Kinotar presents
LITTLE SISTER
Directed by TARU MÄKELÄ
THE WINTER WAR 1940
My condolences.
THE CONTINUATION WAR 1941
I say this to all newcomers. Listen carefully, Mrs. Ruuska.
The staff does not cry in this hospital. Is that clear?
Finnish soldiers do not complain. Neither do we. - I won't cry.
It is our duty to persevere, no matter what.
Nobody will help you when things get really tough.
There's no room for emotions then. - I understand.
Your husband is at the front, right? - No.
My husband is... in a soldier's grave.
I'm sorry.
It's been a while. He died in the Winter War.
Ask for Mirja in the lobby. She'll help you get started.
Where are we?
Tell me where we are.
Can you hear me? Where are we?
Name? - What is this place?
A military hospital in Helsinki.
How did we get here? - By train and car. Name, please?
Arvo Koskinen, soldier. - Where were you wounded?
August 28, outside Vyborg.
Tell me...
Is it night or day? - Night.
Let's wash the pain away.
Did you go to Vyborg? Did you see the tower?
Must you live there, too?
Can't you work at the hospital without moving there?
We work around the clock.
During an air raid, we must be on duty in four minutes.
New patients arrive at night. - Why on earth?
The trains travel by night to avoid the bombings.
Their schedules are classified.
Did you really have to do this? What's an assistant nurse, anyhow?
I didn't have to. I wanted to.
It's far too tough on you, you'll get sick.
On the contrary, I'll get better.
It's just across town, I'm not going that far.
How are you going to get your bags there?
I have a porter.
Hello. - Hello, Eero.
Did Katri drag you into this too? - She did.
Annikki, you promised to put Lauri's clothes away. - I did.
What's this then? - I'm knitting a sweater for the kid.
I can't hide everything. Ouch!
Mom! Katri is giving me a hard time.
She's probably yelling at the wounded in the hospital.
Mind your own kid, Annikki. I'll mind mine. - Sure...
What are you eating, Timo? Show me!
Who gave you permission to take sugar? - Let's go, Eero.
Waitress!
I take it the Germans don't know that dancing is prohibited here.
When are you leaving? - Early tomorrow morning. East.
I should be getting back to the barracks.
Lauri's watch. - You're right.
Sell me the boat. - What?
Lauri's old boat. - Why on earth?
I have money. - It's fall and it's cold.
You're going to the front. What do you need a boat for?
Don't you have anything better to think about?
I'd rather think about the boat out there.
I could think about the summer, the sea and the sun.
You can have it.
That's not what I meant. - But I did.
Sure, that's why I carried your bags today...
I'm not at all interested in you. - Don't be.
I'm only after your property.
The Finnish flag is once again decorating the Vyborg castle.
The western defense is once again in the right hands, Finnish hands.
It stands solid and strong -
symbolizing the strength of the western civilization it defends.
Wait a second...
We've already met, Katri. A long time ago, you and me.
What did you say? - Sit down.
I dreamt about you long before I came here.
No kidding? - Yes.
We were walking by a snowy field, you and me.
It was all deserted, terribly windy and it snowed heavily.
You were wearing a thin black dress and said you were cold.
I gave you my coat.
You laughed and said that it won't help, it's just a dream.
Why do you think it was me? - I saw you.
You have a narrow face, sharp nose and straw-colored hair.
And bony shoulders. - True enough.
And eyes like burning ice, right? - Blue.
I told you that I know you.
You've had the same dream, haven't you? - Don't be silly.
It's possible, we were both in it.
I know you better than you think. - I've gotta go.
Could you bring me a glass of water, please?
He said he had seen you in a dream.
Probably asked the others what you look like -
and you bought it. Blushes like a schoolgirl...
You don't know what people see and how.
I can take that.
Cheerful Karelian boys in the invaded territories.
Finland will soon send them new clothes, shoes and teachers.
Food and doctors, too.
Who's he?
