THE TOUGH ONES – Rebellion is not a solution, it´s a way of life

The Tough Ones directed by Aleksi Mäkelä started the new rise of Finnish cinema 15th of January 1999. It gathered over 330,000 spectators in Finnish movie theatres.

The Tough Ones is a powerful story about three young men, two of whom – Antti and Jussi – have served five years for armed robbery. The third member of the triumvirate – Heikki – has been studying law while his friends did time. Jussi (Samuli Edelmann) and Antti (Juha Veijonen) are the tough ones, who can´t live by the law.

The story begins when Antti and Jussi are released and return to their small home town to discover that Heikki is the new acting sheriff and their hidden bank loot has disappeared. Despite Heikki´s encouragement, the straight and narrow way proves unprofitable and the two ex-cons join Antti´s grandfather in the family bootlegging business, the motto being: “Honest work has never paid off, and never will”.

Events turn sour when Antti and Jussi sell moonshine to minors, turning the town against them. Heikki´s alleged negligence in the whole affair produces and old enemy in the shape of police chief Törnqvist who arrives to investigate the town´s dissatisfaction.

As tragedy mounts, an unpredictable and psychotic Jussi drags Antti into a spiral of destruction that not even Sisko – sister of one, lover of the other – can prevent.
The duo´s last desperate bid for freedom ends in a surprise that a repentant Antti will never suspect – a secret between Heikki…
… and the audience.

Selected cast credits
Jussi Murikka SAMULI EDELMANN
Antti Karhu JUHA VEIJONEN
Heikki Grönberg TEEMU LEHTILÄ
Grandfather Karhu KALEVI HAAPOJA
Roope Karhu ARTTU KAPULAINEN
Sisko Nenonen SARI HAVAS
Stig Nenonen EERO AHO
Paula PIA LATOMÄKI
Törnqvist KARI VÄÄNÄNEN
Rahikainen VESA MÄKELÄ
Romppainen OIVA LOHTANDER
Paananen JUSSI LAMPI
Laura KATARIINA KAITUE

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PREMIERE
15.9.1999

DIRECTOR
Aleksi Mäkelä

PRODUCER
Markus Selin / Solar Films

SCREENWRITER
Aleksi Bardy

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Pini Hellstedt

PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Risto Karhula

COSTUME DESIGNER
Nina Puumalainen (nyk. Lindholm)

SOUND DESIGNER
Pekka Karjalainen

MUSIC
Kalle Chydenius

FILM EDITOR
Kauko Lindfors

35 mm / colour / 2.35:1 / DTS Digital Sound / 99 min