The Missile’ ( First known title: ‘Ohjus’) is ai 2024 Finnish-Estonian feature film directed by Miia Tervo. The action of the film takes place in 1984 and centers on Niina Kuittinen, an abused single mother employed by a provincial newspaper, who gets embroiled in the course of her work in the investigation of a missile that falls out of the sky and causes disturbances in a remote village in the northern region.
Synopsis
Niina Kuittinen is a character played by Oona Airola who is a single parent with two kids in Lapland, Finland. She lands on the job of an archival assistant at one of the newspapers in the town. Her life goes through drastic transformation after a Soviet missile lands next to her village bringing reporters and Kai Repola, a fighter pilot portrayed by Pyry Kähkönen, to her territory. Niina’s struggles from her depression worsen as she starts the investigation. She even has to deal with the return of her abusive partner as well and amidst it all she is looking for peace.
Awards & Wins
As of now, specific awards and nominations for “The Missile” have not been detailed in the available sources.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Miia Tervo
- Writer: Miia Tervo
- Cast:
- Oona Airola as Niina Kuittinen
- Pyry Kähkönen as Kai Repola
- Hannu-Pekka Björkman as Esko
- Tommi Korpela as Pertti Keinänen
- Jarkko Niemi as Illu
- Emma Kilpimaa as Kaisa
- Sakari Kuosmanen as Reino, Niina’s grandfather
- Milka Ahlroth as Hanski
- Kai Lehtinen as Pekka
- Turkka Mastomäki as Pasi
- Kari Väänänen as Uutis-Seppo
- Sanna-Kaisa Palo as Marja-Liisa
- Tiina Tauraite as Mailis Ahmo
- Minea Köngäs as Jonna
- Aatos Höglund as Janne
- Oliver Heikkala as Aarne
- Tommi Eronen as Tapio
- Ona Kamu as Hilkka
- Reetta Aalto as Marke-täti
- Saana Peltola as Raija-täti
- Liisa Penttilä as Munkkimyyjä
- Heini Wesslin as Aune Feodoroff
- Pieti Niemenmaa as Aune’s son
- Mari-Liis Lill as Isabelle
- Mikko Penttilä as Aidanrakentaja
- Tatu Mönttinen as Air Force soldier
- Elias Kvist as Air Force soldier
- Teemu Tolppi as Air Force soldier
- Lauri Pihlaja as Air Force soldier
- Seppo Salminen as Reporter in helicopter
- Jan Gebruk as Bar visitor (uncredited)
IMDb Ratings
“The Missile” holds an IMDb rating of 6.7 out of 10, based on 701 user ratings.
Personal Insights
“The Missile” perfectly combines political satire, drama and self empowerment. Centered on Finnish territory incursion by a Soviet missile mistakenly launched in 1984, the film further explores the notions of boundaries, national identity and strength. Oona Airola plays the role of Niina and adds strong appeal to the character of a woman who goes through sociological as well as psychological changes. Director Winter brings to life 80’s Lapland and fully envelops viewers with it’s worm atmosphere.
Cultural Significance
This film “The Missile” is set during the time of the Cold War and it elaborates on how Finland had to escape being the puppet of the superpowers of that time. Among various events that the movie covers, one particular situation distinctly stands out and that is, Niina’s situation during that period. It brings forth the interplay between jargons of Politics and History with the state of human being. Further more, this is an illustration of impotent struggle which was played out to affirm the self and the battle, which began, with defining borders.
