Aatami is back, in a sequel that isn’t really necessary, but like his first adventure is surprisingly potent.  The best aspect (for me, anyway) is that director Jalmari Helander has finally learned to scale back on the preposterousness of some of his set pieces and at least attempt to bring some believability to his outlandish adventure stories.

Jalmari Helander’s sequel brings Aatari (Jorma Tommila) back into the Soviet Union to dismantle his old log cabin, load it onto a truck and transport it into Finland where he can live in peace after World War II.  But Aatari’s presence is noted and the Red Army is determined to exact revenge on the man who killed so many Russians during the war.  (Yes, this is odd, because the first movie involves Nazis, not Russians, but I guess everybody hates this guy).  The Red Army commander (Stephen Lack) attacks Aatari with troops, planes and everything else at his disposal, but Aatari is well nigh indestructible, as we witness firsthand.

Helander is an outstanding visual director, filling his frames with grit and blood and eye-popping action, even when it sometimes crosses into absurdity.  Thankfully this aspect is less abundant than in his previous films, and most of the time Aatari’s simple desire to return home with his actual home is heartfelt and pure.  And its good to see an adversary just as strong and determined as our hero, resulting in a battle that is not as predetermined as the script inevitably proves to be.  Jorma Tommila is once again excellent as the almost silent hero figure, especially at the end when he faces a situation he does not expect.

Unlike Nobody 2, which wastes its premise and fails to find antagonists as convincingly real as its protagonist, this story is focused and deliciously gritty.  It too is far too violent, but that’s how movies are made these days.  And when it is as well done as it is here (as opposed to Nobody 2, where it is not done well at all), I do not mind it so much.  The Sisu films are harsh, tough movies but they have merit and deserve respect.  ☆ ☆ 1/2.  8 May 2026.