The Headquarters (film)

The Headquarters (Finnish: Päämaja) is a 1970 Finnish historical war drama film written and directed by Matti Kassila.^[1] Based on the 1966 Finnish play Päämajassa by Ilmari Turja, the film describes the mood and atmosphere of the Finnish army headquarters led by Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim in Mikkeli in the summer of 1944 during the breakthrough of the Karelian Isthmus.^[2][3]

The Headquarters
Original Finnish film poster
Finnish	Päämaja
Directed by	Matti Kassila
Written by	Matti Kassila Risto Juhani
Based on	Päämajassa by Ilmari Turja
Produced by	Risto Orko Pentti Helanne
Starring	Joel Rinne Jussi Jurkka Tamara Lund
Cinematography	Esko Nevalainen
Edited by	Pentti Ojala
Music by	Jaakko Salo
Production companies	Filmi-Jatta Suomi-Filmi
Release date	6 November 1970 (1970-11-06)
Running time	88 min
Country	Finland
Language	Finnish
Budget	FIM 442,500[1]

Marshal Mannerheim is played by Joel Rinne in his last film role. Differences of opinion regarding the role of Mannerheim caused dispute between Kassila and Rinne during the filming and led to polemics in the press after the premiere.^[4] The film's second main character, lieutenant general A. F. Airo, is played by Jussi Jurkka, who won the Jussi Award for Best Actor for his performance.^[1][5]

Plot

In the summer of 1944, in the Mikkeli headquarters of the Finnish Defence Forces, in the moments of the resolution of the Continuation War, General Airo gives the attack order without asking the commander-in-chief, Marshal Mannerheim, as the major attack on the Karelian Isthmus approaches. When the war turns into defeat, dissension in the staff is caused not only by nervous pressure, but also by an anonymously published newspaper article inciting a defeatist mentality and a list of ministers drawn up by the Germans in case of Finland's withdrawal from the war.

Cast

• Joel Rinne as Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim
• Jussi Jurkka as General A. F. Airo
• Tamara Lund as Mrs. Markovilla
• Kapo Manto [fi] as Colonel J. K. Markovilla
• Matti Pihlaja [fi] as reserve lieutenant and editor-in-chief
• Martti Pennanen as chief of general staff
• Jarmo Alonen [fi] as Captain Hinder
• Leif Wager as colonel and military attaché of Stockholm
• Nisse Rainne [fi] as colonel in the operation unit
• Bjarne Commondt [fi] as Lieutenant Colonel Paul Hinder
• Veijo Pasanen as an undisciplined soldier

See also

• List of Finnish films of the 1970s
• Continuation War
• Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim