| Reviewed on 2003-10-15 |
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| Rated | PG-13 |
| Received |   [2.5] out of 4 stars |
| Genre | Comedy / Drama / War |
| Website | http://www.sonyclassics.com/thecuckoo |
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| This is an anti-war film from Russian director Alexander Rogozhkin that takes place in Lapland the later part of WW II just days before the Germans surrenders to the Allies. Anni (Anni-Kristina Juuso), a peasant living alone on a remote farm comes to the rescue of an injured Russian officer Ivan (Victor Bychkov), who is due to be executed by his comrades for anti-Soviet sentiments. Another seeking refuge is a Finnish soldier who was condemned to die by his own men for his pacifist views and attempted desertion. None of the three speaks or understands each other's languages. The language barrier has both comic and tragic results. An interesting offering that is better than most Russian films. The cinematographer Andrei Zhegalov shows the vast beauty of the Arctic Circle and is also able to capture the human element in the faces of the actors. This film has Russian, Finnish and Sami languages with English subtitles. |
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