Jalmari Helander

Jalmari Helander (born 21 July 1976 in Helsinki, Finland) is a renowned Finnish film director and screenwriter whose work has garnered international attention for its blend of gritty realism and darkly comic mythology. Growing up in a country with a strong tradition of storytelling, Helander initially cut his teeth on short films and award‑winning television commercials, where he honed a visual style marked by stark natural landscapes and kinetic action sequences. His breakthrough came with the 2010 feature Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, a sardonic re‑imagining of Santa Claus folklore that earned critical praise for its inventive narrative and striking cinematography, establishing him as a fresh voice in contemporary Finnish cinema. Following that success, Helander directed the 2014 adventure Big Game, starring Samuel L. Jackson, which showcased his ability to merge Hollywood‑scale thrills with uniquely Finnish sensibilities, and later delivered the intense WWII action film Sisu (2022), praised for its relentless pace and visceral combat choreography. Throughout his career, Helander has demonstrated a keen interest in exploring themes of survival, identity, and the clash between tradition and modernity, often employing a muted color palette and tightly framed shots to heighten tension. Beyond his own projects, Helander frequently collaborates with family members, most notably his brother‑in‑law actor Jorma Tommila, who has appeared in several of his films, and Tommila’s son Onni, his nephew, who began acting under his direction at a young age. In 2025, it was announced that Helander will helm John Rambo, a prequel to the iconic First Blood (1982), marking his entry into a major American franchise and underscoring his growing reputation as a director capable of handling large‑scale, high‑budget productions. His continued evolution reflects a commitment to pushing the boundaries of genre filmmaking while remaining rooted in the stark, atmospheric storytelling that defines Finnish cinema.