Mr. Kapanen is a journalist from Annikki's office. Our new tenant.
300 marks a month, from the government.
Karelian families will get to farm their own land again.
Finland will send them old farm machines.
And the land...
The soil is holy, thanks to our blood and suffering.
Said Mannerheim. - What a talented boy!
Go play, Timo.
Blood does not make land holy.
Blood leaves ugly stains, no matter what Mannerheim says.
It's a metaphor, Mrs. Berg. A metaphor.
I know what the word means, thank you.
We at the information office were pleased -
that the commander-in-chief used such beautiful words.
I'll tell you about beautiful words.
When Katri's husband was brought in from the front -
somebody had written "do not open" on his coffin.
They were beautiful words.
I know, since I looked. - Mom!
I didn't mean to offend anyone. I'm sorry.
Must you talk like that?
Can't I say anything about Lauri? Should we just forget?
Numb ourselves with work and kill the memories?
Who are you angry at? - I'm not angry at anyone.
I don't care.
I've seen the years of the Czar, the Civil War and all.
I really don't care.
If only I could go back to the day you came home, in love.
Your eyes were so bright and disbelieving -
yet certain. - Please, don't...
We need a couple of nurses.
One upstairs, one downstairs. - You go into the air raid shelter.
Ward 3. And good luck. Stay away from the windows.
The Russians are putting on a real fireworks display.
What are they celebrating with St. Petersburg burning?
How can they tie up a grown man like this?
All I can do is wait for the sky to fall on me.
Shall we sing a hymn?
They used to sing hymns during the Winter War air raids.
I didn't know you were a religious man. Go away, Katri.
At the front, it's pointless to sing or cry during a shelling.
Give me a cigarette. - You don't smoke.
I don't but the boom is so loud. - I don't hear a thing.
I thought that you nurses were like real ladies.
They don't smoke. - It's forbidden.
What will the head nurse say? - Who's gonna tell her?
I don't need your pity. They couldn't break me.
I can still see behind these goddam bandages.
The splinters didn't damage my eyes. And I'll run on these legs again.
Nobody needs to cry over me.
I've never been afraid and never will!
I'm ready!
Sing.
Sing, Nieminen. - What?
Sing! I can't hear you. Sing!
Thank you.
Only seven letters from suitors! There must be more tomorrow.
Liisa has 25 soldiers as pen pals. - 26!
Don't sell me short!
A widower proposed to Mirja but withdrew his proposal -
when he realized how smart she was. Too smart for her own good.
You don't withdraw a proposal. - I just told you he did.
Shut up, stupid. - Stupid? That hurt!
You think you can say anything to me -
because we've seen so much together. - But I can.
Right you are.
Hello, little sister Katri. I hear that's what they call you.
The moon shines over the Karelian wilderness.
The villages are empty. We haven't met the enemy yet.
I'm off for guard duty, and thinking about the summer.
Everyone says that this war will soon be over. Your friend Eero.
Where did you come from? - It's a war secret.
But it was far from home and I've swum in lake Onega.
They're off the train that came in yesterday.
They're exhausted from working four days straight.
Did you receive a letter? - Yes.
What's he writing?
He'll be posted to Helsinki for a while. Maybe. - Who?
Someone I went to school with. He lived next door.
What's his name? - Eero.
Eero? - Eero!
Eero! - I'm not deaf.
What are you doing here? - I came to see you.
I'm in Helsinki for two weeks. It's a secret mission.
Do you have time? - For what?
Do you want money or potatoes? - What do you mean?
For Lauri's boat. Or both? - Neither. You can have the boat.
Why? - You said you wanted to think about the summer and the sea.
It'll do you good. And I don't feel like sailing anymore.
My uncle's harvesting potatoes on Saturday. Bring your sister.
Sit down, Katri. I want you to help me.
This is my notebook. Tell me, if I make a mistake.
Show me your face, life. Let me worship you with my eyes.
I will love your face, be it ugly or pretty.
