Elisa Viihde Orders War Propaganda Satire ‘Helsinki 1939’ for Estonia and Finland

In the early winter of 1939, as Soviet bombs rained down on Helsinki, Finland’s grand Hotel Kämp became an unlikely nexus where truth and propaganda collided. Under the same ornate neo-Renaissance roof, best-selling Finnish novelist Mika Waltari crafted strategic falsehoods for the Finnish Propaganda Unit while international war correspondents, including the renowned American journalist Martha Gellhorn, pursued the brutal facts of the unfolding conflict.

This dramatic historical moment, set against the backdrop of Finland’s Winter War with the Soviet Union, will be brought to screen in the upcoming series “Helsinki 1939,” scheduled for presentation at the Tallinn TV Beats Co-financing Market on November 17.

The six-part drama has already secured distribution through Elisa Viihde, a prominent streaming service serving both Finnish and Estonian audiences. Take Two Studios’ producing team of Eero Hietala and Sara Norberg are backing the project, which aims to explore the fascinating moral complexities of wartime information warfare.

At the center of the narrative is Waltari, whose later international acclaim for novels like “The Egyptian” was preceded by his wartime role creating what could be described as “true lies” – carefully crafted propaganda designed to confuse Soviet forces and bolster Finnish morale during the desperate early days of the conflict.

Director and writer AJ Annila, who will helm the series, brings significant creative credentials to the project. After establishing himself with genre films like “Jade Warrior” (2006) and “Sauna” (2008), Annila has evolved into a respected creator of visually distinctive, character-driven television drama.

The series explores a lesser-known but fascinating chapter of World War II history. When the Soviet Union invaded Finland in November 1939, most military analysts expected the small Nordic nation to fall quickly to its massive neighbor. Instead, Finland mounted a resistance that shocked the world, holding off Soviet forces for months despite overwhelming odds.

During this period, Hotel Kämp served as a gathering place for international journalists covering the conflict. Among them was Martha Gellhorn, already establishing herself as one of the most fearless war correspondents of the era before her marriage to Ernest Hemingway. The hotel’s corridors and lounges became a battleground of competing narratives as propagandists and journalists navigated their opposing missions under the same roof.

The Winter War holds particular significance in Finnish national identity, representing a moment when the country maintained its independence against overwhelming odds. This period also marked a crucial turning point in international propaganda techniques, as Finland effectively used information warfare to gain crucial international sympathy and support.

“Helsinki 1939” joins a growing trend of European historical dramas finding international audiences through streaming platforms. By focusing on the morally complex intersection of truth and propaganda during wartime, the series addresses themes that remain strikingly relevant in today’s information landscape.

Finland’s film and television industry has gained increased international attention in recent years, with streaming services actively seeking content from the region. Elisa Viihde has emerged as a significant player in commissioning original Finnish content with international appeal.

The Tallinn TV Beats Co-financing Market, part of the larger Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival ecosystem, has established itself as an important venue for Baltic and Nordic television projects seeking international partners and distribution. The presentation of “Helsinki 1939” represents an opportunity to secure additional backing for what promises to be an ambitious historical drama.

With its compelling historical setting, morally complex characters, and exploration of the eternal struggle between truth and propaganda, “Helsinki 1939” appears positioned to offer viewers a nuanced examination of a pivotal moment in European history through the intimate stories of those who lived it.