New Finnish TV Series Conflict Explores a Crimean-Style Invasion on Finnish Soil.
The Finnish TV series Conflict (Konflikti) imagines how a Crimean-style invasion could unfold on Finland’s southern coast. The six-episode drama begins with an unknown enemy attacking a small coastal town during Midsummer festivities. Annika Berg (Julia Korpinen), a conscript, and her squad struggle to hold the occupied zone, while their commander, Rami Ohrankämmen (Peter Franzén), searches for his missing family.
Meanwhile, President Linnea Saaristo (Sara Soulié) faces an impossible choice, torn between national security and personal stakes as her family is caught in the conflict zone. Peter Franzén, known for his roles in True Blood, Vikings, and Beck, stars alongside international names like Dylan Smith (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Nadia Forde (Once Upon a Time in London), and Larry Lamb (Gavin & Stacey). The series is helmed by director Aku Louhimies, co-written with Andrei Alén, author Helena Immonen, and screenwriter Jari Olavi Rantala.
Saab Contributed Video Footage
Remarkably timely, Conflict is an eerily realistic portrayal of modern warfare. It serves not just as gripping entertainment but also as a rallying call for national defence readiness. Given its themes, it’s no surprise that the Finnish Defence Forces and Saab have lent their support to the production. Saab contributed existing video footage of its military products, while the Finnish Defence Forces provided critical support, including combat training for the cast and access to vehicles, aircraft, and weaponry.
Filmed at multiple locations, including central Helsinki, the series features scenes of military exercises integrated seamlessly into the narrative. One notable sequence involved a helicopter raid filmed during actual Defence Forces training maneuvers. Director Louhimies admitted the pressure this created for the production team:
“There was no room for retakes. The soldiers performed their operations, and we captured what we could in real-time.”
Shot over nearly 100 days, the series emphasizes Finland’s Midsummer setting, with its unique natural light adding a haunting beauty to the story’s intensity. Conflict premiered in Finland in November 2024, with negotiations for international distribution underway.
