Documenting a Society under Pressure

As the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic reached its peak, Smidig entered a close dialogue with Mehiläinen to explore how to document what was unfolding in real time. The focus was not only on healthcare, but on the collective effort, people, government institutions, and businesses working under extreme uncertainty to keep society functioning and people safe.

The situation was unpredictable, fast-moving, and emotionally charged. The challenge was to capture the reality of the moment without the benefit of hindsight — to document the pressure, difficult decisions, and human cost, while also creating something that could later help society reflect on and learn from the crisis.

The idea evolved into a documentary centered on Mehiläinen as a key actor within the Finnish healthcare system. The film revisits the chaotic and demanding first weeks of the pandemic, while also stepping back to reflect on the importance of cooperation and sacrifice across individuals, teams, the private sector, and public institutions.

The concept was picked up by the finnish tv channel Nelonen as a brand collaboration with mehiläinen, allowing the story to reach a national audience.

The documentary was produced as a feature-length film and broadcast on Nelonen in February 2021. It was simultaneously released as a three-part series (3 × 21 minutes) on Nelonen’s streaming service Ruutu.

The film and series stands as a time capsule of an unprecedented moment — highlighting how collaboration between people, organizations, and institutions is critical in times of crisis, and why these lessons must be carried forward to better prepare for future pandemics.