When Lari and Elias’ scenes were illegally uploaded to YouTube, the production did not want to intervene. In fact, they were pleased. The creators of Salkarare tell how the series has dealt with homosexuality and how it has affected it.
– It certainly brought comfort to quite a few young people at the turn of the millennium, he says Secret lives executive producer of the series Seija-Liisa Eskola.
Kalle Laitela, played by Pete Latu, brought homosexuality to the fore in Finnish TV entertainment.
Kalle’s path out of the closet was not easy and the reception was not only positive. Not in Kalle’s close circle, and not in TV viewers.
Kalle’s father Ismo (Esko Kovero) was anti-gay and did not accept his son’s homosexuality and coldly threw his child out of his home.
Now, twenty years later, Ismo’s values and attitude have turned upside down and father and son live under the same roof.
– It has been amazing to also follow Ismo’s growth story and how he is by his son’s side no matter what, Eskola says.
Kalle Laitela, played by Pete Latu, has been in the series since the beginning. Hannu Puukko
To Roolittaja’s speeches
Kalle has been a pioneer, but the series has also closely followed the love story of Lari and Elias, among other things. We even started talking about the Larias phenomenon.
Larias aroused international interest in the Finnish series in 2014. Lari, played by Ronny Roslöf, and Petteri Paavolan the love story of the actor Elias touched the viewers. Fans uploaded Lari and Elias’ scenes to YouTube and translated them into English, Spanish and Russian.
Even though the videos were uploaded to YouTube illegally, the production did not even consider removing them. In the production, we were only horrified by the positive publicity.
In an interview with Iltalehti in 2021, Petteri Paavola reflected that the long-lasting popularity of the Salatut elämät series is due to the fact that there are no taboos in the series.
When Paavola and Roslöf started in their roles in the early 2010s, the actor spoke to them separately.
– The actor had to separately make sure that we know what it means to appear gay in Secret Lives. Today, I don’t think it’s a big problem for many people. At that time, we were still “pioneers”, because sexual minorities had not been treated with such great reverence on TV anywhere in the world, Paavola said.
The actors say that feedback and especially praise also came from countries where homosexuality is a crime that can even get the death penalty.
Another giant phenomenon
The Larias phenomenon brought the actors an award and a huge amount of fan mail. – One very memorable moment was our victory in Finland’s first QX Gay Gala (TV star of the year award). It said that our work was noticed and appreciated, Petteri Paavola said earlier. Atte Kajova
Eskola is happy that no one’s sexual orientation is dealt with in TV entertainment anymore “like a sketch”. He brings up questionable examples from Finnish comedies of the 80s.
– There is no need to underline things. All the characters have their own problems, relationship twists and secrets, says Eskola.
The love story of Viola, played by Vivi Wahlström, and Mira, played by Olga Heikkala, has also become a phenomenon outside of Finland. The Miola phenomenon has arisen in the wake of Larias.
– It has felt really wonderful when messages have come from young fans that Viola and Mira’s story has been relevant in terms of their own self-acceptance. It has felt really good, Heikkala told Iltalehte in 2021.
Viola Angervuo aka Vivi Wahlström and Mira Angervuo aka Olga Heikkala have also become a phenomenon in the world. Jenni Gästgivar
The question arose
When Seija-Liisa Eskola has read statistics about the kind of diversity seen in Finnish leagues, she has been frustrated. Eskola knows that there is enough work, but a question has also arisen for him.
– I have thought about whether Salkkarit is included in these statistics at all. It has been studied how many of the characters are members of minority groups, and the end result is always zero point or something like a percent. Salkkarit has been showing different people and relationships for 25 years without underlining it. These people just happen to live in that apartment building, says Eskola.
Eskola, who started in Salkkarei 25 years ago as assistant director and director and returned to production this year after years, does not underestimate the importance of the series to Finns.
– When I came back, I said to everyone, “Now everyone stand up”. This is a national treasure, says Eskola.
And in a national treasure, according to Eskola, it is extremely important to show diversity.
Kalle and Petri – Pete Lattu and Esko Eerikäinen. Eerikäinen’s character joined the series in spring 2022. MTV3
Kalle and Sampo’s wedding was celebrated in the final episode of the season. MTV3
Hidden Lives went on summer break on June 22.