Elisa Viihde Commissions Summer of Sorrow

The Finnish streaming service Elisa Viihde has ordered the thriller Summer of Sorrow, created by Jani Volanen (M/S Romantic).

Summer of Sorrow (Munkkivuori) is a classic story of a revenge crime with tragic consequences. The ten-part mystery thriller, set in the early 1980s, takes place in the idyllic Finnish suburb of Munkkivuori, where a small child disappears. With little support from the police, concerned parents take justice into their own hands, launching a desperate manhunt.

Rabbit Films is producing the series for Elisa Viihde in Finland to air in fall 2021. Keshet International will distribute both the finished tape and format of Summer of Sorrow internationally. Additional funding is provided by Business Finland, Nelonen and The Finnish Film Foundation.

Ani Korpela, head of content for Elisa Viihde, said: “This intriguing and gripping tale of revenge will deliver a compelling thriller with strong appeal for our audiences. Summer of Sorrow is a wonderful addition to our drama slate that has found audiences both in Finland and internationally.”

Sebastian Burkhardt, Keshet International’s managing director of global content, added: “Finnish fiction is emerging as the hotbed for distinctive drama from the Nordic Region. Jani Volanen is a stand-out creative force in Finland, and partnering up with him and Rabbit and Elisa Viihde on this, his latest project, is a real privilege.”

Olli Suominen, CEO of Rabbit Films, commented: “We at Rabbit Films are very excited to be producing Summer of Sorrow for Elisa Viihde and in cooperation with such a successful and ambitious partner as Keshet International. We believe in the original idea, the creative genius of auteur Jani Volanen and the strong partnerships we have formed.”