Kukushka (The Cuckoo) (2002)
Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 63
Fresh: 55 | Rotten: 8
A sweet and amusing comedy.
Average Rating: 7.2/10
Critic Reviews: 25
Fresh: 23 | Rotten: 2
A sweet and amusing comedy.
liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 3,299
My Rating
Movie Info
As Finland's withdrawal from World War II draws ever closer, a tentative relationship between an abandoned Finnish soldier, a Lapp woman, and a Russian captain accused of anti-Soviet correspondence offers momentary solace to a trio of lost souls. Dressed in a German uniform and tied to a rock after being branded a pacifist by his fellow soldiers, Finnish sniper Veiko (Ville Haapasalo) attempts to break free before being spotted by Russian soldiers and shot. Peering through the scope on his rifle
Cast
-
Ville Haapasalo
Veiko -
Anni-Kristiina Juuso
Anni -
Viktor Bychkov
Ivan 'Getlost' -
-
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All Critics (68) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (8) | DVD (6)
Writer/director Alexander Rogozhkin has a way of lapsing into cuteness when the story calls for something more challenging, but The Cuckoo eventually finds its own kind of light, ridiculous tone that generally doesn't talk down to the characters.
Top CriticA consistently hilarious collision of cultures and a string of misunderstandings.
A mystical fairy tale by Alexander Rogozhkin as beautiful as it is tender.
A wondrous, funny and moving little film.
It's quite a treat.
A winning piece of folk art from an isolated way of life, worth a look for those who want to see the world in all its quirky and earthy forms.
[A] gentle, often funny, always very human film about loneliness and unexpected companionship...
A gently funny mini-epic whose 'make love not war' message is delivered in three languages at once.
Even for the art-house crowd, this is a difficult film to understand, but if you make the effort, you'll be well rewarded.
Juuso, who made her film debut at 22 in this movie, is spunky and funny. The two guys play off each other like bickering old pals.
Gives us something to think about: How much of what we consider civilization -- intellectual pursuit, politics, nationalism -- relies on language?
Anni is a feisty little thing and you can't help but root for her when she challenges these two burly soldiers and gets out of the relationship exactly what she wants.
A bit overextended for its very simple story...but for the most part this is a charming, curiously touching picture.
A pretty good film -- a dark comedy rigorously observed -- until Rogozhkin reveals himself to be just another New Age softie.
Quietly engrossing.
Audience Reviews for Kukushka (The Cuckoo)
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Foreign Titles
- Kukushka - Der Kuckuck (DE)
- The Cuckoo (UK)
Aleksandr Rogozhkin did amazingly smooth work of art which takes place during World War II from the perspective of opposing Soviet and Finnish soldiers stranded at a Sami woman's farmhouse.
"Kukushka" was the nickname given by Soviet soldiers exclusively to lone Finnish snipers, who ambushed their targets from a purpose-built tree-branch-nest. Thus the title refers to both Veikko (the sniper) and Anni (a lone woman living in the forest, much like a cuckoo).
If you have a chance to see it - do it now!