The ninth (episodic) storyline about a Finnish mixed martial artist and his Turkish-born girlfriend was filmed, but cut entirely from the film. The actors Antti Luusuaniemi, Asli Bayram and Janne Virtanen received a "special thanks" in the credits. Behind the scenes material from the set (octagon arena in a nightclub) was featured in the episodes Episode #2.119 (2011) and Episode #3.83 (2012). After the premiere of "Vuosaari", director Aku Louhimies announced that the cut scenes would be incorporated and expanded to a feature-length film, tentatively titled "Ultimate Fight". These plans have not yet materialized (only a teaser trailer was released in 2012).
The film received eight nominations at the 2013 Jussi Awards (Finland's national film prize), but didn't win any. Purge (2012) received an equal eight nominations (winning five awards), also featuring actors Laura Birn and Amanda Pilke. Pilke took a long break from acting after the two intense and demanding roles. She later criticized the directing methods of Aku Louhimies during the filming of "Vuosaari".
Mikko Kouki, his wife Niina Repo and Aku Louhimies started writing the screenplay as early as summer 2007, right after Käsky (2008) was finished shooting. The first version was ready in the same year. In the summer of 2009 Louhimies was diagnosed with tonsil cancer (from which he fully recovered) which, together with his divorce process in 2010, delayed the pre-production. The film received a scriptwriting grant in November 2009 and production support in December 2010, both from the Finnish Film Foundation. The principal photography lasted 45 days and finished in late winter of 2011. After two preview screenings in Vuosaari, Helsinki on January 25-26, the film premiered in Finland on February 3, 2012.
The film is set (with most exteriors shot) in the eastern Helsinki suburb Vuosaari by the sea. Director Aku Louhimies lived in the Meri-Rastila area at the time of the filming (but had already moved to the neighborhood of Punavuori when the film was released) and actor Laura Birn crew up in Vuosaari. The mother of Mikko Kouki worked at the Vuosaari shipyard in the 1970s. Louhimies still emphasizes that the story could be set anywhere due to its universal aspects that many people could connect to.
Due to similar narrative structure, mood and themes, "Vuosaari" is often perceived as an indirect sequel to Frozen Land (2005), or even an "urban trilogy" with Valkoinen kaupunki (2006). Director Aku Louhimies doesn't fully echo these sentiments, calling the film a collection of love stories with a documentary streak. He has still implied that the character of Pertti is the brother of character Isto from "Paha maa". Both are played by the actor Mikko Kouki.