Jalmari Helander
Jalmari Helander | |
|---|---|
 Jalmari Helander in 2010 | |
| Born | 21 July 1976 Helsinki, Finland |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter |
| Notable work | Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) Big Game (2014) Sisu (2022) |
| Relatives | Jorma Tommila (brother-in-law) Onni Tommila (nephew) |
Jalmari Helander (born 21 July 1976)[1] is a Finnish screenwriter and film director. He is known for the 2010 film Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, the 2014 action-adventure Big Game starring Samuel L. Jackson, and the 2022 WWII action film Sisu. Before turning to feature films, Helander directed several short films and award-winning television commercials.[2] In 2025, it was announced that Helander would direct John Rambo, the upcoming prequel to First Blood (1982) in the Rambo franchise.[3][4]
Helander is the brother-in-law of actor Jorma Tommila and the maternal uncle of Jorma's son Onni, both of whom have acted in his films.
Filmography
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Jäämies | Yes | Uncredited | Also editor |
| Maximillian Tarzan | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2001 | Ukkonen | Yes | Yes | |
| 2003 | Rare Exports, Inc. | Yes | Yes | |
| 2005 | Rare Exports: The Official Safety Instructions | Yes | Yes | |
| 2006 | Fakiiri | Yes | Story | Also producer |
| 2011 | Viimeinen pisara | Yes | Yes |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale | Yes | Yes |
| 2014 | Big Game | Yes | Yes |
| 2022 | Sisu | Yes | Yes |
| 2025 | Sisu: Road to Revenge[5] | Yes | Yes |
TV series
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2017-2018 | Wingman | 9 episodes |
| 2020 | Perfect Commando | 1 episode |
| 2021 | Karkurit | 1 episode |
See also
References
- ^ "Jalmari Helander". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Big Game". Toronto International Film Festival. 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ Lehtonen, Veli-Pekka (20 May 2025). "John Rambo ja minä" [John Rambo and I]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ Coman, Monica (12 August 2025). "1 of the Best Recent Action Films With 94% RT Score Is Heading to Hulu Soon". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ "Nyt se vahvistui: Sisu 2 on tekeillä – Jalmari Helander palaa ohjaajaksi". Muropaketti (in Finnish). 20 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.