Initial plan was to make a long-running TV series of Iijoki - an autobiographical series of 26 novels written by Kalle Päätalo. Two theatrical features (Elämän vonkamies and Nuoruuteni savotat) and an 8-part TV series (Elämän vonkamies in 1988) were made instead.
The original Finnish slang word on the title, vonkamies, refers to log transportation which plays an important part in the film. The log driver (vonkamies) was needed to guide the logs.
The earlier Kalle Päätalo film adaptations were directed by Edvin Laine in the 1970s and he still had pre-emption rights for the other novels by Päätalo. Laine waved them when he heard that Mikko Niskanen was interested on directing.
Päätalo scholar Paula Virras finalized the screenplay and served as an assistant director for the film until her death in a car accident in 1985 when the film was still in production.