07/02/2012

”When I say it is a Cold War movie, people think of James Bond or Harry Palmer, or ask if it is political, but no – this is a western, instead of horses we have a jeep, and instead of cowboys two soldiers,” explained Finnish director Atso Parnanen (pictured), who is currently in post-production with his feature debut In Clear Sight.

A writer-consultant, Parnanen worked for film festivals in Finland and the UK, before embarking on his micro-budget project (under €100K), which he also scripted an produced. ”I thought it was time to collect the IOUs and favours and use my connections from when I was doing story editing or helping other filmmakers,” he explained.

Set during the Cold War, In Clear Sight follows two US soldiers stationed in West Germany who are sent to the East to keep an eye on a military excercise conducted by the Soviet Red Army. During their mission, they are approached by a mysterious young woman who wants to defect to the West.

With UK casting casting director Jane Frisby on board, Parnanen was able to attract a string of international actors for the leads, including Todd Boyce (Spy Game, Beaver Falls), Matthew Marsh (The Iron Lady [+see also:
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”We were making this as the Amish built their barns – everyone on the team liked the script and the fact that we were shooing on film,” said Parnanan. Interiors were lensed at High Elms Manor in the UK, exteriors in Germany and mainly in the Finnish forests assisted by a Finn with a huge collection of military vehicles.

”We began last year in January, then we waited for the snow to melt and completed principal photography in June. The film is now in post for sound and score, and we hope to finish it during the spring. No solid deals yet, but we plan to have some sort of presence in Cannes, however small it might be,” he concluded.