“Little Siberia” (2025): A Meteorite, a Pastor, and a Town on the Brink
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Little Siberia (original title: Pikku Siperia) is a 2025 Finnish dark comedy-thriller directed by Dome Karukoski, based on the best-selling novel by Antti Tuomainen. Marking Netflix’s first Finnish original feature film, Little Siberia is a strange and soulful tale that explores morality, faith, and chaos in a small snow-covered village where a meteorite crash shakes both the earth and the community’s foundations.
The film opens with a literal bang: a meteorite crashes into a car near the isolated town of Hurmevaara, Finland. This sudden cosmic intrusion becomes the center of the town’s attention when it's revealed that the space rock could be worth over one million euros. The townspeople quickly become obsessed, suspicious, and even criminally motivated as rumors spread. The rare meteorite is placed in the local museum for safekeeping, but the temptation proves too strong for many, sparking a series of clumsy and darkly humorous theft attempts.
At the heart of the story is Joel (played by Eero Ritala), a former soldier and now a local pastor, who is chosen to guard the meteorite until it can be taken away by scientific authorities. Joel is not just the spiritual shepherd of the town—he’s also a man in emotional crisis. His wife, Krista (played by Malla Malmivaara), has recently announced that she’s pregnant. But Joel, wounded during military service, knows that he is infertile. This emotional revelation adds a deeper layer of conflict to an already tense environment, forcing Joel to confront issues of trust, betrayal, and identity as both a husband and a man of faith.
The film cleverly balances its darker psychological themes with moments of absurdity. Eccentric townspeople, failed heists, and philosophical debates over coffee give Little Siberia its offbeat tone, often drawing comparisons to the works of the Coen Brothers. There's even a surreal charm to how the community responds to the meteorite—part wonder, part greed, and part existential dread. Joel becomes a reluctant detective and guardian, all while his internal world collapses around him.
Visually, Little Siberia is stunning. The film captures the stark, snow-blanketed Finnish landscape in wide, quiet shots that enhance the feeling of isolation and introspection. The cinematography uses natural light and muted tones to create a sense of cold beauty, while the soundtrack by Panu Aaltio adds a soft but eerie pulse to the narrative. The pacing is measured, allowing moments to linger as the story unfolds like a slow-burning fire beneath ice.
The performances are strong across the board. Eero Ritala brings depth and vulnerability to Joel, portraying a man trapped between morality and instinct. The supporting cast, including Tommi Korpela and Rune Temte, deliver quirky and grounded characters who reflect the town’s moral decay and humanity in equal measure.
In conclusion, Little Siberia is a darkly comic, melancholic exploration of small-town life under cosmic pressure. It is a film that uses a meteorite not just as a plot device, but as a metaphor for disruption—how the unexpected can expose truths, challenge beliefs, and force us to confront who we really are. Quietly powerful, emotionally complex, and visually memorable, Little Siberia is one of the most unique Nordic films in recent memory.
