Joonas Saartamo

Acting

Joonas Saartamo

Born 1980-05-06 · Helsinki, Finland

Joonas Saartamo, born in Helsinki in 1980, is among the finest actors in Finland today. Joonas graduated from Helsinki Theatre Academy in 2012. He is known from the movies One-Way Ticket to Mombasa (2002), Beauty and the Bastard (2005), Silence (2011), The Mine (2016), The happiest day in the life of Olli Mäkiand (2016), which won the film award Un Certain Regard in Cannes. In televison he is known from the series; Pelkovaara (2004), Protectors (2008) and Welcome To Texas, season 1 (2017). The second series of Welcome To Texas will be screened in spring 2019. Jonaas has one of the major supporting roles in the film success and classic story The Unknown Solider, which premiered in 2017. Based on this story and edited material, a TV series will be screened in 2019. He will appear in a movie being released soon - Bayoneta - a boxing drama. Saartamo won the Jussi Statue in 2011 (The Finnish Oscar) for the best male actor in a leading role and has been nominated twice, once as the best male actor in a supporting role and once as best male in a leading role. Joonas is also known as the hip-hop artist Jonde, previously known as Alarik. in 2019, Joonas will play the role of Richard Wagner in the movie The Zurich Liaison

Acting credits

Unknown Soldier poster
7.4

The film follows Finnish army machine gun company in Continuation War against Soviet Union, 1941–1944. Based on Väinö Linna's best selling novel Tuntematon Sotilas (The Unknown Soldier) and the novel's uncensored version, Sotaromaani (A War Novel).

Unknown Soldier

2017

Vinski 2 poster
NR

The town of Hömpstad is once again under threat from criminals and Vinski's help is needed. When the criminals manage to steal the invisibility powder for themselves, Vinski has a real showdown on his hands.

Vinski 2

2026

The Mine poster
6.8

A young and ambitious civil servant Jussi finds himself being in charge of the environmental permit of a huge nickel and uranium mine in Northern Finland. The Talvivaara mine, led by a charismatic globe trotting visioner Pekka Perä is introducing an entirely new method of collecting minerals whilst creating jobs in one of the poorest areas in Scandinavia. Jussi slowly discovers that he has been led astray by several people and that the new method has serious downsides he did not forsee. The mine is causing environmental hazards that are being hushed down. A new application for another permit is brough to his table by the same mine. Along with the application comes an interesting job offer and a chance of a new beginning. Jussi has to decide whether he will play along and if so, with whom.

The Mine

2016

The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki poster
6.6

Summer 1962 and Olli Mäki has a shot at the world championship title in featherweight boxing. From the Finnish countryside to the bright lights of Helsinki, everything has been prepared for his fame and fortune. All Olli has to do is lose weight and concentrate. But there is a problem – he has fallen in love with Raija.

The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki

2016

Attack on Finland poster
5.6

The reception for Finland's Independence Day is rudely interrupted when the presidential palace is attacked and the state leadership is taken hostage. Max Tanner of the Security Police is appointed as a negotiator in the hostage crisis, that unfolds as part of a bigger plan to undermine European security.

Attack on Finland

2021

Bayonet poster
6.1

Miguel “Bayoneta” Galíndez is a retired boxer from Tijuana who finds himself living in a cramped flat in Finland. As his future begins to look up, a desire for redemption draws him back into the ring.

Bayonet

2018

Silence poster
4.8

A drama between people under unconventional circumstances. In the Second World War Finland was the only nation who brought casualties killed-in-action back to be buried at home. These actions were carried out by men and women working in assembly centres near enemy lines. Silence is a story of a group of people in a limbo between life and death, in a mental no-man's- land, where heaven and hell, horror and joy, love and fear touch each other.

Silence

2011

Opponent poster
6.6

In the aftermath of a devastating rumor, Iman and his family have been forced to flee Iran. As refugees, they end up in a run-down hotel in northern Sweden. Despite feeling powerless, Iman tries to maintain his role as the family patriarch. To increase their chances of asylum, he breaks a promise to his wife and joins the local wrestling club. As the rumors start to resurface, Iman’s fear and desperation begin to take a hold.

Opponent

2023

Beauty and the Bastard poster
6.2

Even though Nelli's parents have the perfect career and man planned for her, she dreams of becoming a singer. In a studio, she meets a young hip hop artist Sune and asks him to help her make a demo tape.

Beauty and the Bastard

2005

Fanatics poster
5.4

A buddy comedy about a fanatic small town football supporter who falls in love with a perfect girl, only to notice that his dream-girl supports the wrong football team. Now he has to befriend the enemy or forget the girl he loves.

Fanatics

2012

Itty Bitty Princess poster
7.5

When the anarchistic princess of her own life, Princess Itty Bitty is told that her little brother, who still lives in her mother's womb, is about to move into her room, she's had enough. Drawing on the wisdom of her quirky neighbor, Auntie Jenssen, Itty Bitty devises a plan and conjures the bossy grown-ups to Hilldiggle with the help of her magical dog, Sausage.

Itty Bitty Princess

2024

One-Way Ticket to Mombasa poster
6.1

Pete loses his consciousness while playing in a pop band. The diagnosis is harsh and the doctor cannot say for sure whether Pete will celebrate his 18th birthday. One night, encouraged by the vodka on Jusa's 18th birthday, Pete confesses his love to Kata, his dream girl. Together with Jusa, they go to Lapland where Kata has her summer job. In Jusa's wild company, Pete experiences something which he never felt before as they decide to take a trip to Mombasa via Lapland.

