Vares

An edgy and rainy thriller. The hero of Reijo Mäki's books, private detective Jussi Vares, follows a woman into the middle of a criminal gang that is after a stash of millions of dollars with deadly efficiency. A spiral of deceit, sex and violence escalates into a frenzy of action in a never-ending rain.

Aleksi Mäkelä's sixth feature film is based on Reijo Mäki's detective story The Yellow Widow. The film is succinctly titled Vares, after the main character Jussi Vares. Shot in autumn 2003, the film premiered on 23 July 2004. Produced by Solar Films, the hard-boiled action thriller is a step up from Mäkelä's previous hit film, Bad Boys. The film has both a pulp and a film noir feel: a private detective, passion, betrayal and crime in an endlessly rainy environment.

Introduction to the film

The beautiful and elegant Sergeant Eeva Sunila captivates private detective Jussi Vares during a training exercise and charms him. The appearance of Eeva, who has shattered the peace of mind, as the lead story in the national news, draws Vares into a frantic chase in rainy southern Finland.

The Mafia's stolen criminal millions are hidden in a cache known only to a reluctant fugitive. There are many takers in this pile of money, for whom the life of a fellow human being is worth nothing.

Eeva Sunila finds herself being an edible pawn in a game involving the treacherous man-eater Ifigenia, the ruthless businessman Miesman, the bribed cop Koitere and the professional killers Munck and Tetsuo.

Unarmed by necessity, Vares is a man of action, driven forward by a remarkable chivalry. It weighs more heavily than his own life. The toughest domestic film thriller of all time brings to the screen the middle-aged hero of Reijo Mäki's books, who likes beer and spots a beautiful woman.

In a merciless showdown, rain washes away blood and death is ever-present.

ROLES INCLUDE:
Juha Veijonen
Laura Malmivaara
Samuli Edelmann
Jari Halonen
Minna Turunen
Pekka Valkeejärvi
Kari Hietalahti
Jorma Tommila
Markku Peltola
Jasper Pääkkönen
Santeri Kinnunen
Tuula Nyman
Sulevi Peltola
Oiva Lohtander
Svante Martin