About Bordertown

Bordertown is a Finnish crime drama and Nordic noir television series that was released in 2016. The show revolves around Detective Inspector Kari Sorjonen, a highly gifted detective whose observational skills and commitment to logical deduction are legendary throughout the Finnish police force. Sorjonen takes a new job as the lead investigator for SECRI, a serious crimes unit that operates on the Finnish-Russian border, to spend more time with his family — only to discover he’s stepped into a network of cross-border crime that will keep him busier than ever.

Making / Production

The series was produced by the Finnish broadcasting company Yle, in association with Federation Entertainment, a French production and distribution company. The series was shot on location in Lappeenranta, a city near the Russian Border in Finland. The series’s atmospheric cinematography captures the beautiful but often stark landscapes of the Finnish-Russian border area.

Actors

• Ville Virtanen plays the lead role of Detective Kari Sorjonen. He brings an understated intensity to the role, depicting Sorjonen as highly intelligent yet deeply human and empathetic.
• Matleena Kuusniemi does a splendid job as Pauliina, Sorjonen's wife, portraying a complex mix of strength and fragility.
• Anu Sinisalo plays Lena Jaakkola, a former FSB agent who becomes entangled in the bordertown's crimes and intrigues. Her nuanced performance brings depth to the character's desperation and determination to protect her daughter.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Bordertown is actually filmed in Lappeenranta, located in eastern Finland, just 20 kilometers from the Russian border. This gives the series an authentic border town atmosphere.
• The original Finnish title of Bordertown is "Sorjonen", named after its lead character.
• The series has been a hit not just in Finland but internationally, and is one of the most popular Finnish series on Netflix.

Awards

In 2017, Bordertown won the Golden Venla Awards (Kultainen Venla) in several categories: Best Drama Series, Best Actor for Ville Virtanen, and Best Actress for Anu Sinisalo.

Quotes

• "A detective sees a forest where everyone else sees trees."
• "Every clue will take you closer to the truth, but further from innocence."
• "There are no coincidences. Only patterns we cannot see."

Music/Soundtrack

• The haunting theme song of Bordertown is "Out to Sea" by Finnish musician Tomi Malm.
• The rest of the soundtrack is composed by Sasse Lindholm, whose moody tracks blend perfectly with the series' atmosphere.