One-Way Ticket to Mombasa

2002

Gloriously Wasted poster
4.3

Juha Berg is a 30-year-old hopeless drunk in the Kallio neighborhood of Helsinki. Juha doesn't have the first intention of changing his way of life - just the opposite. He really enjoys sundry sexual relationships, adrenalin-inducing violence and, of course, alcohol for which he gets money even if by collecting bottles. But the hilarity in a drunken haze soon gets a run for its money as the passionate Juha falls in love with his AA group leader. The relationship with Tiina progresses quickly to dating and Juha has to make pivotal decisions. Juha has to begin balancing between maintaining a functional intimate relationship and his old lifestyle. Juha's best friend Kristian does his best to sabotage the relationship, and Juha's shaky decision to stay sober is further hindered by Mikael, an expert on German erotica. But how far can you go before there is only one solution left?

Gloriously Wasted

2012

1944 The Final Defence poster
5.8

The Soviet army breaks through the Finnish defences on the Karelian Isthmus in June 1944, advancing with overwhelming force. Somehow, the Finnish troops must find the strength to fight back, with all odds against them. The Battle of Tali-Ihantala was the largest battle ever fought in the history of the Nordic countries. This film depicts the true events through five separate stories.

1944 The Final Defence

2007

No artwork available
4.5

The many problems of marriage and relationships may sometimes condense into something as trivial an affair as parking a car

Pocket Parking

2013

Onni von Sopanen poster
9.0

11-year-old Onni is struck with the idea that his parents aren't his biological parents.

Onni von Sopanen

2006

Jill, Joy and the Mysterious Stranger poster
6.0

A new orphanage opens near Jill and Joy's house, and a boy named Pekki runs away from there. Pekki ends up living in Jill and Joy's cabin and tells the girls how bleak life is in the orphanage under the strict command of the headmistress Minna Pinna.

Jill, Joy and the Mysterious Stranger

2017

Täydelliset vieraat poster
5.0

A group of middle-aged friends get together for dinner. The playful banter between couples who have known each other all their lives escalates into a adult version of the childhood game of truth or dare when no one dares to refuse the challenge. For this evening, all calls, texts, WhatsApps and other messages are public. Is it true that no one has any secrets?

Täydelliset vieraat

2025

Rolli and the Secret of All Time poster
5.5

Rolli and little elf girl Juniper along with the rest of the rollis and other strange creatures lead peaceful and rollishly fun lives in their flourishing Rolli Village. One day the inquisitive friends Rolli and Juniper hear incredible news from Malcolm the Maggot: somewhere far away, beyond mountains, forests and the sea, lies a place called The Beginning of All Time. That’s where the storks always take off on their trips to deliver babies in small bundles to their new homes. Rolli and Juniper cannot help but become curious. Both of them have fallen into Rolli Village in a bundle from the sky, and especially Juniper has always wondered where she came from. The two friends decide to throw themselves into a joint adventure. They embark on a trip toward The Beginning of All Time in order to find the answer to life’s greatest secret.

Rolli and the Secret of All Time

2016

Jill and Joy's Winter poster
5.6

Jill and Joy (both 9) live in their own house like any other little girls, except that they might be a little happier than most little girls, as they get to live in their own house specifically designed for the two. One December evening a small car, barely the size of a shoebox, pulls up in front their house, and a teensy-weensy family gets out; it's the McTiny family. The family has become homeless after a road roller smashed their home. Planning to live with the girls temporarily, the family moves in with Jill and Joy but soon finds out that not all big people have good intentions towards them. Jill and Joy's Winter is based on a beloved book by the same name, written by a Finnish writer named Marjatta Kurenniemi.

Jill and Joy's Winter

2015

Ella and Friends – Operation Otter poster
6.3

Ella and her school class, led by their teacher, go on a hilarious summer trip, but to everyone's surprise they find themselves in the middle of a major otter rescue operation.

Ella and Friends – Operation Otter

2025

Resistant poster
6.0

Documentary film about Arndt Pekurinen and the peace movement in the early 20th century. Pekurinen spoke out for pacifism, conscientious objection and peace, and received support for his actions around the world. However, his worldview collided with the nationalist and militaristic atmosphere of the era in Finland. He was considered a troublemaker, a traitor, and a caricature of masculinity. The film is a universal and timeless account of a man persecuted for his opinions. At the same time, it is a description of the weak tolerance of young independent Finland towards dissidents. Pekurinen was executed during the Continuation War by his compatriots on November 5, 1941.

Resistant

2021

Fjällnäs poster
NR

An eco-artist embarks on a trip to a symposium in remote Sweden, herself the keynote figure. Fears of her work being exposed begin to manifest and a suspicious man who's doggedly undermining her every move, provokes her self- sabotage.

Fjällnäs

2021

Headfirst poster
5.1

Headfirst is a black comedy about a single mother with anger management problems and her teenage daughter who is always in trouble at school. With yet another school comes a new teacher and a blast from the past for the mother. Before long, an accidental pickpocket and a notoriously lousy storyteller teams up with this one dysfunctional sort of a family. Nothing is the same anymore. Headfirst is a story about missing teeth, strange friends, hidden dreams and long-gone love. And about a hare.

Headfirst

2014