Ambush (1999 film)
| Ambush | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Finnish | Rukajärven tie |
| Directed by | Olli Saarela |
| Screenplay by | Olli Saarela Antti Tuuri |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | Ilkka Matila Jouni Mutanen Marko Röhr |
| Starring | Peter Franzén Irina Björklund Kari Heiskanen Taisto Reimaluoto Kari Väänänen Tommi Eronen |
| Cinematography | Kjell Lagerroos |
| Edited by | Juha Antti-Poika Jukka Nykänen Olli Soinio |
| Music by | Tuomas Kantelinen |
Production company | MRP Matila Röhr Productions Oy |
| Distributed by | Finnkino |
Release date |
|
Running time | 123 minutes |
| Country | Finland |
| Language | Finnish |
| Budget | 12,614,904 mk[1] |
| Box office | US$2.7 million (Finland)[2] |
Ambush (Finnish: Rukajärven tie; lit. 'Road of Rukajärvi') is a 1999 Finnish war film directed by Olli Saarela. 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, Perkola's love.
Rukajärvi (Rugozero) is a municipality (as well as a lake) in Karelia, Russia, and it was held by the Finnish Army during the Continuation War of 1941–44.
Plot summary
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
Reception
The film opened at number one at the Finnish box office, replacing another Finnish film The Tough Ones, with a gross of $394,369 for the week.[3] It went on to gross $2.7 million.[2]
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.[4] The film was also entered into the 21st Moscow International Film Festival.[5]
See also
- Winter War
- The Winter War (film) – a film based on another Antti Tuuri novel about Finland's Winter War
References
- ↑ "Rukajärven tie" [Ambush]. Elonet (in Finnish). National Audiovisual Institute of Finland. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- 1 2 Neiiendam, Jacob (10 December 1999). "Nordic: Top local production companies 1999". Screen International. p. 26.
- ↑ Buddrus, Petra (5 February 1999). "Finnish Box Office Ambushed". Screen International. p. 39.
- ↑ Neiiendam, Jacob (22 February 2000). "Finland's Ambush sweeps local Jussi Awards". Screen. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "21st Moscow International Film Festival (1999)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
External links
- Ambush at IMDb
- Ambush at the TCM Movie Database (archived)
- 1999 films
- 1990s Finnish films
- 1990s Finnish-language films
- 1999 war films
- Continuation War in popular culture
- Films about the Eastern Front (World War II)
- Films based on Finnish novels
- Films based on works by Antti Tuuri
- Films directed by Olli Saarela
- Films scored by Tuomas Kantelinen
- Films set in Russia
- Finnish World War II films
- Finnish film stubs
- World War II film stubs