Ambush

Set during the World War 2. In the summer of 1941 the Finnish army crosses the border of Russia. A platoon led by Lt. Eero Perkola goes through the wilderness around the Lieksa lake to search for Russian defensive positions. The platoon kills some Russian civilians and rests in a newly conquered village. There Lt. Perkola meets his fiancée Kaarina, who is serving in the Women’s Auxilary Corps (Lotta). Then the platoon continues with the mission, but a message about Kaarina’s possible death reaches Lt. Perkola. The message causes Perkola to become distracted during the mission. Ambush (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.

1999

Olli Saarela

Ilkka Matila, Marko Röhr

Antti Tuuri ja Olli Saarela, Antti Tuurin romaanista

Peter Franzén, Irina Björklund, Kari Heiskanen, Taisto Reimaluoto, Kari Väänänen

Kjell Lagerroos