was a bit bouncing: Going there, doing that, coming back and going again. Different people fought in different places and sometimes it was hard to follow what was happening as a whole. Well this wasn't too disturbing as the movie still was entertaining. Especially all tank-scenes were amazing. The lack of money, which was clearly visible, was maybe the most disruptive thing in the movie. As mentioned in the movie, there were about 250 cannons and mortars, plus bomber planes, targeting the Tali-Ihantala area. But when the "big fight" came, it looked like about 10 guns were bombing the woods with smoke grenades (And I can say this because I have served in mortar company in the Finnish army). I'm sure it looked like that because there were not enough money to make it look realistic. I was also hoping more soldiers running in the woods because hey, it was supposed to be the biggest fight in the northern Europe!

Now the rating of the movie. I was balancing between 6 and 7. I would have wanted to give it 7 points, but as I was thinking it, the movie actually left me disappointed. It wasn't as astonishing as I wanted. It was just another Finnish war movie, and even Tuntematon sotilas from the year 1955 and especially The Winter war from 1989 are much better movies than this one.

So, should you go to watch Tali-Ihantala? a) Finnish movie business needs your money, so YES! b) If you like Finnish war movies, definitely yes. But if you decide to go watch it, don't have too big expectations so you won't be disappointed.

P.S. Not a single mortar was shown during the movie. Why? Glad they mentioned them though ;)