Frozen City

Losing everything is just a beginning.

A feature film saluting Scorsese’s Taxi Driver

After wrapping the principal photography of his critically acclaimed and award-winning movie Frozen Land, director Aku Louhimies made a 90-minute feature Frozen City (Valkoinen kaupunki), based on the fate of one of the principal characters in TV series Fragments (Irtiottoja), the taxi driver Veli-Matti.

Frozen City was premiered in Finland 17th November 2006 after several awards at international Films Festivals since July 2006. Frozen City was also the great winner of the Finnish Jussi Gaala 2007 with five Finnish Movie Awards: directing (Aku Louhimies), leading actor (JanneVirtanen), leading actress Susanna Anteroinen), script (Paavo Westerberg, Mikko Kouki) and editing (Samu Heikkilä).

Synopsis

Abandoned by his wife, the man who has lost his family is convicted of manslaughter – an act of violence which, hopelessly drunk at the time, he can not remember committing.

The storyline explores Veli-Matti’s tragedy in great and moving depth and makes very real the rawest and most painful themes of a human life. The series was a critical success because of its many-faceted storytelling and the sympathy it demonstrates for the human condition, brought to life by outstanding actors who improvised a great deal of their dialogue.

Fragments swept up all possible awards in the galas and competitions of the Finnish TV industry and Aku Louhimies was chosen the director of the year in 2004. Set wholly in Helsinki’s distinctive streets and buildings, Fragments was aired on Channel Four Finland in the autumn of 2003.

KEY CAST
Veli-Matti Lehtonen JANNE VIRTANEN
Hanna Lehtonen SUSANNA ANTEROINEN
Aada AADA HÄMES
Santtu SANTTU NUUTINEN
Viivi VIIVI HÄMES