Punainen peto (Red Beast) is a biographical film about Eetu Salin (1866–1919), a key figure in Finland’s pursuit of equality and democracy.

Co-directed by Antti-Jussi Marjamäki and Veera W. Vilo, the film explores the painful impact of the Civil War on Finnish history.

To Finland’s bourgeois establishment, Salin, the powerful labor organizer, was a feared figure, derisively branded the “Red Beast.”

He was influential in founding Finland’s Social Democratic Party (SDP) and advocating for justice.

The film portrays his efforts, alongside friends, to prevent the Civil War while facing personal struggles.

Although the film is not a political statement, it reflects a divided society, resonating with current societal polarization.

“At the heart of Eetu Salin’s legacy is the advancement of social justice. It remains one of the central European values that must be defended in the current global situation,” director Veera W. Vilo said in a press release.

Veera W. Vilo as Leena Tanner, a pivotal figure in Salin’s life. Photograph: Bright Fame Pictures

Known for her roles in successful Finnish independent films by Bright Fame Pictures, including Backwood Madness and Free Skate, Veera W. Vilo makes her directorial debut with Red Beast. She also plays the historical figure Leena Tanner.

“As a filmmaker, I am always primarily interested in the person, and Eetu’s story has revealed many layers and much that audiences can identify with, for better and for worse,” Vilo said.

For Marjamäki, Red Beast is his second feature after a gripping portrait of “Chopin of the North,” composer Selim Palmgren, in Selim (2019).