Lapland War (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Set during the final stages of World War II, Lapland War follows Finnish soldiers facing a new conflict with Germany while a German interpreter in Rovaniemi weighs whether to remain in Finland or escape with the man she loves.

Lapland War is a 2026 historical drama set against the turbulent final phase of Finland’s involvement in World War II. The story follows soldiers whose expectations of returning home collapse when Finland is forced to turn against its former German allies in Lapland.

Alongside the military conflict, the film presents a personal dilemma in Rovaniemi. Saara, a German interpreter, must decide whether to remain in Finland or leave for Germany with Major Duisberg, giving the wartime setting a parallel story of divided loyalties and uncertain futures.

Lapland War movie details

Story without spoilers

Young soldier Heikki fights on the Karelian Isthmus with his friend Pauli. Their unit is joined by Arvo, a man recently released from prison whose perspective on war and duty challenges the beliefs of those around him.

When a ceasefire creates hope that the soldiers can return home, circumstances change. Finland must now fight its former German allies in Lapland. At the same time, Saara works as a German interpreter in Rovaniemi and faces a deeply personal choice involving Finland, Germany and Major Duisberg, the man she loves.

What to expect

The film combines historical drama and war storytelling, moving between military events and personal decisions shaped by political change. Its setting places the characters in the 1940s, during the Lapland War, with Finnish, German and other language elements reflected in the listed spoken languages.

The premise suggests a story concerned with duty, loyalty and the consequences of shifting alliances, while the central characters face choices that connect the larger conflict to their own lives. It is based on a novel or book, according to the supplied metadata.

Cast and creative team

Lapland War is directed by Aku Louhimies, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Antti Tuuri. The cast includes Volker Bruch, Peter Franzén and Sannah Nedergård. Dominic Raacke plays Generaloberst Lothar Rendulić, while Luukas Niskanen plays Heikki Ojala and Pyry Kähkönen portrays Arvo Ketola. Hilma Kotkaniemi appears as Irene, Ronja Kuoppamäki as Eva, Amelie Blauberg as Kaarina and Frits Soetmann as a German Officer.

• Volker Bruch
• Peter Franzén
• Sannah Nedergård
• Dominic Raacke as Generaloberst Lothar Rendulić
• Luukas Niskanen as Heikki Ojala
• Pyry Kähkönen as Arvo Ketola
• Hilma Kotkaniemi as Irene
• Ronja Kuoppamäki as Eva
• Amelie Blauberg as Kaarina
• Frits Soetmann as German Officer

Release and production context

Lapland War is listed as a 2026 release, with a release date of October 23, 2026. It has a runtime of 2 hours and 35 minutes and is classified as a Drama, History and War film. The production is associated with Finland and Germany, with Backmann & Hoderoff listed as the production company. The supplied spoken languages are English, Finnish, German, Russian and Swedish.

Production companies: Backmann & Hoderoff

Movies Dock view

With its focus on Finland’s turn against Germany and the personal stakes surrounding that change, Lapland War frames wartime history through both soldiers’ experiences and an intimate decision about where to belong. The film’s long runtime allows its military and personal storylines to share the same historical setting without revealing how either develops.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb