The Cuckoo (2002)

Pretty Good

Admirable film.

Absolutely the worst movie.

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

I do not want to go into details described in other reviews. Yes, this movie is amazing by the fact the main protagonists cannot speak to each other because of totally different languages.But there is one scene that left me stunned: The "Wolf's call" scene, where Kukushka uses very strange and very chilling ritual to call back the dying one from "the otherworld" back to the life. It is absolutely stunning, I had to watch this one particular scene over and over again. It is absolutely stunning introduction to the north European mythology.Great, great movie!

Fascinating film this, in many ways.Slow to start, as the conscientious objector is nailed to a rock as bait following the ending of WW2 hostilities in Scandanavia. The director takes is through a sometimes quite painfully slow process as or young soldier fights a battle with a nail and chain. The scene when the chain gets released is a relief.The scenery, the close-ups, the human facial reactions throughout carry this film well. I can't understand why some friends of mine say they cannot watch subtitled films - here we have no choice - though non verbal communication or body language is clearly universal, even in adversity.My favourite scene: when the young soldier suffers from the Russian guys bullet. He drifts away into unconsciousness and is bought back the Saami woman's traditional trance like spell - the scene cuts to a young boy in white (angel of death) leading our character away, only to be pulled back to the present at the very end.As someone interested in people and communications this film is a classic - ends beautifully and the camera-work throughout is wonderful.Watch it a few times, be sure to catch the humour!

This was a movie of beautiful outdoor photography and most of all brilliant performances by all involved and direction that was sensitive and humorous. The lack of communication literally is funny , but also can be seen in the bigger context of misunderstanding each other in war. The pivotal performance was by the female lead who I had never seen before , but will never forget.Her basic goodness and human needs and common sense anchored the film for the other two characters. Gritty realism and mystical power were brought together seeming without great effort by the screenplay and its cast and director. Definitely worth the time spent reading subtitles RWS

It is rare that a film as simply plotted as The Cuckoo could be so affecting. Subtitled films often lack the subtlety of their original language, but the translation of this film is not only well done, it has its own quirky spin that gives it an extra dimension. The story is easy to grasp and seamlessly portrayed. Except for the very beginning, in which it is not known exactly why Veikko is being chained to his rock (unless you read the description of the film or watch the commentary in the DVD's special features,) the story catches your mind and heart immediately: three unlikely people meet and live together in harmony, despite being unable to understand the native languages each speaks. Though there are some humorous moments and some comic twists, generally, this story is one of accommodation and cooperation. The Finnish soldier, the Russian officer and the Sami woman all manage to make a life for themselves through the hardships inflicted by World War II, and in the end, nothing but the love and friendship shines out from their (sometimes) unwilling and often difficult partnership. The plot is best left to individual discovery by the viewer, rather than recounted here. Suffice it to say that this film will touch you in ways other films of grander scale could not. An excellent and well-played and extraordinarily satisfying story that raises the ultimate question of life on this planet: why can't we just all get along?