Film maker Strout Created 'WinterWar' So Story Would Not Be Forgotten
By Ryan Schlehuber

Ben Strout, film maker of "Fire and Ice: The WinterWar," said he was inspired to create the 78-minute film because no one has ever told the story and he believed it was a part of the world's history that was in jeopardy of being forgotten.

Keeping alive the memory of an almost-forgotten event in history inspired Ben Strout's documentary film of the 1939 war between Finland and Russia, which was viewed by about 60 people at Little Bear East Community Center in St. Ignace Sunday, February 10.

The 78-minute film tells of how Finland fought for its independence against the Joseph Stalin-led Soviet Union through the stories of people who lived through it, films from the war, and reenactments.

"Using real Russian and Finnish reenactors, I found that there was no love lost between the two countries still, even to this day," said Mr. Strout.

Of the response he has received, he noted, "I've met people who have been reconnected with their own history through this film. Many people never had the chance to ask their fathers or grandfathers about the war, like the sheriff's deputy from Indiana who contacted me. His father fought in the war but never talked about it before he died."

An estimated 60 people attended the showing of the documentary film, "Fire and Ice: The Winter War," and viewed artifacts and paraphernalia of the 1939-40 war in which Finland successfully defended its independence from the Soviet Union. The program included military artifacts collectors and film maker Ben Strout (middle, in black jacket), who spoke with the audience about how and why he produced the film. Pictured with Mr. Strout are artifacts collectors (from left) Rudy Hennekes of St. Ignace, Joe Strohl of Madison, Wisconsin, and Jim Kippola of Marquette. Mr. Strohl and Mr. Kippola are dressed in historic Finnish military uniforms and are holding authentic weapons used during the time of the "WinterWar."

Rudy Hennekes and Judy Luoma of St. Ignace worked with Mr. Strout and two other war artifacts collectors, Joe Strohl of Madison, Wisconsin, and Jim Kippola of Marquette, to present the program here at no charge. It included a display of Finish and Soviet Union relics from the period.

Some of those who attended the "WinterWar" program not only viewed war artifacts, they also got to wear them, such as these young boys. Pictured with artifacts collector Joe Strohl are (from left) Spencer Davis, 9, Micah Davis, 8, and Peter Lane, 7, all of St. Ignace.

"Why remember this piece of Finnish history?" Mr. Strout asked the audience. "For Finns, it's a part of who they are. For non-Finns, it poses the question of when is war justified? What would you fight for, die for, be killed for? In 1939, that's what the Finns faced. They were fighting for the right to exist."

Mr. Strout's documentary earned an Emmy and has been televised nationally on public broadcasting channels and throughout Europe.

It took three years to create the film, which included shooting on actual battle sites in Finland for three winters.

About 25,000 Finns perished during the one-year war, said Mr. Strout. It is said that more than one million Soviet soldiers died in the Winter War, however, there is no official total. The Russian government is only now beginning to study the impact the war had on its people and its military, according to Mr. Strout.

Everyone can connect with Mr. Strout's documentary, Mrs. Luoma believes.

"There are a lot of different messages about war and values in this documentary that make you stop and think," she said.

Mrs. Louma had promoted the program as far south as Gaylord and throughout the Eastern Upper Peninsula, but high winds causing white-out conditions had closed the Mackinac Bridge and several major roads for parts of the day. Nevertheless, she said, the turnout "was a miracle. I know at least half of the people there came from outside of St. Ignace, and, had the weather cooperated, we probably would've had twice as many show up."