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The Cuckoo

Play trailer Poster for The Cuckoo PG-13 2003 1h 39m Comedy Drama War Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
87% Tomatometer 61 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
At the close of Axis-aligned Finland's involvement in World War II, pacifist Finnish soldier Veikko (Ville Haapasalo) is trussed to a wilderness rock formation as punishment for desertion. Nearby, Soviet Capt. Ivan (Viktor Bychkov), en route to his trial for treason, survives the bombing of his transport. Anni (Anni-Kristiina Juuso), a local Sami woman, comes to the aid of both men, and an unlikely relationship is forged as three lonely souls attempt to survive the long winter.
The Cuckoo

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A sweet and amusing comedy.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Vognar Dallas Morning News 10/09/2003
B
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. Go to Full Review
Michael O'Sullivan Washington Post 09/12/2003
A wondrous, funny and moving little film. Go to Full Review
Stephen Hunter Washington Post 09/12/2003
It's quite a treat. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 07/07/2016
B
Rogozhkin brings a needed sense of humanity to this well-realized war film. Go to Full Review
Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review 08/07/2008
4/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 09/08/2005
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 14 Funny in 1 hour and 39 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Sexual Content and Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Russian and American English audio versions with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $243,200.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Virgo V @vision Feb 1 The Cuckoo is a 2002 Russian war drama film directed by Aleksandr Rogozhkin, who died autumn of 2021. The Cuckoo takes place during World War II and the action is seen from the opposing perspectives of a Soviet soldier and a Finnish soldier stranded together at a Sami woman's farmhouse. It received generally positive reviews from critics. Some say the film is simplistic and predictable, but others enjoy it for its scenery and acting. Some say the ending is very predictable. The Cuckoo tells the story of three people in a contested war zone, two of whom are enemies but nothing ever happens. Vision said if he were to summarize the film, he would end up with a sentence. The Soviet soldier managed to free himself from his shackles. The end. And he has sex. See more jim t 06/07/2023 It is a feeling and a wisdom. There are no words to describe it. See more hamid reza g 04/24/2023 The film "Coco" from the Russian cinema, made in 2002, is a charming anti-war comedy. The film, with all its ups and downs, takes the audience with it until the end. It is a film with few dialogues and few actors. A different love triangle is formed in the film where both men leave this female triangle alone. The film has three main characters, a Sami woman, a Finnish soldier, and a Russian commander, whose story is related to the end of World War II. All three characters do not understand each other's language, and their communication forms the essence of the film, and the film evokes this poem that empathy is better than speaking the same language. See more Dave S 11/08/2020 Somewhere in the wilds of Finland, a Russian soldier named Ivan is being transported to his trial for treason when his escorts are killed. Meanwhile, nearby, Finnish soldier Viekko is secured to a rock as punishment for desertion and left to die. Both are ultimately saved by Anni, a Sami woman who lives alone in the desolate wilderness. The Cuckoo is an odd film, to say the least, but strangely appealing and charming. Due to the language barrier, none of the three are able to communicate with each other, but learn about their humanity through shared experiences. The characters are all well-rounded, the locale is beautiful, and the film leaves the viewer with something to think about. See more 11/26/2012 A small masterpiece of humanity beyond language--A film of transcendent beauty!! See more Read all reviews
The Cuckoo

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Movie Info

Synopsis At the close of Axis-aligned Finland's involvement in World War II, pacifist Finnish soldier Veikko (Ville Haapasalo) is trussed to a wilderness rock formation as punishment for desertion. Nearby, Soviet Capt. Ivan (Viktor Bychkov), en route to his trial for treason, survives the bombing of his transport. Anni (Anni-Kristiina Juuso), a local Sami woman, comes to the aid of both men, and an unlikely relationship is forged as three lonely souls attempt to survive the long winter.
Director
Aleksandr Rogozhkin
Screenwriter
Aleksandr Rogozhkin
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Paramount
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre
Comedy, Drama, War
Original Language
Russian
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 27, 2003, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA)
$243.2K
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital