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| Metsolat | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by | TV2 Drama |
| Written by | Carl Mesterton Anna-Liisa Mesterton Curt Ulfstedt Heikki Vuento Miisa Lindén |
| Directed by | Carl Mesterton |
| Starring | Ahti Haljala Helinä Viitanen Kari Hakala Svante Martin Katriina Honkanen Jaana Raski |
| Composers | Juha Tikka Esa Kaartamo |
| Country of origin |  Finland |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 41 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Raimo Mikkola |
| Cinematography | Timo Kapanen |
| Editor | Carl Mesterton |
| Running time | 45–65 minutes per episode |
| Production company | Yleisradio |
| Original release | |
| Network | Yle TV2 |
| Release | January 13, 1993 – October 25, 1995 |
Metsolat was a Finnish drama television series produced by Yleisradio and aired between 1993 and 1995. Directed and edited by Carl Mesterton, the series was co-written by Mesterton alongside his wife Anna-Lisa Mesterton, Curt Ulfstedt, and Miisa Lindén. The series depicts the life of a fictional small-scale farming family living in Hoikka, a municipality in the Kainuu region, from midsummer 1987 to Christmas 1996. The series gained significant popularity, with over a million viewers per episode.
The story and its subsequent events have been adapted into five novels, all of which have since sold out.
In 1994, Metsolat received the Pro Maaseutu award and an honorary certificate from the Telvis press jury. The following year, Carl Mesterton was awarded the Special Telvis Award, and the series received the Kunniakämmen award from the Invalidiliitto (Finnish Disabled Persons Association) for being the best Finnish television program addressing disability.
Plot
Antti and Annikki Metsola (née Leppävaara) live on a small farm called Leppävaara, located in the fictional municipality of Hoikka in Kainuu. Annikki's mother resides in her own cottage on the same farm. After her father's death, Annikki inherited half of Leppävaara, while her mother owns the other half. Antti lives at Leppävaara as a son-in-law, as his family farm was ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944. Antti and Annikki have three sons: Risto, Heikki, and Erkki, as well as two daughters: Jaana and Eeva. Risto lives in Tampere with his wife Raija, son Lasse, and daughter Liisa. Heikki lives in Sweden with his wife Kristina and their two young sons. Erkki has remained at Leppävaara. Jaana resides in Sotkamo as the wife of bank manager Jaakko Järvenheimo and works as a cosmetologist. The youngest child, Eeva, studies medicine in Tampere.
The protagonist and driving force of Metsolat is Erkki. The antagonist and significant supporting character is Kari Kaukovaara, a large-scale farmer who constantly opposes Erkki’s efforts to develop his ski resort. The planning, construction, expansion, and operation of the ski resort, called Urjan Rinteet, is the central plotline of the series. The series also follows the lives of Risto, Jaana, and Eeva, while Heikki remains a secondary character. After losing his job, Risto moves from Tampere to Hoikka, and his marriage ends. Jaana and Jaakko relocate from Sotkamo to Tampere during the series. Jaakko loses his job but soon finds a new career, while Jaana becomes a successful entrepreneur. Eeva graduates as a doctor after some challenges and marries Stig Eklund during the series. After a serious car accident (episode 14), Eeva is separated for a long time from Stig, who is paralyzed from the waist down. However, their marriage heals and stabilizes. Among Antti and Annikki’s grandchildren, the series particularly follows Liisa’s life. Liisa graduates from high school, searches for herself, and starts an organic farm near Leppävaara with her idealistic partner Osmo Lampinen.
Episodes of Metsolat often begin at the Leppävaara farm, where Antti and Annikki discuss their offspring's activities and plans. From there, the story transitions to events at Urjan Rinteet, the Hoikka health center, Tampere, Parainen, or wherever the children happen to live and work.
In addition to Stig, Osmo, and Kari Kaukovaara, significant supporting characters include Kari’s sister Helena, who marries Erkki in the summer of 1991 and dies accidentally in early 1993. The marriage between Erkki and Helena Kaukovaara spans from episode 24 to episode 37. Riitta Vanhanen plays a prominent role, especially during the second and third seasons. She becomes Erkki’s secretary and later his wife after Helena’s death. Risto’s ex-wife Raija and son Lasse remain minor supporting characters. Other supporting roles include Stig’s father, Helena’s first husband Meriläinen, Erkki’s childhood friend Eino Vanhanen, Eino’s uncle Arvo Vanhanen, bank manager Heikkinen and his daughter, the municipal manager, and Liisa’s brief fling Turo. Heikki’s Swedish wife Kristina appears mainly as a background character, with her Finnish language skills improving over the series.
Kari and Helena Kaukovaara are distantly related to the Leppävaara family, as their grandfather was the cousin of Annikki’s father. Annikki’s mother worked as a maid at the Kaukovaara estate before marrying Annikki’s father.
The events of the first season of Metsolat take place from 1987 to 1990, during the peak of Finland’s economic boom and the onset of the 1990s recession. The second and third seasons cover 1991–1993, the deepest years of the recession. The epilogue-like final episode is set after the recession and includes recollections of Christmas during World War II.
Cast
- Ahti Haljala as Antti Metsola
- Helinä Viitanen as Annikki Metsola (née Leppävaara)
- Kari Hakala as Erkki Metsola
- Svante Martin as Risto Metsola
- Anna-Leena Härkönen as Liisa Metsola
- Katriina Honkanen as Eeva Metsola-Eklund (née Metsola)
- Jaana Raski as Jaana Järvenheimo (née Metsola)
- Esko Raipia as Jaakko Järvenheimo
- Juha Hyppönen as Kari Kaukovaara
- Mikael Andersson as Stig Eklund
- Anu Hälvä as Helena Metsola (formerly Meriläinen, née Kaukovaara)
- Jari Salmi as Osmo Lampinen
References
- Vatka, Miia (13 January 2018). "Metsolat-sarjan Hoikalla on aito esikuva - näin kainuulainen kunta lavastettiin Mouhijärvelle". Iltalehti. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- "Metsolat". Elävä arkisto. Yleisradio. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original on 28 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
- "Metsolat". YLE TV2 Drama Archive. Yleisradio. Archived from the original on 29 June 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- "TV2 Theater Awarded Programs". Yle Vintti. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- "KANSALLINEN KATARSIS: Metsolat-televisiosarjan selviytymistarinat (p. 26/99)" (PDF) (in Finnish). University of Tampere. May 2014. Archived from the original (pdf) on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
External links
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