SISU

Sisu is a Finnish action war film directed by Jalmari Helander. Set during the final days of World War II, the story follows Aatami Korpi, a lone, gold-prospecting ex-soldier who crosses paths with retreating Nazi forces in the Lapland wilderness.

Sisu uses a mix of practical effects and VFX to create its brutal, war-torn visuals. Troll VFX team enhanced blood splatter, explosions, and body wounds, ensuring hyper-realistic gore. CG set extensions helped recreate WWII-era Finland, while digital smoke, dust, and atmospheric effects added depth to battle scenes. Some vehicles, fire, and underwater sequences were also CGI-enhanced for realism. Despite its gritty, grounded aesthetic, VFX played a key role in amplifying the film’s intense action and survival story

Before the shoot, I conducted a full VFX breakdown based on the latest script. Then, I spent four weeks at Troll VFX in Tampere, Finland, working closely with VFX supervisor Jussi Lehtiniemi. Through a series of remote meetings, we meticulously planned how to integrate visual and practical effects, stunts, and special makeup to achieve the best possible visual impact while staying within budget.

Following this extensive pre-production work, I spent six intense and rewarding weeks on set at the Polar Circle, overseeing the VFX execution for Sisu. My role involved ensuring that every shot aligned with our planned effects, working closely with the director-Jalmari Helander, DOP-Kjell Lagerroos, stunt team, and practical effects crew to achieve seamless integration between in-camera and digital effects.

Once all the exterior shots were completed, we transitioned to Airport Studios in Helsinki to film the airplane sequence. The airplane hull was shot in a massive chroma studio and later extended in post-production to create the full environment.