Discover the latest Nordic New Releases in our March Monthly Guide and find out which titles to add to your Nordic Watchlist this month.
FILMS & TV SERIES
Arctic Circle Season Three | TV Series | Walter Presents/Channel 4 | Out Now
Nina Kautsalo returns to Ivalo as the town’s new police chief, taking over after her boss’s retirement. But any hopes for a quiet transition are quickly shattered when a local pharmacist is found murdered in what initially appears to be a robbery gone wrong. Reuniting with her former partner, Aikio, Nina starts digging deeper—only to realize the case is far more complex than it seems.
Meanwhile, chaos erupts at Pharada, an American automotive giant testing self-driving technology in a high-security facility near Ivalo. A violent carjacking results in the theft of their prized prototype, putting a major public launch at risk. With the company desperate to recover its vehicle before the scandal impacts their stock and expansion plans, tensions rise. While Pharada promises economic benefits for the region, their presence has also sparked protests from locals concerned about the environmental effects on reindeer herding. As a crucial town-council vote approaches, Nina begins to suspect a link between the pharmacist’s murder and the stolen prototype. Balancing corporate pressure, community unrest, and turmoil in her own life—her relationship with Toni is unraveling over his desire for children—Nina must solve the case before Ivalo’s future is decided.
Birthday Girl | Film | BFI Player (UK) | 3rd March
With rising star Flora Ofelia Hofmann Lindahl, the ever-brilliant Trine Dyrholm, and director Michael Noer at the helm, this thriller has a powerhouse lineup. At first glance, the premise might seem familiar—a mother and daughter embark on a cruise to celebrate a birthday, only for tragedy to strike when the daughter is sexually assaulted. When the crew fails to take action, the mother takes justice into her own hands.
What makes this film even more chilling is the real-world inspiration behind it. Assaults on cruise ships often go unpunished, with perpetrators rarely facing consequences—a fact so prevalent that an entire website, Cruise Victims, was created to document such cases. This unsettling reality served as the spark for Noer’s dark and gripping story.
You can read more in our interview with the director. The film arrives on BFI Player in the UK and is one to watch.
Little Siberia | Film | Netflix (Globally) | 21st March
Based on Antti Tuomainen’s novel, this adaptation brings dark humor and intrigue to the small village of Hurmevaara, where life takes an unexpected turn when a meteorite crashes through the roof of a car one night. The town’s mayor sees the meteorite as a lifeline for the struggling community, claiming it to be highly valuable.
Tasked with guarding the meteorite in an old museum before its transfer to London for evaluation, village priest and former peacekeeper Joel finds himself caught in a whirlwind of chaos. The rare object draws the attention of both amateur and professional criminals, forcing Joel into an unexpected role as its protector. But amid the rising tension, an even greater mystery looms over his own life—his wife has just announced her long-awaited pregnancy. It should be joyful news, except for one problem: Joel knows he can’t have children due to a war injury… and he has never told her.
Starring: Eero Ritala, Malla Malmivaara, Tommi Korpela, and Martti Suosalo
Helsinki Crimes Season 2 | TV Series | Walter Presents/Channel 4 | 25th March
Season two of the gripping crime series follows Sergeant Timo Harjunpää and his partner, Onerva Nykänen, as they face a new wave of challenges both on and off the job. A cunning young con artist is running a love scam while secretly yearning for his boss. A brutal gang war erupts between rival youth groups from East Helsinki and Espoo after the murder of a rising rap star, sending tensions soaring in the streets. Meanwhile, a mysterious intruder puzzles the police, sneaking into homes at night and lying next to sleeping residents—without ever harming them. As if that weren’t enough, a troubled new colleague with a drinking problem is causing friction within the department.
But their struggles don’t end with police work. Onerva is at a crossroads in her personal life, torn between her growing feelings for a man she fears is too good for her and doubts about her future in the force. Harjunpää, meanwhile, faces mounting family pressures—his ageing father’s memory is slipping, and his teenage daughter is falling into dangerous habits, experimenting with alcohol and questionable friendships. With their professional and personal lives unraveling, the duo must find a way to keep it together before it all spirals out of control.
Starring: Alma Pöysti, Olli Rahkonen, and Olga Temonen
Deception | TV Series | Walter Presents/Channel 4 | 28th March
A mysterious newcomer arrives at an exclusive Helsinki gym, quickly capturing the attention of the city’s young elite. Introducing himself as Riku, a wealthy heir, he effortlessly earns the trust of gym owner Joakim and his fiancée Linda, slipping into their glamorous world of luxury cars and extravagant weekend getaways. But beneath the polished façade, Riku hides a very different past—one of hardship, crime, and a failed robbery that left his half-brother wounded and their debts unpaid. Now, he’s back, not for reinvention, but for revenge.
As Riku embeds himself deeper into Joakim’s inner circle, his growing attraction to Linda turns into a dangerous affair, blurring the line between manipulation and genuine desire. But deception comes at a cost, and with every lie, Riku edges closer to a truth he can’t escape. In a world where wealth, power, and betrayal rule, how long can he keep up the act before it all comes crashing down?
Starring: Daniel Virtanen, Marketta Tikkanen, and Karim Rapatti
BOOKS
Son | Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger | Orenda Books | 27th March
Son is a gripping Nordic noir novel co-authored by Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger. The story centers on psychologist and police consultant Kari Voss, known as “The Human Lie Detector” for her keen ability to read body language. Voss becomes involved in the investigation of two teenage girls found murdered in a summer house near Oslo, uncovering a web of deceit that ties back to her own tragic past. Seven years prior, her son Vetle disappeared on his ninth birthday, a loss that continues to haunt her. The case takes a personal turn when Jesper, Vetle’s childhood friend, is arrested as the prime suspect. Voss is convinced of his innocence, challenging the police’s swift judgment.
The novel intricately weaves Voss’s personal anguish with the complexities of the investigation, delivering a compelling narrative filled with unexpected twists. Gustawsson and Enger masterfully create a vivid world, blending psychological depth with thrilling suspense. This collaboration marks the beginning of a promising new series in Nordic crime fiction.
Look out for Glen’s interview with the two authors about their co-operation writing the novel.