Feed me with your burning spirit, o life. Come...
Come into me through my mouth and my nostrils.
For who will not follow your powerful flood -
to the sea of eternity -
will rot away like still waters.
Correct. - Dammit! I made it.
Who wrote it? - Kailas. Do you like it?
I'll get better.
I'll soon be on stage again and put tears in women's eyes.
Show me your face, life.
Arvo has recited poetry around the provinces.
In Oulu they even printed his name in the paper.
I've been on radio, too. - Radio! And he was born in a shack.
I have a house.
Arvo has a house! - You lost, Nieminen.
I'll try the one on page three.
Come closer, I don't want them to hear.
A poor heart, can't help it.
I tried to enlist three times but they won't take me.
Not even for target practice, although I begged.
Annikki has this curl on her temple...
I'd love to touch it.
Have you noticed? - No.
Her husband's fighting for a greater Finland at the front -
and I'm doing office work in Helsinki -
admiring her locks from a distance.
They won't let us heat the greenhouse. - Who?
The goddam Food Office! They say there's no wood.
And the entire nation is busy chopping wood!
I'll be damned... Sorry.
I shouldn't swear in front of ladies.
I've become rich and bad-mouthed in one summer.
What do you mean?
We're making funeral wreaths like hell. I'm sorry...
Two milliners from Vyborg are making these wax flowers for me.
We need something pretty, and I can't grow real ones.
There's no smell.
I don't like white flowers. They're for funerals.
Don't push. - Stop whining!
You should be happy to get rid of the bandages.
Come and see Arvo's eyes. - Arvo's eyes?
Bony shoulders and piercing blue eyes. - I can't help it.
You're the one I saw in my dream.
Katri will help me from here. Let's go outside.
Forward, to the side, forward, and stretch.
Come with me, Katri. - What are you talking about?
Come with me. I'll be discharged soon.
I have a big house in the north.
I can still work. - Of course you can.
Come and be my wife.
I don't think so.
Come on, you won't regret it. Or will, every day.
What are you laughing about? - Nothing.
I have a splitting headache and this is like a whorehouse!
Excuse me? - Dammit!
Could you help me a little? My other hand's a bit bad.
What is it?
Come closer, I want to talk to you. - What is it?
Damn you!
Stop it! Leave him alone.
Sing to me, little sister.
What do you want me to sing?
Sing about the angel.
The child is not lost In the great wilderness
The sweetest of angels Is taking him home
The home is not nearing It's so far away
But the sweetest of angels Takes care of the child...
Keep fighting, Olli. You're having visitors tomorrow.
Is my mother coming? - Yes.
Does she know that...
Am I going to die?
The temperature is down. You'll be fine.
Use this in the spring, sparingly.
It's American, can't be bought anywhere these days.
The wind is good. Shall we go for a spin?
I'll put the jetty in here.
The meadow is full of flowers in the summer.
Why did you say that you'd never go sailing again?
Lauri was the best sailor.
Can I see you home? - I'd like to be alone now.
Me too. Want to be alone together?
I'm going back on Thursday. I'll be home in the evenings.
My parents are out of town.
You know my number. Call me, if you feel like it.
Everybody off the street!
The nearest air raid shelter is through the cinema lobby.
Shall I tell you about Grandad's birthday?
The whole family got together right after Midsummer.
I was about your age then.
Early that morning, I went to pick flowers with cousin Ida.
The moist grass was cold against our feet.
There were daisies, meadow buttercups -
and the bluest harebells.
The prettiest flowers...
Aunt Otta tied them into a beautiful garland.
We all gathered under Grandad's window to sing.
The summer mornings were lovely. It never rained.
There was coffee in the silver pot and coffeebread on a big tray.
All the girls were wearing pretty white summer dresses.
Were you ever afraid for Lauri?
No. - Strange...
I didn't have time to fear. It all happened so fast.
We were married six weeks, Lauri was already in the army.
We met three times in a sleazy inn in Vyborg.
