Director Teemu Nikki, co-stars Pekka Strang, Krista Kosonen talk Mister8

Saturday afternoon Canneseries’ general audience was invited to discover at Cannes’ Grand Auditorium Palais Lumiere, the highly original black and white relationship drama Mister8, created by producer Jani Pösö and director Teemu Nikki, behind the Venice Orizzonti Extra Audience Award winning film A Blind Man Who Didn’t Want to See Titanic.

The 8x30’ series written by Vesa Virtanen together with Nikki and Antero Jokinen, tells of Maria, a successful business woman, with little time for a full-time relationship, but enough time for one man each day of the week: a personal trainer, a young poet, a single dad, a chef, a fireman, a stand -up comedian and a soldier. The well-oiled contractually-binding relationship between the seven men and Maria is suddenly disrupted when an eighth man enters Maria’s life: Juho the engineer, who wants her more than one day a week. He tricks the other guys to get rid of them, all in the name of love-or is it really?

In the title roles are two of Finland’s finest actors, Pekka Strang (Tom of Finland, Bäckström, The Paradise), and Krista Kosonen (Beforeigners, Blade Runner 2049, Tove, Bullets), who both starred in the 2019 Cannes Directors Fortnight Dogs Don’t Wear Pants.

The series is sold internationally by Federation Entertainment.

We spoke to Teemu Nikki, Pekka Strang and Krista Kosonen.

Teemu Nikki can you tell us about the genesis for the story?
TN: Six years ago, I had the idea of a woman, with seven men in her life-one for each day of the week. I thought…that would be hilarious, and what would happen if there was a Mister 8 who would be jealous and want the woman all for himself. From there, I wrote the synopsis, Jani and I contacted Elisa Viihde, who immediately loved the idea. Then I drafted the first episode and Vesa Virtanen wrote the script. It was the first time that Jani and I didn’t write the material ourselves. Usually we write our own stuff-besides Euthanizer and Titanic…that I wrote on my own.

How would you describe the show and the main characters?
TN: I ‘d say it’s a cynical neo-noir comedy about relationships, which gets darker and darker. It’s about men - how narrow minded we can be in our relationships. Some men are very happy to have short term relationships; I wanted to play with this concept and bring the absurdity in it. Maria in a way is the male archetype-she enjoys the power she has over men.

The characters do talk about love, but there isn’t any really. Perhaps Mister 8 truly loves Maria, but he is also the meanest character.

The film breaks the usual gender stereotype and power relations between men and women. It is quite feminist in that sense…
TN: I guess so. Maria in a way is in a relationship with a group of men who combined, represent one person with different sides. She tries to find the perfect partner but actually only takes the best part in everyone, not to commit to anyone in particular.

Can you explain your choice to shoot in black and white?
TN: We didn’t want to shoot it like a typical film noir, but as a modern film, just shot in black and white. It also suited the unique story, and gave it a non-defined setting-not set in Finland but in a cinematic universe. With my DoP Jarmo Kiuru, we also decided not to have many shots. We rehearsed, pushing the style as far as we could. It was my first experience with a full-length film in black & white. It was super interesting.

Krista and Pekka both starred in Dogs Don’t Wear Pants. Did you have them in mind after watching JP Valkeapää’s film?
TN: I love JP’s films, but haven’t seen Dogs as I didn’t want it to influence me. But both Krista and Pekka were in my mind from the beginning.

Krista, what was your first reaction when Teemu approached you?
KK: Jani and Teemu are super well-known as dual creators in Finland. Jani would say…Mister 8 is a perfect idea, it will be super fun! Then Teemu would say….well it’s the story of a woman who has 7 men…We’ll see how it will go. They didn’t have a script at the time. But basically, they wanted to explore the concept of people who expect too much from a partner. They didn’t say it would be a crazy comedy. Now, I realise how the storyline has evolved into quite a dark comedy, which is really interesting.

How would you describe Maria? What drives her?
KK: She is locked up. Her multiple relationship allows her not to be close to anyone…I think it’s absolutely terrible, but it was an interesting premise for a series. It is a very refreshing portrait of a woman. She’s far from being traditional.

How would you feel about having a different man every day in your life?
KK: I would hate that. It would feel so shallow, not getting to really know anyone in particular.

Pekka when were you first approached for your part?
PS: I came in when the script was in development stage. Jani and Teemu had the storyline. It could already be read as a comedy. For me the series is really about Maria. Every man tells something about her. She needs a personal trainer, handsome but not so smart, she needs a poet to have arts in her life. She has a security guard to feel secure. The script shows different characters that could be combined into one person.

What do you think of your character?
PS: He sets people free. I think the other guys are not honest. But Juho is a nice guy who wants to help people in a way. He is also ready to do anything to be with Maria. I like to think of things as simple. I really believe that he is in love with Maria.

Mister8 is in competition at Canneseries. TV drama is booming, giving power back to talents. Krista how do you feel about this? You also star in the Norwegian show Beforeigners, watched by millions of viewers on HBO….
KK: It’s wonderful and it has happened so quickly! Today, there are so many more interesting roles. Beforeigners 2 will be bigger, and it will premiere on HBO Max later this year. It is crazier. What the creators have done with my character is super fun!

Pekka what do you think of the drama boom?
PS: I believe we have seen the high point, and that drama has peaked. People say film is dying, but I think it will reverse, people will reach a saturation point on long-running series and will long for a good drama in 1h40min. Today the film market is highly polarised, between blockbusters, on one side, low budget films at the other end. In between, you have TV series now.

What’s next for you?
PS: I’m doing a small horror pic called Knocking. Then I’m doing a series for Moskito TV about the bank crisis called The Invincibles (Rosvopankki) and after that, I will work again with Teemu on his family film Snot & Splash.

KK: I’m preparing for press junkets around Beforeigners season 2. I’ve also just finished shooting in Italy a big US/German TV show called The Swarm. For now, I’m doing a lot of audio books in Finland. I am hoping for a Mister 8-season 2 and Beforeigners season 3.