Sign of the Beast

Sign of the Beast (Finnish: Pedon merkki) is a 1981 Finnish drama film co-written and directed by Jaakko Pakkasvirta.^[1] It is based on the 1946 book A Gloomy Soliloquy (Finnish: Synkkä yksinpuhelu) by Olavi Paavolainen, based on his war diaries written during the Winter War and the Continuation War.^[2] The film was selected as the Finnish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 54th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.^[3]

Sign of the Beast
Original Finnish film poster
Directed by	Jaakko Pakkasvirta
Written by	Jaakko Pakkasvirta Timo Humaloja Arvo Salo
Based on	A Gloomy Soliloquy by Olavi Paavolainen
Produced by	Jaakko Pakkasvirta
Starring	Esko Salminen
Cinematography	Esa Vuorinen
Music by	Henrik Otto Donner
Release date	25 September 1981 (1981-09-25)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	Finland
Language	Finnish

Cast

• Esko Salminen as Kaarlo
• Irina Milan as Karin
• Tom Wentzel as Helmut von Stein
• Hannu Lauri as Olavi
• Vesa-Matti Loiri as Usko
• Jukka-Pekka Palo as Lieutenant Valonen
• Esa Pakarinen Jr. as War Photographer
• Martti Pennanen as General
• Yrjö Parjanne as Captain
• Kalevi Kahra as Seargeant Major

See also

• List of submissions to the 54th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of Finnish submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film