On rural despair, social marginalisation, and time as tragedy.

At the margins of a Finnish farming community, time becomes a hypnotic force as the seasons pass. Mikko Niskanen’s Eight Deadly Shots is a slow-burning, deeply humane portrait of rural life under pressure—where hardship, isolation, and resilience unfold with quiet intensity.

Shot with documentary realism and led by Niskanen’s own haunting performance, the film is a landmark of Finnish cinema. Its long duration becomes an ethical and poetic form, offering understanding over judgement.

A film by Mikko Niskanen

year: 1972, length: 316 min.

Language: Finnish with English subtitles.

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