Sisu is a Finnish action film set in the final days of World War II. It follows Aatami Korpi, a solitary prospector whose gold is taken by retreating German troops—and whose response turns their encounter into a deliberately over-the-top survival story. Written and directed by Jalmari Helander, the film runs 91 minutes.
What is Sisu about?
In the final desperate days of World War II, Aatami Korpi is prospecting in northern Finland when he crosses paths with German soldiers withdrawing under a scorched-earth policy. They take his gold, only to discover that the quiet prospector is far more dangerous than they expected. Jorma Tommila plays Korpi; the principal cast also includes Aksel Hennie, Jack Doolan, Mimosa Willamo and Onni Tommila. Sony Pictures’ synopsis credits Helander as writer and director and Petri Jokiranta as producer.
The premise makes the gold the immediate cause of the pursuit, but the character’s history adds another layer. Yle reports that Korpi lost his family and home during the Winter War. Helander described the conflict as being about principle as well as gold: Korpi refuses to let others take from him again. That character detail comes from Yle’s interview, not from a claim that the film depicts a documented real person.
Is Sisu based on a true story?
The sources available for this overview do not establish that Korpi or the film’s plot is based on a specific historical person or event. The film uses a real historical setting—the closing phase of World War II in northern Finland—but its central revenge story should not be presented as a verified account of actual events.
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What kind of film is it?
Sisu is highly stylized, violent action entertainment rather than a grounded depiction of ordinary combat. Yle describes its influences as action films of the 1980s and 1990s and reports Helander’s view that action filmmaking lets him reshape the world and bend physical laws to serve the story. The New Zealand International Film Festival archive characterizes it as a gory action film and a “war/western.”
The Finnish word “sisu” has no direct translation, according to Sony Pictures’ promotional description, which says Korpi embodies it as courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds. Treat that as the distributor’s framing of the character, not as a neutral dictionary definition.
Runtime, language and release details
| Detail | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Origin and year | Finnish production; 2022. Sony Pictures Japan |
| Runtime | 91 minutes. Sony Pictures Japan and the NZIFF archive |
| Languages | Sony Pictures Japan lists Finnish and English. NZIFF lists English and Finnish with English subtitles; language and subtitle details depend on the edition. |
| Japanese age classification | R15+ for the Japanese release, according to Sony Pictures Japan; this is not a universal rating. |
| Finnish theatrical opening | 27 January 2023, as reported by Yle. |
| Production budget | €6 million, reported by Yle in its feature published 27 January 2023 and updated 19 March 2024. This is a reported figure, not an audited budget. |
Where can you watch Sisu?
Availability depends on country, date and format. Sony Pictures UK’s title page provides a buy-or-rent route, while the NZIFF archive lists AroVision as a rental provider in the context of its 2023 festival. Neither listing guarantees current access in every region. Check the service for the exact title, format, price and territorial availability before renting or buying.
For disc searches, use the full title and year—Sisu (2022) Blu-ray—and confirm the release’s region, language and subtitle options before purchase.
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