Etusivu » social studies

Subject: social studies

Browse all posts

Published:

Into the Wild

The film tells the story of young Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), who, after graduating from university, abandons his privileged background, donates his money to charity, and sets off on a journey across the United States in search of freedom and the meaning of life. His ultimate destination is the Alaskan wilderness, where he plans to live self-sufficiently, entirely at the mercy of nature. Along the way, he meets many people who influence his worldview.

The film is based on Jon Krakauer’s book of the same name and explores themes such as individual freedom, social criticism, and the significance of nature. Its atmospheric soundtrack, particularly the songs composed by Eddie Vedder, enhances the film’s melancholic tone.

Published:

Daavid – tarinoita kunniasta ja häpeästä

David – Stories of Honor and Shame is a documentary film about the dramatic experiences of Finnish Jews during World War II. It explores the pressures of their dual identity during the Continuation War, when Finland fought as an ally of Germany. The film delves into the stories of Jewish soldiers on the front lines, political negotiations with the Nazis over the deportation of Finnish Jews, and the reasons why Finland became an exception in the history of the Holocaust.

The documentary is built on personal accounts of Finnish Jews and previously unpublished archival material. It highlights individual stories and offers a human perspective on challenging and still-relevant topics, sparking reflection and discussion among viewers.

Atomin paluu elokuvan juliste

Published:

Atomin paluu

Mika Taanila and Jussi Eerola’s documentary Return of the Atom follows the creation process of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant unit, which turned into a massive construction farce, over nearly a decade. The film portrays the municipality of Eurajoki as the focal point of the global nuclear renaissance. Drawing on a variety of voices and situational humor, Return of the Atom depicts life in this nuclear power town of 6,000 residents, giving a platform to both advocates and opponents of nuclear energy. (Source: B-Plan Distribution)

The film won the Jussi Award for Best Music.

Note: No DVD or Blu-ray copies available.

Lentäjien sotaa elokuvan juliste

Published:

Lentäjien sotaa

The War of Pilots is a documentary film about the wartime efforts of Finnish pilots. It began with rudimentary planes derided as “flying looms,” progressed to dogfights in clumsy Fokkers, and reached the celebrated “Pearls of the Sky” Brewsters, which made an impression with their mere sound. The nimble Blenheim bomber, a marvel of the Winter War, aged into a museum piece during the war years. Yet even it, nicknamed “Tin Heikki,” was sent into the Lapland War against German anti-aircraft defenses.

Let’s not forget the mechanics who serviced the planes under tarps in -40°C weather, pumping fuel from barrels through lambskin chamois filters.

Punapanssarit ja poltettu kylä juliste.

Published:

Punapanssarit ja poltettu kylä, Punapanssarit Suomen sodissa ja rauhassa

Two Documentaries About Wartime Finland, available in DVD.

Burned Village – Three Stories of War and Reconciliation:
Burned Village tells the personal stories of Hilja Kuosku and Tyyne Martikainen from Savukoski and Hemmi Seppänen from Suomussalmi, based on their experiences with Soviet partisans during the Winter War and Continuation War in the villages along Finland’s northern eastern border. For decades, these stories were either voluntarily silenced or suppressed by the state. In recent years, these experiences have begun to be documented, shedding light on the trauma people endured during the war. Efforts have also been made to understand why the Soviet Union conducted such brutal partisan operations in Finland.

Red Tanks in Finland’s Wars and Peace:
Red Tanks is a story of the Soviet tanks familiar to Finnish war veterans. These tanks were used against Finnish forces on the frontlines but, through war spoils, significant numbers were also repurposed for Finnish use. The story of Soviet tanks did not end with the peace treaty; their use continued for many years in “peaceful tasks.” In the program, war veterans and postwar tank operators share their experiences from the battlefields and tank training during the postwar period in the Soviet Union.

Rusinoita pullassa elokuvan juliste

Published:

Rusinoita pullassa: Vihreät sisaret sotilaskotityössä vuodesta 1918

The Green Sisters have been serving in military canteens since 1918. Every Finnish conscript and veteran of the last wars appreciates the military canteen, whose over 90-year history is now, for the first time, brought to a wider audience in the form of a video documentary. In the documentary, about ten sisters who served during the Winter and Continuation Wars recall their experiences and anecdotes from their work with military canteens during both wartime and peacetime.

Regarding the wartime years, the documentary sheds light on a rarely discussed topic: women in active war zones. Few people know that the Military Canteen Organization is the oldest continuously operating national defense organization in Finland. Military canteen sisters contribute nearly 200,000 hours of voluntary work annually to support conscripts, bringing warmth and comfort to garrisons, camps, and military exercises.

While comparing wartime and peacetime military canteen work is challenging, the friendly smile of a sister behind the counter and the scent of freshly baked buns and coffee have remained unchanged since the founding of the military canteen.

Published:

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

In a world struck by collapse, young Furiosa is kidnapped from her home, the ‘Green Place of Many Mothers,’ and is at the mercy of a motorcycle gang led by the warlord Dementus. The journey across the desert leads them to a stronghold ruled by Immortan Joe. As these two tyrants battle for dominance, Furiosa must overcome numerous challenges in her search for a way to return home.

Published:

Nousukausi

The story takes a wealthy thirty-something couple from Espoo, Katri and Janne, on an “adventure trip” into the life of the unemployed in the Jakomäki district of Helsinki. Their role-playing takes an unexpected turn, and their relationships, both as a couple and with friends, are tested when they realize they have been deceived.

The film won the following Jussi Awards: Best Screenplay, Best Music, and Film of the Year.

Published:

Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan

A domestic historical adventure film based on Paavo Haavikko’s book of the same name. The story is set in future England, on the brink of a new ice age, fighting against total freezing as all energy sources have been depleted. Desperation spreads, and a young king decides to use his last resort to prevent the loss of power and the spread of anarchy. He declares war on France and sets out to follow in the footsteps of King Edward, who made a similar campaign six hundred years earlier. Initially, the campaign progresses smoothly, and Calais is conquered without much difficulty. Eventually, however, the ice age catches up with the troops, who suffer from the cold and thirst, and even the frozen wine offers no comfort.

The film emphasizes humanity’s recurring historical mistakes and how people fail to learn from history, repeating the same errors over and over again. It portrays the absurdity of human behavior, violence, and the abuse of power, along with the destructive consequences of these actions.

Published:

Viimeiset rotannahat

The main character of the film, the Man in the White Suit, is by no means an ordinary Finn. On the contrary, he is a Marxist-bearded, Bukowski-like drifting romantic, wandering through the streets of Helsinki, in bars, cars, beds, and in a song. After the entire cast of “The Last Rat Skins,” it is even easier to agree with Buñuel’s statement that human life is, in principle, no more valuable than the life of insects.

Director:
Anssi Mänttäri

Starring:
Kauko Laurikainen
Anssi Mänttäri
Sarina Röhr

Anssi Mänttäri’s low-budget films with their intimate content have become classics. In this black comedy set in summer Helsinki, the main character (Mänttäri himself) jumps from one bar and bed to the next. The film contains especially crude black humor.