We never even had a home of our own.
Then he left for the front and was killed before Christmas.
I didn't even get any letters from him.
Good night.
I have to go to headquarters.
I made some coffee. Mom had stashed away some real coffee.
Katri...
Come again tonight. - I'm still asleep.
Will you marry me? - What?
I mean, let's get engaged first. I'm a decent man.
I wouldn't be doing this if I were not serious about it.
Doing what?
Honest... Don't think I'm not serious about this.
Are you? Am I?
You are.
Hello.
I'm going away.
What did you say?
I'm being transferred to a German field hospital.
Wow! You'll get plenty of chocolate and food and silk stockings.
How can it be? - Nobody else speaks German.
I told them that I speak Russian, too. I could work with prisoners.
What's wrong with Germans? They have great uniforms.
Hanna's Jewish. - What's juice got to do with it?
I'm sure the Germans like juice.
I once signed a paper agreeing to go wherever they send me.
We all did that. - Jewish! Is she Jewish?
Don't worry, it doesn't even show.
No!
Calm down.
Shame on you! We have better uses for morphine.
They took my son. Took him away. - Who did?
The women... took him away.
He's dead.
I'm sorry, madam. We have our orders.
We can't keep the deceased here for the others to see.
He did his duty, followed orders and gave everything.
Isn't that the greatest gift a son can give to his mother? - Damn you!
Go along.
Who was it? - Who?
Who did you take away?
Olli, the boy you sang to.
How small a heart we all possess So vast and bottomless
It hides our greatest dreams Secrets of hatred and love
The wealth of happiness And total of sorrow
Unhappy love And pain so utterly somber
The tiny heart is big enough For joy and happiness
The noblest of thoughts Dark ones, too
Passion and coldness are all there
The tiny heart is big enough For anything that destiny brings
We don't need these sentimental lies.
Take me out of here. - People want to hear this.
Let's dance, then. - No.
Let's dance to the music. - Go back, Arvo.
Do you think I can't dance? - No.
The country's at war and cowards are prohibited from dancing.
We'll dance now.
We must go. - Where?
To the air raid shelter. - Why?
Is anyone home? Go to the shelter! Wake up, Eero.
The building supervisor is very efficient. - Let's not go.
Eero!
Let's not go. - What do you mean?
Let's not go.
What are you thinking about?
Remember what the orange jelly sweets tasted like before the war?
I do. What about it?
You asked what I was thinking about.
I'm thinking about marmalade.
I thought I'd forgotten it for good.
Promise to come back.
You can't win me.
The girl's here.
What are you up to?
Where's the bottle? - There is no bottle.
Come on, Arvo. I can smell the booze.
We're grown men! Can't we drink a little?
This is a hospital. - It's medicine!
Give me the bottle. - It's mine.
We're celebrating Arvo's eyes. - Go to bed.
I feel all dizzy. Haven't had a drink in a while.
Give me the bottle! The head nurse will find out.
Who's gonna tell her?
Oops! I can't get back to bed on my own. I'm hurting.
Why won't you dance with me?
Wait!
Did you hear what I just said? - What?
Why won't you dance with me? - Is it that important?
Fine, I'll dance with you.
Will you? - Right here and now.
Well...
Something has happened to you. The dream is gone.
I no longer remember the dream with the two of us.
You must go back to your room.
Sometimes we just know somebody without actually meeting her.
You just know everything about her the minute you meet her.
We shouldn't fear that. I know you. Get it?
You're broken, like I am.
And you can't mend yourself because the pieces no longer fit.
Just tell me, if you want me to stop.
Stop.
Thanks for the dance. - Thank you.
What was all that noise about?
The patients in ward three broke hospital rules.
What are you doing?
We don't want the boys to get into any trouble, do we? - No.
We must destroy the evidence, then.
What are you reading? - "Great thinkers".
And what have you learnt? - Great thoughts.
What are they good for? - Nothing.
I want to go home.
What are you staring at?
