Inspired by true events, the 6x55’ series tells of the young Finnish diplomats Tapani Brotherus and Ilkka Jaamala who decide to hide over 2000 Chilean political dissidents, trying to escape Augusto Pinochet’s military junta’s persecution. The two men are invisible heroes as neither the media, nor the Finnish government are aware of their plan.

Persbrandt plays the famous Swedish ambassador Harald Edelstam - who at the time, was the most visible human rights activist, with the backing of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme. The €3.6 million series is co-written by Tarja Kylmä and Manuela Infante, and co-directed by Mika Kurvinen (Welcome to Texas) and celebrated Chilean writer/director Alicia Scherson (Family Life). Producers are Yle’s Pekka Ruohoranta, Kaiho Republic’s Liisa Penttilä-Asikainen and Pete Eklund, as well as Leonora González and Sergio Gándara of Chile’s Parox S.L.A.  Chilevision TV and the CNTV foundation are involved with the series.

Producer Liisa Penttilä-Asikainen said: “At its best, drama reveals something about the world around us and the people in it while also getting us to really empathize with peoples’ destinies. Invisible Heroes contains a humanist story of heroism, a wide range of emotions from thrills to laughter and fear to comfort, which is why it has brought together and inspired talents from two such distant countries in such a fantastic manner.”

Parox’s producer Leonora González and Sergio Gándara added: “Many eloquent films have been made in Chile about the junta’s time in power, but through the portrayal of the Finnish diplomats and the consulates’ solidarity, Invisible Heroes shines a whole new light on the events from 1973 to 1975. The story also helps bring understanding to the great migrations happening around the world right now."

The series starts production on June 11 and will premiere on Yle in April 2019.

Invisible Heroes is part of the Finnish public broadcaster’s larger commitment to high end international dramas with the Fuengirola-set crime series Paradise, co-produced with Spanish media giant Mediapro. The series will also premiere in 2019.