Reviews
The documentary has been made so the viewer knows what is going on at all times. The amount of information is breathtakingly rich despite the extensive secrecy, but always when it feels that there is too much information, the film cuts back to the Lahti situation. The events flow as in a good thriller. A carefully considered structure helps When Heroes Lie become greater than its subject.
– Leena Virtanen, Helsingin Sanomat 11.3.2013
When Heroes Lie is a true work of art. As a genuine, multifaceted work and complex cultural text, it is also hilarious in a terrible way; literally, it's a terribly funny flick.The film injects its syringe into the viewer's moral gland: What is doping in my life, what's the gray area, the self-importance obtained through shady methods, through concealing, through purposely chosen partial truths and prolonged lies?
– Juha Hurme, YLE Kultakuume - critic, author and theatre director
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
””Arto Halonen has captured the doping culture of cross-country skiing with a respectful persistence and honesty.”
– Linda Mäki-Kala, Me Naiset magazine
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Halonen uses strong circumstantial evidence to build a comprehensive and intriguing image of Finnish cross-country skiing in recent decades.”
– Juha Savela, Keskipohjanmaa
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"When Heroes Lie is also important internationally ... The film is a skillfully compiled thriller.”
– Marita Nyrhinen, Ilkka
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"When Heroes Lie is a small miracle."
– Jaana Semeri, Sylvi
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
”When Heroes Lie is an honest film about dishonesty and the 'hush-hush' mentality in Finnish society.”
– Jukka L. Savolainen, Smack The Jack
★ ★ ★ ★
”When Heroes Lie grabs you right from the start.”
– Anna Möttölä, Helsingin Sanomat
★ ★ ★ ★
”Halonen's touch is journalistic but most importantly cinematic.”
– Tuomas Riskala, Iltalehti
★ ★ ★ ★
”Halonen's film builds around the Lahti World Ski Championships like a thriller and opens up from the past to the present.”
– Tarmo Poussu, Ilta-Sanomat
★ ★ ★ ★
”Halonen has made an impressive, fair-minded and extremely comprehensive film that the viewer can watch with an excitement similar to watching a good thriller.”
– Lumi Tirronen, Episodi
★ ★ ★ ★
"When Heroes Lie is a tour-de-force of investigative journalism that handles a massive amount of evidence with the intensity of a thriller."
– Matti Rämö, Anna
★ ★ ★ ★
”Halonen has done his homework and he knows how to tell a story.”
– Tuomas Rantanen, Voima
★ ★ ★ ★
”When Heroes Lie is the best mirror of Finnish sport. Halonen's finest film has everything one would like to know about the doping scandals in Finnish cross-country skiing.”
– Antti Selkokari, Aamulehti
★ ★ ★ ★
”Arto Halonen's magnificent documentary opens up the scandal of Lahti in much detail. When Heroes Lie shakes up the nation's closets, so the skeletons can pop out. And that is good.”
– Jarno Lindemark, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat
★ ★ ★ ★
”The chunks of information form an interesting whole, one that holds a couple of suprises.”
– Tuukka Vartiainen, Kouvolan Sanomat
★ ★ ★ ★
”This enlightening and important documentary encourages sincerity.”
– Ari Tiippana, Länsi-Savo & Itä-Savo
★ ★ ★ ★
Esko Rautakorpi, YLE TÄHTIHETKI
★ ★ ★ ★
Outi Heiskanen, MTV3
★ ★ ★ ★
Kalle Kinnunen, IMAGE
★ ★ ★ ★
Taija Tuominen, HÄMEENLINNAN KAUPUNKILEHTI
★ ★ ★ ★
Rane Aunimo, DEMOKRAATTI
★ ★ ★ ★
Tomi Kaukolehto, 7 PÄIVÄÄ
★ ★ ★ ★
Jussi U. Pellonpää, FILMIFIN
★ ★ ★ ★
Aleksi Salonen, FILMGOER
★ ★ ★ ★
Jaakko Jäntti, GONZO GOES MOVIES