Finland: Recommended Books and Movies

To learn about Finland past and present, check out a few of these books and films. (And see our similar lists for elsewhere in Europe.)

Burnt-Out Town of Miracles (Roy Jacobsen, 2005). In this fictionalized account of the 1939 Winter War, a besieged Finnish town repels invading Russians with cunning and grit.
Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings (Neil Price, 2020). Drawing on extensive archaeological and textual evidence, this is an engaging guide to the Viking world.
A History of Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland (T. K. Derry, 1979). This comprehensive tome weaves together the history of these five countries.
Kalevala (Elias Lönnrot, 1835). Regarded as Finland's national epic, Kalevala is a compilation of Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and poetry.
My Childhood (Toivo Pekkanen, 1966). Toivo Pekkanen chronicles his family's working-class life in early-20th-century Finland.
Scandinavia Since 1500 (Byron J. Nordstrom, 2000). Nordstrom presents a readable account of the region's history.
Scandinavian Folk and Fairy Tales (Claire Booss, 1988). This collection of Scandinavian folklore includes illustrations by local artists.
Seven Brothers (Aleksis Kivi, 1870). In this Finnish classic, young brothers must learn to work hard and become productive members of society.
The Unknown Soldier (Väinö Linna, 1957). This iconic Finnish book candidly captures native soldiers' responses to World War II.
The Vikings (Else Roesdahl, 1987). Roesdahl offers a Scandinavian perspective on this complex Nordic society.

The Man Without a Past (2002). In this Academy Award-nominated film, a man is beaten up shortly after arriving in Helsinki, loses his memory, and must start his life anew.
Mother of Mine (2005). A young Finnish boy is evacuated to Sweden during World War II.
Road North (2012). An estranged father and son reunite for a road trip to northern Finland.
Uuno Turhapuro (1973–2006). Many Finnish politicians and celebrities make appearances throughout these 19 classic Finnish comedies about good-for-nothing Uuno, who disrupts and undermines his father-in-law in outlandish situations.