Dog Nail Clipper 2004

Mertsi Peter Franzén is an intelligent young Finnish soldier fighting against the Soviet Union in World War II. In a 1941 battle, Mertsi is shot in the head and sustains brain damage that leaves him unable to cope with ordinary life. His friends step in to help: Eetvi Taisto Reimaluoto and Ville Ahti Kuoppala try to keep him engaged by getting him employed at their workplaces, so they can watch over him. But both jobs—construction with Ville and logging with Eetvi—prove to be beyond Mertsi’s current abilities. Ville tells Mertsi about his dog back home, speaking warmly about companionship and his concern for the dog’s well-being due to the dog’s overly long claws. Mertsi decides to travel to Ville’s village to take care of the dog by clipping his nails. Because Mertsi can’t care for himself, his trip to the village and his stay with the dog are marked by the kindness and compassion of complete strangers who help him feel like a useful and needed member of society.