Ville Virtanen
“Bordertown: Season Two” continues another solid crime drama from the Scandinavian countries. It’s set in a Finnish town near the Russian border, so the subject crimes frequently come with complications from the other side of that line. Our hero is Kari Sorjonen (Ville Virtanen), a brilliant, intriguingly quirky police detective who moved there from Helsinki, seeking relative peace, allowing more time with his wife Paulina (Matleena Kuusniemi), and teen daughter Janina (Olivia Ainali). Naturally, it doesn’t work out that way, or we’d just have a pastoral travelogue, instead of a suspenseful procedural series.
Kari has a number of hand movements that help him retain and recall memories in his vaguely autistic mind. Like many such characters, his intense focus on each new crime comes at a cost, as his family feels shunted to the side, aggravated by his inability to remain engaged in the moment...
“Bordertown: Season Two” continues another solid crime drama from the Scandinavian countries. It’s set in a Finnish town near the Russian border, so the subject crimes frequently come with complications from the other side of that line. Our hero is Kari Sorjonen (Ville Virtanen), a brilliant, intriguingly quirky police detective who moved there from Helsinki, seeking relative peace, allowing more time with his wife Paulina (Matleena Kuusniemi), and teen daughter Janina (Olivia Ainali). Naturally, it doesn’t work out that way, or we’d just have a pastoral travelogue, instead of a suspenseful procedural series.
Kari has a number of hand movements that help him retain and recall memories in his vaguely autistic mind. Like many such characters, his intense focus on each new crime comes at a cost, as his family feels shunted to the side, aggravated by his inability to remain engaged in the moment...
- 4/15/2024
- by Mark Glass
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Two is better than one.
Amsterdam-based Skoop Media has closed a deal with Walter Presents on “Evilside” and “Sleepers” for the U.K., Ireland, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The platform will have exclusive VOD rights in these territories.
“We can’t wait for our viewers to delve into these two phenomenal series,” enthused Walter Presents CEO Walter Iuzzolino.
“These titles are rich with suspense and filled with evocative worldly themes. Our foreign-language drama lovers should prepare for an exhilarating journey across Europe.”
Finnish offering “Evilside” – an Elisa Viihde original combining Live Action Role Play (Larp) with the legacy of Nordic Noir – kicks off with a brutal murder of a teenage boy in a small fishing village.
God-fearing local residents are quick to point fingers at outcast Johanna (Olivia Ainali) and she needs to prove her innocence. Luckily, detective Ulla Penttinen (Amira Khalifa) doesn’t need much convincing.
“There...
Amsterdam-based Skoop Media has closed a deal with Walter Presents on “Evilside” and “Sleepers” for the U.K., Ireland, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The platform will have exclusive VOD rights in these territories.
“We can’t wait for our viewers to delve into these two phenomenal series,” enthused Walter Presents CEO Walter Iuzzolino.
“These titles are rich with suspense and filled with evocative worldly themes. Our foreign-language drama lovers should prepare for an exhilarating journey across Europe.”
Finnish offering “Evilside” – an Elisa Viihde original combining Live Action Role Play (Larp) with the legacy of Nordic Noir – kicks off with a brutal murder of a teenage boy in a small fishing village.
God-fearing local residents are quick to point fingers at outcast Johanna (Olivia Ainali) and she needs to prove her innocence. Luckily, detective Ulla Penttinen (Amira Khalifa) doesn’t need much convincing.
“There...
- 10/15/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Thanks to fresh takes on established genres and highlighting local elements, Finnish drama is commanding attention from international buyers. A Series Mania Focus on Finland will teasing more series to come, from “Nordic blue” to horror for kids and a Christmas fairytale crime story. The biggest event dedicated to television series in Europe will take place March 18-25 in Lille, France. Here’s a breakdown on some higher titles:
“Crash Plan” (Take Two Studios)
(Nordic blue/procedural crime)
Creator: Ralph Christians, Marteinn Thorisson
Producers: Eero Hietala, Ralph Christians, Dirk Schweitzer
8 Episodes x 44 Minutes/ 4 Episodes x 90 Minutes
Take Two Studios production “Crash Plan,” co-produced by Splendid Film, is a “Nordic blue” procedural drama taking place in the Finnish Turku archipelago, where police detective Elisa and emergency helicopter doctor Markus investigate local crime. Elisa recently transferred from patrol police and is eager to prove her skills. Markus has no experience as a detective,...
“Crash Plan” (Take Two Studios)
(Nordic blue/procedural crime)
Creator: Ralph Christians, Marteinn Thorisson
Producers: Eero Hietala, Ralph Christians, Dirk Schweitzer
8 Episodes x 44 Minutes/ 4 Episodes x 90 Minutes
Take Two Studios production “Crash Plan,” co-produced by Splendid Film, is a “Nordic blue” procedural drama taking place in the Finnish Turku archipelago, where police detective Elisa and emergency helicopter doctor Markus investigate local crime. Elisa recently transferred from patrol police and is eager to prove her skills. Markus has no experience as a detective,...
- 3/18/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Dutch Features has acquired international rights to Finnish streaming service Elisa Viihde’s crime series “Evilside,” a six-hour Archipelago thriller set in the Oulu region of northern Finland. Filming took place from Dec. 2021 through Feb. 2022.
“Evilside” is produced by Whatevergroup Oy in collaboration with Handmade Films in Norwegian Woods, Business Finland, Business Oulu and the Finnish Film Foundation.
“What drew us to ‘Evilside’ is that the script had all the characteristics of a good Scandi noir thriller, but with a very diverse mix of characters and so many new elements added,” Dutch Features CEO Pim van Collem told Variety.
She added: “Two women are at the center here: the detective trying to solve the case and the young woman who is accused of the crime. Including a teenage character as one of the leads will feed into a whole new younger audience and we are excited to be hitting the international market with this gem.
“Evilside” is produced by Whatevergroup Oy in collaboration with Handmade Films in Norwegian Woods, Business Finland, Business Oulu and the Finnish Film Foundation.
“What drew us to ‘Evilside’ is that the script had all the characteristics of a good Scandi noir thriller, but with a very diverse mix of characters and so many new elements added,” Dutch Features CEO Pim van Collem told Variety.
She added: “Two women are at the center here: the detective trying to solve the case and the young woman who is accused of the crime. Including a teenage character as one of the leads will feed into a whole new younger audience and we are excited to be hitting the international market with this gem.
- 3/11/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
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