Unknown Soldier
June, 1941: Trapped between two repressive regimes, Finland has little choice but to ally itself with Nazi Germany against its traditional foe, although it manages to remain a democracy throughout. Virtually unknown in the WW ll arena, a brutal war against Soviet occupation takes place in the Far North. As the men of a Finnish infantry unit march through the forests of Karelia to regain territory lost to Russia in the Winter War of 1939, each of them soon realizes the horror and pointlessness of war. Except for their officers, more concerned about medals and personal glory than the lives of their men. A diverse group of men, all at odds with how they see themselves, each other, and the common cause--yet they are strengthened by a growing bond of camaraderie to each other and their loved ones. After huge personal sacrifice and a prolonged trench war, the outcome is inevitable, ending with a ceasefire in September 1944.
Working with a small-scale budget of $8.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $15.6M in global revenue (+94% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Unknown Soldier (2017) reveals carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Aku Louhimies's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 59 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The machine gun company assembles at the border. Soldiers from diverse backgrounds—farmers, workers, intellectuals—prepare for deployment with a mix of camaraderie and nervous anticipation of the war ahead.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 21 minutes when The order comes: the company will advance into Soviet territory as part of Finland's offensive. The reality of combat becomes immediate as they cross the border, transforming from peacetime soldiers into active combatants.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 45 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to The company engages in their first major battle, suffering casualties. The men make the irreversible choice to fully commit to their role as soldiers, crossing from training and theory into the visceral reality of kill-or-be-killed combat., moving from reaction to action.
At 90 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False victory: The Finnish forces reach their deepest penetration into Soviet territory. The company celebrates their success, believing they've turned the tide of the war. However, this represents the high-water mark before the inevitable Soviet counteroffensive., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 134 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The company is surrounded and suffers catastrophic losses in a brutal Soviet assault. Key characters are killed, including beloved members of the unit. The survivors face annihilation, and the dream of victory dies. This is their darkest hour., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 143 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The survivors choose to make one final stand, not for victory, but for each other and to honor their fallen comrades. Rokka and the remaining leaders rally the men, synthesizing their combat experience with renewed purpose: to survive and return home., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Unknown Soldier's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Unknown Soldier against these established plot points, we can identify how Aku Louhimies utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Unknown Soldier within the drama genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The machine gun company assembles at the border. Soldiers from diverse backgrounds—farmers, workers, intellectuals—prepare for deployment with a mix of camaraderie and nervous anticipation of the war ahead.
Theme
Lieutenant Koskela reflects on the cost of war and the value of each man's life, stating "Every man counts." This introduces the film's central theme: the humanity and individuality of soldiers in the dehumanizing machinery of war.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of key characters: veteran NCO Rokka, idealistic officer Kotilainen, pragmatic Kariluoto, young Hietanen, and others. The company's dynamics, personalities, and pre-war lives are established as they prepare to cross into Soviet territory.
Disruption
The order comes: the company will advance into Soviet territory as part of Finland's offensive. The reality of combat becomes immediate as they cross the border, transforming from peacetime soldiers into active combatants.
Resistance
The company experiences its first skirmishes and advances through Soviet territory. Rokka emerges as a survival mentor, teaching younger soldiers combat tactics. The men debate strategy, question orders, and begin to understand the brutal reality of warfare.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The company engages in their first major battle, suffering casualties. The men make the irreversible choice to fully commit to their role as soldiers, crossing from training and theory into the visceral reality of kill-or-be-killed combat.
Mirror World
During a rest period, the soldiers share letters from home, photographs, and memories of their families. This subplot thread throughout the film represents what they're fighting for—home, family, and Finnish independence—providing thematic counterpoint to the brutality.
Premise
The "promise of the premise"—combat sequences showcasing the Finnish offensive. The company advances deep into Soviet territory, experiences victories, develops as a fighting unit, and the audience sees the full scope of the Continuation War from the soldiers' perspective.
Midpoint
False victory: The Finnish forces reach their deepest penetration into Soviet territory. The company celebrates their success, believing they've turned the tide of the war. However, this represents the high-water mark before the inevitable Soviet counteroffensive.
Opposition
The Soviet counteroffensive begins. The company faces increasingly desperate battles, dwindling supplies, and mounting casualties. Internal conflicts emerge as exhaustion and trauma take their toll. Officers clash over tactics; soldiers question the purpose of continuing the fight.
Collapse
The company is surrounded and suffers catastrophic losses in a brutal Soviet assault. Key characters are killed, including beloved members of the unit. The survivors face annihilation, and the dream of victory dies. This is their darkest hour.
Crisis
The surviving soldiers grapple with grief, exhaustion, and the seeming futility of their sacrifice. They process the losses and contemplate surrender or desertion. The emotional and physical toll reaches its nadir as they question whether survival is even possible.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The survivors choose to make one final stand, not for victory, but for each other and to honor their fallen comrades. Rokka and the remaining leaders rally the men, synthesizing their combat experience with renewed purpose: to survive and return home.
Synthesis
The final battle and retreat. The company fights a desperate rearguard action, using everything they've learned to extract themselves from encirclement. Some make it; others don't. The armistice is signed, ending the war and their combat service.
Transformation
The surviving soldiers return home, forever changed. They are no longer the naive men who crossed the border. The final image shows them as civilians again, carrying the invisible wounds of war, having survived but at tremendous cost—mirrors the opening but transformed by loss.