07-05-2025
'Masterpiece' war film praised as 'infinitely better than anything made in Hollywood' is now free to stream - and has amassed hundreds of rave reviews
A 'masterpiece' war film praised as 'infinitely better than anything made in Hollywood' is now free to stream.
Titled The Winter War, originally Talvisota, the military drama first hit screens back in 1989 and stars Taneli Mäkelä and Timo Torikka, amongst others.
Based on Antti Tuuri's 1984 book, Talvisota, the film goes back to 1939 and delves into when Finland tackled the Soviet army.
The war raged on for 105 more days 'in extreme conditions, through a cold and hostile winter,' according to the synopsis.
Since its release, the film has received raving reviews from fans over the years and is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
The Winter War has an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 88% and many viewers have taken to the site to leave their verdicts.
One penned: 'A relatively less known Finnish master piece about The Winter War 1939-40.
'One of first 'gritty, realistic war movies', if not The First, which had direct or indirect influence to most war movies directed after it.
'No Hollywoodisms, no artificial forced plot, no superheroes, no glorification of war.'
Another gushed: 'Honestly one of the most gripping war films I have ever seen... This movie really makes you feel the emotion. Wow...'
While someone else said: 'Excellent movie, great combat scenes.'
One viewer penned: 'Another outstanding Finnish war movie! They really know how to make them!'
Another added: 'As far as war movies goes, this must be the best ever. Some have complained about the lack of "plot", but that's part of the whole point of the film. It puts the viewer right at the front line during the winter war, and is just tragic, dirty, horrifying and very gripping.
According to the Express, someone else said: 'Why are the Europeans so much better at producing hard hitting, gritty war films than those in Hollywood? I wish I knew.
The Winter War has an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 88% and many viewers have taken to the site to leave their verdicts
'Talvisota is an excellent example of this and is infinitely better than what has been produced in the US.
'If you have seen Saving Private Ryan or Enemy At The Gates and think you have seen the best... you're sadly mistaken.'
Though some weren't as impressed and one described it as an 'average Finnish film'.
The Winter War is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
