Hot Picks: Mobile 101

Rabbit Films’ Mobile 101 provides a European, non-English-language foil to the rarefied world of big tech-focused drama, carving its own path but hoping to emulate the successes of US works such as AMC Networks’ cult series Halt And Catch Fire.

The six-part Finnish-language series, which is getting its universal premiere at the London TV Screenings, charts the true story of the rise of Finnish telecoms giant Nokia and how it navigated setbacks and lawsuits from rival – and more intimidatingly powerful – telcos to become the world’s leading mobile phone manufacturer, before an equally vertiginous fall from grace.

The story picks up in 1988, with the small but ambitious company attempting to conquer the world with its new mobile phone tech. In its way, however, is US giant Motorola, which is suing the Finnish firm for patent infringements. Katarina and Aki, two idealistic and determined but inexperienced young lawyers, are pushed into handling the international court case, trying to better their skilled and imposing US peers.

At the same time, engineer Risto sets out to design a better and smaller mobile phone – the ‘101’. The dual stories unfold against a backdrop of boardroom plots and personal feuds as Nokia begins its journey to become number one in mobile phones.

“It’s the story of an underdog, and audiences nowadays seem to gravitate to recent history true stories,” says Minna Haapkylä, head of scripted content at Rabbit and one of the exec producers on Mobile 101.

“In some ways, it’s not even an underdog story, it’s a story of a miracle. Nokia was a rubber company when it started and then it suddenly decided to make small mobile phones. It took a risk, it rose and it fell. Because of that, it’s also like a Greek tragedy.”

The drama takes on extra significance for Rabbit as it is the producer-distributor’s first scripted series, after a long tradition of making unscripted programming. Head of international Jonathan Tuovinen says Rabbit has been careful to craft a premium, resonant drama.

“It’s probably the only Finnish company that’s made it big internationally – that’s something that you don’t take for granted,” he adds. “We’re a boutique distribution company and this the first drama we are producing.”

Tuovinen likens it to US dramas Mad Men and The Good Fight, while Haapkylä notes the similarities to Halt And Catch Fire, but stresses that former successes were not the blueprint for Mobile 101.

“I believe in artists, and I don’t believe in producers who set out with an idea to do a courtroom drama or Nordic noir because that sells internationally,” he adds.

“I think those dramas lack heart because it’s not the artists who have created them. In our drama department, we’re artist-driven.” The series is set to premiere in multiple territories via SVoD service C More before a window on free-to-air commercial broadcaster MTV3. Tuovinen says Rabbit will pursue a “VoD-first” sales strategy, accordingly.

“This is the type of series people would love to binge watch on a streamer,” he adds.