Ambush (1999 film)

Ambush
File:AmbushFinland.jpg Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Olli Saarela
Produced by	Ilkka Matila Jouni Mutanen Marko Röhr
Written by	Novel: Antti Tuuri Screenplay: Olli Saarela Antti Tuuri
Starring	Peter Franzén Irina Björklund Kari Heiskanen Taisto Reimaluoto Kari Väänänen, Tommi Eronen
Music by	Tuomas Kantelinen
Cinematography	Kjell Lagerroos
Edited by	Juha Antti-Poika, Jukka Nykänen, Olli Soinio
Distributed by	MRP Matila Röhr Productions Oy
Release dates	22 January 1999 (1999-01-22)
Running time	123 minutes
Country	Finland
Language	Finnish
Budget	US$ 13 million

Ambush (Finnish: Rukajärven tie) is a 1999 Finnish war film directed by Olli Saarela. Literally "Road of Rukajärvi", the film debuted on 22 January 1999 in Finland, after which it was released internationally. The film is based on a book written by Antti Tuuri and its leads are played by Peter Franzén as Lt. Eero Perkola and Irina Björklund as Kaarina Vainikainen, Lt. Perkola's love.

Rukajärvi (Rugozero) is a municipality (as well as a lake) in Karelia, Russia, and it was occupied by the Finnish Army during the Continuation War of 1941-44.

Cast

• Peter Franzén as Lieutenant Eero Perkola
• Irina Björklund as Lotta Kaarina Vainikainen
• Kari Heiskanen as Lance Corporal Jussi Lukkari
• Taisto Reimaluoto as Corporal Unto Saarinen
• Kari Väänänen as Corporal Tauno Snicker
• Tommi Eronen as Private Simo Karppinen
• Pekka Heikkinen as Corporal Evert Rönkkö
• Pekka Huotari as Private Martti Raassina
• Tero Jartti as Private Moilanen
• Rauno Juvonen as Private Hämäläinen

Awards

The film won seven Jussi Awards in 2000 including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Photography, Best Edit, Best Staging, Best Sound Design and Best Score. The film was also entered into the 21st Moscow International Film Festival.

See also

• Winter War
• Talvisota (film) a film of another Antti Tuuri novel about Finland's Winter War

External links

• Ambush at the Internet Movie Database