Special film screenings of new war film
{sidebar id=33}On the Eve of Independence Day (5.12.2007), war veterans and invited high school students in 40 places all around Finland attended special first screenings of the new Finnish war film Tali-Ihantala 1944. President Tarja Halonen and her husband Pentti Arajärvi joined the invited veterans at Helsinki’s Tennispalatsi cinema. Tali-Ihantala 1944 is based on the Battle of Tali-Ihantala during the Continuation War (1941-1944) against the Soviet Union, which ended in a decisive victory for Finland. The film was directed by Åke Lindman and Sakari Kirjavainen and written by Stefan Forss, Benedict Zilliacus and Esko Salervo. The official cinema premiere is on December 7th.
> Tali-Ihantala 1944 film website with trailer (in Finnish)
> Tali-Ihantala 1944 – Wikipedia
Firework celebrations in Helsinki
Also on Wednesday night, thousands of people watched a special fireworks display above Töölö Bay in the centre of Helsinki. The colourful light show, offered by the City of Helsinki as part of the independence celebrations, started a little after 6 p.m. and lasted 6 minutes.
> Video of the fireworks – Helsingin Sanomat
The most beautiful Finnish word
The Finnish language played an essential role in the struggle for Finnish independence. On Wednesday morning YLE television announced that the word äiti (mother) had been voted the most beautiful word in the Finnish language. The word was chosen by 367 of the nearly 4000 people who participated in a vote organized as part of the Mikael Agricola Jubilee Year. Agricola, the clergy man who translated the New Testament into Finnish and became the de facto founder of written Finnish, died 450 years ago this year. The runners-up in the vote were: 2. rakkaus (love), 3. rakas (dear) and 4. kiitos (thank you)
Independence Day events
Some of the many free Independence Day events taking place in the capital region today:
Free entrance to Ateneum
The exhibition of the permanent collections of the Ateneum Art Museum has been changed and moved to the third floor. Free entrance.
11:00 – 17:00 – Ateneum, Helsinki
Multicultural Independence Day Celebration
An alternative Independence Day programme in Tikkurila, Vantaa. On offer multicultural delicacies , music by a.o. Lois de Medeiros, Archibong Eyo and Aladin Abbas, Indian and Russian dance, hip-hop dance and much more. Also veterans and many multicultural organizations will take part in the event. Free admission
13:30 – 16:30 – Aikuisopisto, Lummetie 5, Vantaa
Independence Day Concert, Espoo
A large concert for the whole family, organized by the city of Espoo, with among others former Nightwish vocalist Tarja Turunen, Samuli Edelmann, the Tapiola Sinfonietta and the Espoo War Veterans' Choir. All seats for the free concert at the LänsiAuto Arena have unfortunately been booked. Luckily there's a live tv broadcast on Finnish public TV.
15:45 – 16:40 – YLE TV2
Students' Torch Procession
The annual Independence Day torch-lit procession by students, starting from the Hietaniemi Cemetary chapel (Hietaniemenkatu 20) at 16:45 and ending at Senate Square at 17:45. At the Senate Square Mayor Jussi Pajunen of Helsinki will give his Independence Day speech and there will be performances by student choirs.
From 16:45 (Hietaniemi) until after 17:45 (Senate Square), Helsinki
Kallio's Independence Day reception @ Kuudes linja
An Independence Day celebration for the bold and the beautiful, with nice music thrown in. With DJs Vilunki 3000 and Tixa. Free admission, and a free drink before midnight.
21:00 – 03:00 – Kuudes linja, Hämeentie 13 (entrance via inner yard, Kaikukatu 4), Helsinki
Independence Anniversary Year – 90 Years of independent Finland – Virtual Finland