The Winter War (1989): cast, story & where to watch
1989 · Film · ★ 7.1
Released in 1989, The Winter War is a drama and war film directed by Pekka Parikka, running about 189 minutes. “They held back the Russian Juggernaut in a frozen Hell!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Russia attacked Finland in late November 1939. This film tells the story of a Finnish platoon of reservists from the municipality of Kauhava in the province of Pohjanmaa/Ostrobothnia who leave their homes and go to war. The film focuses on the farmer brothers Martti and Paavo Hakala.
Who’s in it. The Winter War stars Taneli Mäkelä as Martti Hakala, Vesa Vierikko as Jussi Kantola, Timo Torikka as Pentti Saari and Heikki Paavilainen as Vilho Erkkilä, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.1/10, The Winter War has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In GB you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads and rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Winter War page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Winter War tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Winter War (1989)?
- In GB, The Winter War is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and rent or buy from Apple TV Store and Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Winter War worth watching?
- The Winter War holds an audience score of 7.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and war. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Winter War?
- The Winter War stars Taneli Mäkelä, Vesa Vierikko, Timo Torikka, Heikki Paavilainen and Antti Raivio.
- When was The Winter War released?
- The Winter War was released in 1989, with a runtime of about 189 minutes.