EIGHT DEADLY SHOTS

Saturday, January 24, 11:00 a.m. | Listen, it is January in Chicago – things are already pretty bleak, so you might as well lean in. Newly restored by Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project, this underappreciated Finnish classic was inspired by the killing of four policemen in rural Finland. Mikko Niskanen wrote, directed, and produced EIGHT DEADLY SHOTS, and delivers a shattering performance as the farmer Pasi, who struggles to support his family and self medicates with alcohol, including the moonshine he makes on the side for extra money. As his drinking increases, his health begins to fail, and his family begins to fear him. The inevitable, tragic conclusion to EIGHT DEADLY SHOTS casts an unsettling, devastating pall over the film. Originally made for Finnish television, Niskanen’s film is a monumental vision on the big screen, a story that seems small and inconsequential but unfolds as an epic portrait of desperation and rage. Program includes one intermission.

Awards & Nominations

Winner - Best Direction, Best Actor Mikko Niskanen, Jussi Awards

Settle In | January 3–31, 2026

Binge watching a television show or catching a double feature? Child’s play. Prove your passion for pacing with five presentations that test the limits of runtimes, lean into their length, and invite you to Settle In. Ticket holders have the option to add a boxed lunch ($16) to their experience courtesy of our friends at Goddess And The Baker (must be ordered at least 72 hours in advance).

Member tickets on sale now! General public tickets on sale Monday, December 15. Become a Siskel Film Center member to unlock early access and start saving at every movie. Plus, if you join or renew by the end of the year, you'll get one free month and a limited-edition "I prefer my films projected" magnet on us. Become a member today.

The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu