Oma maa (2018)

Oma maa: Directed by Markku Pölönen. With Oona Airola, Konsta Laakso, Helmi Linnosmaa, Antti Virmavirta. Anni, a daughter of a wealthy family and used to secure life, falls in love with Veikko, a war invalid of the Continuation War. Anni leaves her past behind her and starts leading the life of a pioneer, in the wild forests of northern Karelia, in a settlement farm. After a rosy start, the fate crushes Anni’s dreams and her love for Veikko is put to a test.

“This is a lovely story of two people, virtually strangers, forging a new life for themselves in the wilderness. Anni is the headstrong daughter of a prosperous businessman. Veikko had been a mere lumberjack, but is now a wounded veteran of the 1939 Winter War when the Soviet Union invaded Finland. As a veteran, he is entitled to homestead a farm in the woods off in the boondocks and they proceed to do so. It is relentlessly hard work, and Veikkou0026#39;s health is uncertain.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAccording to the writer/director, the filmu0026#39;s title in Finnish translates to u0026quot;Our Own Landu0026quot;. This phrase (like our u0026quot;40 Acres and a Muleu0026quot;) was the promise made to veterans, that they would get land of their own, and many new farms were homesteaded in this period.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe acting is solid, and the lead actress is radiantly convincing as a woman in love.nThis is a solid period piece, well worth seeing.”