Pete Riski's Thrilling Short Follows Shocks and Surprises of Tommi Laiho's 'Broken Ones'

Award winning Finnish author Tommi Laiho released his latest crime novel Broken Ones in October this year and now it’s followed by a thrilling short film by Pete Riski through Directors Guild Helsinki to promote the book.  

Broken Ones is shocking, surprising, and even distressing film. It’s also age restricted for 16 years and older audience. But when knowing the context, the film reveals itself as a novel way to market a novel. It is just as film trailers are for films: it makes audience want to experience the whole story - know more. That meaning this time to read the book.  

“As far as I know, no one has ever done such short film or even a trailer for marketing purposes of novel. At least not in Finland, but I would love to question if in the whole world.” says Juha-Matti Nieminen, executive producer at Directors Guild Helsinki. 

Broken Ones novel is not just a crime story, but it dives deep inside every character’s mind. One of the main themes in the novel is the stories that people tell to themselves. Narrative of novel presents how we’re all broken inside. Some of us more and some less, some broken by themselves and some by others.  

Leading character of novel's crime plot is a killer whose father has raised him since a little boy to become a murderer, just like the father is. Killer of the book did not choose to be one, it was all put in him as a legacy.  

“Only later on in the novel killer who’s raised to be a murderer begins to question who he has been raised to be.” Tommi Laiho, author of the Broken Ones, tells.  

Short film Broken Ones is made for marketing purposes of the book. The story in film is inspired by novel but not taken from the book. It sticks strictly into the world of novel by using two characters from the book in leading roles of this tension teaser piece. The mood and the psychological aspects of both the novel and the short film are similar and for one who likes the other it’s on the cards to like the other one too. 

Pete Riski is known for his emotion filled directing work for plenty of major brands around the world. With this piece of work Pete takes a step towards exploring bit darker tones of emotions but he still knows his tricks. The film makes u-turns in emotions throughout the story from playful to distressing all the way to the final eye opener.  

“Books are all about emotions and experiencing different worlds and that’s why a regular kind of a story felt bit  thin when it comes to wakening up audiences’ interest towards the book. If we’re selling emotions in hardcover, we need to touch the emotive parts in people’s minds.” Director Pete Riski describes the decision of going deep down the boulevard of emotions in the film.  

“When I was asked to be part of this project, I didn't hesitate for a second. There's something very powerful in the book's theme, and the whole story felt very cinematic. The relationship between the father and son has a warm emotional core mixed with something extremely dark. Making you want to know more about them and  that's a sign of powerful drama.” Pete continues. 

Broken Ones book is published by a medium scale Finnish publisher Myllylahti, and the fact is that selling figures for novels in Finland are not too big. That’s mainly because of limited marketing which again is because of limited budgets.  

“This project might be opening a whole new universe for marketing of novels, whether it’s an audio or hardcover book. Marketing budgets will follow the sales figures, but before sales figures can rise people need to be aware of the book.” Novelist Tommi Laiho considers. 

“Since the first idea of this project I felt that there’s something ground breaking in it. We agreed with Tommi that we’ll only make the film if it’ll be something special. At this point it’s easy to say that we kept what we agreed.” Juha-Matti Nieminen concludes.

Broken Ones novel in bookstores in Finland. Broken Ones short film available online.