Seasoned Finnish producer Ilkka Matila (“The Eternal Road”, “All the Sins”) of MRP Matila Röhr has signed with Estonia’s Taska Film and locked early support from the Finnish Film Institute and loca…
Seasoned Finnish producer Ilkka Matila of MRP Matila Röhr has signed with Estonia’s Taska Film and locked early support from the Finnish Film Institute and local commercial channel MTV3 for the $2.7m film “Between the Hammer and the Sickle.” Nordisk Film holds Scandinavian rights.
“I grew up with the Cold War, now war is returning in Europe, and is at our doorsteps – Ukraine,” said Matila. “Our president at the time Kekkonen was known as the Soviet whisperer, for his policy of conciliation with the Soviets; he was able to maintain peace and stability, and acted to protect our fragile democracy, always threatened by the anti-democratic giant,” Matila recalled.
The story follows Kekkonen, as he dreams of retiring and shares some memories with his newfound journalist friend Maarit Tyrkkö. But when the Soviets attack Afghanistan and a nuclear war is imminent, the aging president has to muster up the strength to venture into the Soviet Union to save humanity from destruction, using his own weapon: Straight talks.
Spear-heading the period drama will be director Heikki Kuojanpää, well-known internationally for his dark comedy “Laugh or Die,” best film at the Santa Fe Film Fest 2020 and the first non-English language finalist at L.A.’s prestigious Humanitas Award.