Au fin fond de la petite Sibérie

I am surprised by the rather negative reviews for this Finnish movie. Totally undeserved in my opinion. It wasn't that bad at all, on the contrary my wife and I were entertained for the entire duration of the movie. A pleasant to follow plot and nice sceneries. A lot of snow of course which I like to watch on the screen and that's about it as I would never want to live in a place like that. It's just depressing and it shows in the story, where having a good time over there just consists of going to the pub or following some lame dance classes. Good acting as well from actors and actresses that are unknown to me. All very convincing playing their respective characters. I wasn't expecting much considering the low ratings but it turned out to be a decent movie.

I watched this first Finnish Netflix production with attention and was pleasantly surprised afterward. Formally, this film is labeled a comedy, but expect a dark or very black comedy. With a strong sense of introspection and self-mockery, the film, following a meteorite impact in a small northern village, reveals much of the soul of Finnish villagers. In fact, all the characters can be called colorful and are portrayed with gusto. The meteorite impact brings out many negative traits in people. Distrust and selfishness are universal, but the clumsy, pitiable way in which people deal with themselves and their problems and challenges is, on one hand, full of humor, and on the other, so bleak that you'd sooner cry than laugh. It's a small production without much visually spectacular content, but with enthusiastic acting that has led to an internationally enjoyable and memorable result. Definitely above average, with some scenes and characters you won't forget. A recommendation on Netflix, and I hope they'll make more like it.

In a cinematic landscape often choked with formula, this film emerges like a strange flower pushing through frostbitten soil. It's an unusual, one-of-a-kind creation-bizarre, yes, but never grotesque; its oddness is clean, almost naïve, as if it wandered in from a dream that doesn't quite know it's a nightmare.

Firmly rooted in the cold, misty terrain of Scandinavian storytelling, the film embraces the region's dark clichés-stoic silences, emotional undercurrents thicker than snowdrifts, and bleakly beautiful landscapes-only to twist them ever so gently. There's a quiet humour humming underneath the melancholy, like a candle flickering in a wintry cabin.

Despite its eerie tone and occasionally unsettling moments, the film is undeniably likeable. It doesn't try to shock, but rather to charm you into its strange rhythm. A little offbeat, a little uncanny, but deeply sincere-it's a rare gem for those willing to step off the well-lit path and into the soft, snow-laced shadows. Recommended.

Genuinely a decent film with superb acting, the mix-of-emotions was on full-display and that's why I think it was good, and interesting to see the character motives unfold into the movie, giving them a progressive and nuanced perspective that would be carried out into the film.

Firstly, you have the protective father, ish. Trying to find the source of alien activity when the asteroid hits, which made some sense but in the grand scheme of things it wasn't the smartest idea, especially when alot worse could've happened to him. But he's protective, a searcher and investigator, then he becomes brutally honest to his wife about not being able to produce a baby. It was slightly rushed out here, but it did take my fancy as the arc gradually built-up the tension, I just wish their was more subtly to it, and more feelings towards the situation, as that would of tied their arcs perfectly.

I enjoyed the sets, the props, and the camera work, which was mostly good, even if the style did need changing, as it wasn't really panned to make a perspective feel better, more powerful or meaningful, but again the effects and the camera work offers some groundbreaking spectacle on big-proportions.

And the third act, whilst having alot going on and it feeling half-baked, Genuinely didn't let go of the scares, the tension and the drama. And the acting is superb here, giving more then one narrative on their situation. A more layered take, which is what I enjoyed. And the gun and the weaponry made it seem dangerous and powerful and offered a dark looming threat, especially when they are theft dealers, or trying to capture something from the meteor rock. Which made it Entertaining.

I'd rate this film a 6 because it wasn't that bad on the whole, and it did offer some interesting perspectives along-the-way. Enjoyable.

I had indeed never heard about the 2025 Finnish movie "Pikku-Siperia" (aka "Little Siberia") prior to stumbling upon it by random luck. And with it being a movie that I hadn't already seen, of course I opted to give director Dome Karukoski's 2025 movie a fair chance.

The movie had promise, I will say that much. But writers Dome Karukoski, Minna Panjanen and Antti Tuomainen ultimately took the movie down a somewhat bland and monotonous road. It was a shame, because there was potential for much more to be enjoyed and experienced in the narrative. There just simply wasn't enough interesting things happening throughout the course of the movie, and that made for a rather prolonged and somewhat dull viewing experience.

Given my limited exposure to Finnish cinema, then I wasn't familiar with the majority of the cast ensemble. There was a single familiar face on the screen, and that was actor Rune Temte. The acting performances in the movie were good.

Visually, then the movie is not one that is particularly relying on special effects in order to tell its tale.

Watchable, sure, but hardly a noteworthy, mentionable or outstanding viewing experience. And it is definitely not a movie that I will return to watch a second time.

My rating of "Pikku-Siperia" lands on a four out of ten stars.