Finland’s leading streaming service, Elisa Viihde commissions major new thriller, Summer of Sorrow to be produced by Rabbit Films and distributed by Keshet International

This new, 10-part mystery thriller set in the early 1980s, is the tale of one horrible summer, seen from the perspective of the local children. Created by Jani Volanen, Summer of Sorrow (Munkkivuori) is a classic story of a revenge crime with tragic consequences.

The series sets up in an 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 man hunt. While summer friendships and adventures continue for the local children, they also take note of everything going on around them: eavesdropping, gossiping and drawing their own conclusions. Despite the adults’ best efforts to protect the youngsters from this terrible tragedy, a hidden secret from the past re-appears once again.

With principle photography planned from May 2020 in Helsinki, Summer of Sorrow will also be directed by Volanen (M/S Romantic) with Rabbit Films’ Minna Haapkylä and Olli Suominen serving as executive producers.

Ani Korpela, Head of Content for Elisa Viihde, “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, KI’s MD of Global Content says, “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 comments, “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.”

Rabbit Films is producing the series for Elisa Viihde in Finland which will air in fall 2021, while Keshet International will distribute both the finished tape and format of Summer of Sorrow internationally in a deal brokered by Anke Stoll, KI's VP of Acquisitions. Additional funding is provided by Business Finland, Nelonen and The Finnish Film Foundation.

Elisa Viihde has released 18 original series since 2014. Notable and award-winning shows include; Californian Commando, All the Sins, Arctic Circle, Bullets, Man in Room 301, Shadow Lines, Downshifters and The Office Finland.

Summer of Sorrow is the fifth high-end drama title to be supported by the KI Content Fund, which aims to bring high-profile projects with global appeal to a wider audience by utilising KI’s worldwide distribution prowess. It is the second foreign language project selected for investment by KI, following the global content company’s acquisition of Monster Scripted and X Filme’s Fury (AKA Furia) for NENT and ZDF. Other titles supported to date include Ecosse Films’ and Great Meadow Productions’ The Trial of Christine Keeler for BBC One; and Blackfella Films’ Total Control for the ABC in Australia; and Seven Studios’ Secret Bridesmaids’ Business for Australia’s Seven Network.