Yle’s new drama series explores love and life struggles of thirty-somethings in rural Finland

Finnish public broadcaster Yle is filming Tasamaa, a six-part drama series set in South Ostrobothnia, with plans to release it on Yle Areena in early 2025. The series follows a love story between two people in their late twenties while exploring broader themes of personal growth and life choices, reports Yle.

The series, directed by Inari Niemi and written by Juuli Niemi, centers on two nearly thirty-year-olds navigating love at an inconvenient time, requiring courage to embrace vulnerability. Beyond romance, it delves into the “messiness of life” at that age—career decisions, starting a family, and whether to stay in or leave their hometown.

Producer Pietari Vappula of Yle Drama emphasized the importance of depicting life outside Finland’s capital region. “Yle’s mission is to make all of Finland visible,” he said, noting that Tasamaa authentically portrays young adults in South Ostrobothnia with warmth and credibility.

The Niemi sisters, known for prior collaborations like the series Mieheni vaimo (My Husband’s Wife) and films Valoa valoa valoa (Light Light Light) and Kesäkaverit (Summer Friends), drew from local insights to shape the script. Juuli Niemi conducted interviews with residents to ensure the portrayal of regional communication—direct yet concise—rang true.

Lead actors Heli Hyttinen and Pyry Kähkönen, both 30, prepared by studying the local dialect but found the region’s emotional restraint and laconic style more defining. “The way emotions are handled—or not handled—feels tied to this culture, and maybe Finnishness in general,” Hyttinen said.

Filming takes place in Seinäjoki’s city center, a hospital, and surrounding farmland, with outdoor shoots lasting about two weeks. Producer Marko Antila of Lucy Loves Drama acknowledged the challenges of shooting outside Helsinki, including higher costs, but stressed the value of local involvement in casting extras and sourcing props.

The project arrives as Finland’s domestic drama industry faces difficulties, with fewer commissions and financial strain. Antila highlighted the rarity of series produced beyond the Helsinki region, where production logistics are typically more cost-effective.