Land of hope, directed by Markku Pölönen, got the Finnish people on their feet and made a tremendous box office result in its opening weekend. Between Friday 26.10. and Sunday 28.10. the number of spectators is 34 252 – a handsome figure and by far, the most watched movie of the weekend. It’s also the best opening weekend figure of the career of the director Markku Pölönen.

Pölönen is more than happy about the situation: “The opening weekend figures are interesting to the director. It they weren’t, it would be the same as if an ice-hockey player wouldn’t be interested if his shot scores a goal. The opening result of Land of hope is outstanding. I confess I was nervous if I’d been possibly forgotten – or if our times are so cynical that a simple movie, drawing its strength from pure emotions, would be considered to be useless. It seems like the Finns have recognized themselves from the movie – and that’s a good thing.”

Comments Rimbo Salomaa, the producer of the film: “The numbers are fantastic for a domestic drama film. It’s not evident for an adult-oriented drama to draw an opening weekend audience like this. We have received a lot of feedback; the spectators are wiping tears and smiling at the end of the film, simultaneously. We have managed to touch and move our audiences.”