Most of the time when Matti Pellonpää drinks vodka in the film it is the real thing according to director Aki Kaurismäki.
The bar Reino and Valto are seen entering and the scene where they meet Tatjana and Klavdia for the first time was filmed near the city of Somero in Southwest Finland. The building is still standing and can be seen on Google Maps near the intersection of Helsingintie and Arimaantie roads.
Leather jacket that Reino is using has the name of a real Finnish sporting association called Orimattilan Jymy. It has been established in 1903 and compete at least in shooting, skiing, basketball, volleyball, swimming and athletics.