You have no home. It was burnt to the ground in Karelia.
You're right.
I missed you so much that I jumped off the train.
Can I stay here? - We've worked all night.
Did you run away? - I came to you, Katri.
Come!
You told me to come back. - You can't just run off.
I've torn the army's pants. I fell jumping off the train.
I walked miles from God knows where.
Here... - What is it?
I won the ring in a card game. - You didn't?
Have you thought about the consequences -
if you don't go back in time? - What can they do?
You'll go to prison or be shot. - Not me.
Take it. I love you.
We have a boat, we can go away. - Where to?
We don't have to obey orders. We can make choices.
Show me. Put it on your finger.
It looks good on you. We'll go to Sweden.
No foreign planes and the street lights are on.
We can't do that. - Why not? I want to live. So do you.
That's where the future is. - I have to go to work.
Imagine what life would be like without the war.
You must go back. You'll be sent to prison if you're caught.
Open the door, Eero. It's me.
Here's a doctor's certificate -
saying that you hurt your foot while on duty.
You were taken to the hospital and treated there.
You have a legal reason to report late.
And you won't be disciplined. Understand?
Where did you get that? - I stole it.
Take it, it can save you.
We all have our place and duty, even you and me.
My unit's surrounded by the enemy.
They haven't been able to contact them for days.
I first heard about it on the train.
You still have to go back.
What are you going to do? - What am I going to do?
I'm going to become an engineer.
I'm going to build me a house and a jetty.
I'm going to win the Olympics on the gymnastics team.
I'm going to teach my children to sail - if I ever have any.
Eero just called you from the train station.
He's taking a train east. He said hello.
My dearest fiancée Katri! I'll write to you every day.
I will always love you.
The train ride took forever but I slept like a baby.
I suppose this separation, the longing, the war and the lice -
are the price we have to pay for our future.
This is from Hanna to all of us.
I was given a German badge for my services here.
Didn't Katri have a relative who collects junk like this?
I hope he'll accept this. Yours sincerely, Hanna Rotenberg.
Liisa and I will have some juice as soon as the war is over...
Shut up! - The Germans won't mind.
Next, a poem by Sarkia. "To the Handsome Brothers".
This is not addressed to you, then.
It's addressed to the real world out there.
When I was an ugly cripple -
and destiny locked me into a painful cage -
you ignored me, you handsome brothers.
Your eyes were cold and scornful -
when I cried the scorching tears of weakness.
You tied me even tighter with the cold ropes of indifference.
When I finally broke the ties and found my own strength -
who knows, perhaps I owe you a thanks for it.
Bravo!
I'm leaving now. - Good luck.
I'm still looking for a wife.
You'll find someone. Put an ad in the paper.
You'll grow tired of the boys and puppies one day.
Think of me then. - I will.
How do they handle transports?
There are many ways, as you can guess.
Trucks carry goods from the railroads -
as far as the roads have been cleared.
The road crews cannot keep up with the rapidly advancing army.
We have seen all kinds of roads since July.
The next corridor on the right.
Another quiet boy. We asked for his name several times.
No pulse, either. - Did you check his tag?
It was so filthy... - Get the doctor.
This boy doesn't say much.
I'm sorry. - Will you join us for a glass of sherry?
Dad is on leave.
I'm in a bit of a hurry. Excuse me...
What's eating him?
What's wrong? - Eero...
Let's go. Kapanen is not coming, although he promised.
We don't have enough men to carry the coffin.
I'll carry. - No way!
Why not? - Women don't carry coffins.
I will.
There's butter and cheese in the bag -
and then there's apples, Swedish turnips and carrots.
The ham is salted.
The lamb is fresh so you should cook it right away.
There...
My best to your mother and...
What else...?
Thank you.
Luggage inspection! Everybody out.
Quite a load you have here!
How much is butter on the black market?
Are you going to eat it all or sell it?
The apples and the Swedish turnips are legal. Leave them.
We'll take down your names and addresses.
You can give further details at the precinct.
Take it all! Take everything!
Name and address? - Take it all!
Katri!
Not yet, but we'll find her.
She's here!
Where are we?
Where are we? Tell me.
You're home. You've had a high temperature for three weeks.
Will I die? - No.
Why not?
The enemy has been surrounded right here in front of us.
They don't stand a chance but they're still fighting back.
They've been told to surrender repeatedly, but to no avail.
They've been told that they'll be treated fairly -
and won't be shot.
But they haven't listened.
What's wrong? - Nothing.
You're not well yet. - Yes, I am.
Is it true that you applied to a field hospital? - So?
What the hell for? It won't be any different.
Just more blood and rags. - None of your business.
You should rest.
Katri! - Leave me alone.
Are you leaving for the field hospital tomorrow?
I thought it's my turn to go there.
Here or there, there's no end to this work.
You recommended me. Thank you.
Yes, I recommended you -
despite the doctor's certificate we found on Eero Sundell.
The signature was really amateurish.
With this hospital's stamps. Do you know anything about it?
I didn't mention it to anyone. - I just...
You must've had your reasons.
I did. Thank you.
Please help me, doctor.
I can't go anywhere, I should...
Tell me what to do. I'm pregnant.
You've known this for quite some time but ignored it -
hoping that it would go away if you didn't think about it.
Many think the same about grief and exhaustion -
but it doesn't work that way.
You were engaged but never married, right?
People say that a fatherless child is a terrible shame.
The law says that abortion is a terrible crime.
I don't know what to think...
I'm still hoping you won't go to a quack.
Here's the address of a colleague of mine at a small hospital.
It won't take long and nobody will know.
There's a postcard for you. It's from Arvo.
I must pack. I'm leaving tomorrow.
Won't you stay for the concert?
"Like a defenseless crab, I carried my burden. "
"I found my own strength. Perhaps I owe you a thanks. "
Are you looking for a man? - Why do you ask?
Here's Fritz, Frantz and Josef.
Names and addresses on the back.
Paavo is stupid enough to do what the Germans tell him to.
They told us to give the pictures to girls -
and this idiot's doing it. - They gave us sweets.
So? You take the pictures and the sweets and lose the pictures.
Do you know where Koskinen's house is?
It's a shack, not a house. It's out there.
Is that where Arvo Koskinen lives? - Yes.
You'll find Arvo at the station. - The station?
Go to the bar at the station. He's always there.
What do you want? - A cup of ersatz coffee.
We're actually closed. - I see.
Are you waiting for a train? You can wait there.
Do you know Arvo Koskinen? - What about him?
I was told he'd be here. - He's sleeping in there.
I can wake him up. - Please do.
I'm keeping an eye on him. His wife is on her way. - Wife?
Fancy a drink? - No thanks.
Katri!
What's up? - Hello, Arvo.
What do you want?
I came to bring this. You left it behind.
Did you miss me? - No.
Did you miss me? Did you?
Why didn't you put it in the mail?
I don't know.
I don't want it anymore.
Drinking has destroyed my memory.
And they don't care about goddam poetry out here.
It's too late.
Look at me! Nobody can help me now.
Did you come to help me?
You women are always nursing us! "Where does it hurt?" -Listen...
Do you know what it's like when it hurts all the time?
Arvo...
What? ? Goodbye.
Show me your face, life.
Let me worship you with my eyes.
I will always love your face, life, be it ugly or pretty.
Let's go. - I missed you.
Get up!
Let's dance.
He said he had dreamt about me, too. - Arvo?
Arvo. - When?
Right before he left. - Did you believe it?
I don't know.
We can't really know about other people's dreams. - No.
We all have our own dreams.
Where are you going to sail like that? - Nowhere, I guess.
Annikki promised to teach Timo. Perhaps I'll just watch them.
There'll be other summers. Next year and the year after that.
Subtitles: Jaana Wiik / MOVISION
Ripped by: SkyFury