The film is based on a theatre play of the same name by writer Unto Heikura, which Jussi Koivusilta directed for "Kuhmon Nuorisoseura" in the summer of 1974-1975. Heikura provided initial ideas for the film, but after six script revisions, only the title and some of the same characters were left from the original play.
Based on writer Unto Heikura, his contract guaranteed 4% of the film's box office gross (after the film is profitable), but he didn't receive the money due to bankruptcy-related issues.
The first feature film for director Timo Linnasalo, actors Raimo Grönberg and Timo Torikka (who were still students at the Helsinki Theatre Academy during the production), and production company Reppufilmi.
Writer Unto Heikura lived in the Kuumu village in Kuhmo as a five-year-old boy in 1944. While the film is not based on a true story, it's aimed to reflect the feelings in the Finnish border areas with Soviet Union at the end of the Continuation War.
Director Timo Linnasalo and Kari Kekkonen originally planned to continue their collaboration, that started with the documentary Kylä (1976), but ultimately, the film was shot by cinematographer Antti Peippo (the Arriflex 35BL camera was owned by Filminor).
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