Elisa Viihde takes Rabbit Films thriller

Finland-based streaming platform Elisa Viihde has commissioned a thriller series from Finnish indie Rabbit Films.

Ani Korpela

Summer of Sorrow is a 10-part mystery thriller set in the early 1980s in the Finnish suburb of Munkkivuori. When a small child disappears one summer and the police offer little support, the town’s concerned parents take justice into their own hands.

The series is seen from the perspective of the local children, who take note of everything going on around them as their summer adventures continue. Despite the parents’ best efforts to protect the children from the tragedy, a hidden secret from the past emerges, in what Elisa Viihde describes as a “revenge crime story with tragic consequences”.

Summer of Sorrow is created and directed by Jani Volanen, with Rabbit Films’ Minna Haapkylä and Olli Suominen serving as exec producers. It will premiere on Elisa Viihde in fall 2021.

Keshet International is distributing both the finished tape and the format.

Ani Korpela, head of content at 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.”