MOVIE: "Hyva Poika" (The Good Son) TOMORROW at Cinequest San Jose

Hyvä Poika

Weds, Feb 29, 2012
9:30 - 11:30 p.m.

at Cinequest, San Jose, CA

www.hyvapoika.fi/ - Hyvä poika on tiheätunnelmainen draama kuuluisasta näyttelijästä ja tämän ylisuojelevasta pojasta. Kyseessä on ohjaaja Zaida Bergrothin toinen pitkä elokuva.

SUMMARY:

After a scandalous premier, actress Leila Manner (Elina Knihtia) flees the reporters to the family’s old summer villa with her two sons. Short-tempered Ilmari (Samuli Niittymaki) is his mother’s confidant and protector, whereas his younger brother Uunto (Eetu Julin) is an insect enthusiast and a loner.

Their peaceful time together is soon interrupted when Leila invites a group of her friends over to spend the weekend. Joining the others is author Aimo (Eero Aho) whom Leila falls for, despite trying to resist. At the same time, the weird waitress Karita (Anna Paavilainen) at the local pub approaches Ilmari telling him that she saw his arrival in a dream.

When the other guests leave, Aimo stays. Ilmari is not pleased with the intruder, although Leila assures him that Aimo is nothing like her previous men. Gradually, Aimo starts to have enough of the youngster’s insolence. Ilmari tries to escape the situation in the company of the fascinating Karita, and Leila, who is in love, turns a blind eye. The atmosphere at the villa surrounded by woods becomes threatening.

Tickets: http://www.cinequest.org/event_view.php?eid=1625

Photo Exhibit by Eric Kotila, Now Thru March 28 from 1-4 p.m. at UC Berkeley's Moses Hall #201 -- " A Poignant Idyll: The National Cemetery / Finland"

Showing NOW through March 28


A Poignant Idyll: The National Cemetery of Finland
A Photo Exhibit by Eric Kotila, Institute of European Studies

Ongoing: February 17- March 28, Weekdays 1:00-4:00 pm (except during other events)

Expansive Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki manages in microcosm to present the history of the country in an aesthetically magical, symbolically rich environment evocative of Finnish identity and nationalism. The graves – most often in Swedish, Russian, and Finnish – concretely attest to the country’s trajectory from a Swedish possession, to a Russian Duchy, to an independent modern nation.

Photographer Eric Kotila captures its siting and landscape design, various chapels, and exquisite grave-markers in his photo essay undertaken with sponsorship from the Finlandia Foundation and IES. The environment captures the design history of a country which values architecture, landscape architecture, and the arts so markedly. Finns both prominent, such as Alvar Aalto and Field Marshal Mannerheim, and humble are buried and memorialized here, often with striking, creative gravestones ranging from Baroque to Art Nouveau. The exhibit is cosponsored by the Department of Scandinavian and the Finnish Studies Program at IES.

Eric is a Bay Area Finnish-American who is an accomplished camera artist.

Weds, Feb. 29th at 7:30pm - "Flamingo" Movie by Finnish Director Antero Alli (in attendance)

Wednesday, February 29 at 7:30 p.m.
The Humanist Hall, 390 27th St in Downtown Oakland.
Finnish Filmmaker Antero Alli in attendance
$10 Admission.

World Premiere screening of
“FLAMINGOS”

( 2012; 90 mins, USA Films )

Contacts: Venue: 510-451-5818 | Filmmaker: 510-464-4640

Movie Site: http://www.verticalpool.com/flamingos.html

View a clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zbPnrkm9NQ

SYNOPSIS

Twin sisters, Beatrice and Zoe, are in love with Ray, a philosopher-bank robber
driven by visions of the end the world. Though Beatrice and Ray are married, Ray elopes with free-spirited Zoe and hides out in a motel after a bank heist.

Meanwhile, Beatrice files for divorce as two enigmatic entities from the Bardo
interzones take interest in their fates in Antero Alli's tenth underground film, a heady cocktail chaser of crime, metaphysics, and amour fou.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0021334/

FLAMINGOS is Finnish-born Antero Alli's tenth underground feature fiction movie (since 1993). Though none of his works have seen wide theatrical release ("I don't have a mainstream bone in my body"), they continue garnering critical praise for their originality, insight, and depth of imagination. Alli personally screens his films in rare, limited runs on the west coast arthouse circuit and makes them available on dvd. Antero resides in Berkeley with his wife, the singer/composer Sylvi Alli.

starring
MADELINE H.D. BROWN as "Beatrice" & "Zoe"
and JOE ESTLACK as "Ray"
also featuring...
ROBERT HAMM as the divorce attorney
ILYA PARIZHSKY as the masculine entity
ALASKA YAMADA as the feminine entity

Finnish Film Night: Weds 2/22 at 6pm at UC Berkeley Showing "Prinsessa"

Hei kaikki!

It’s time for a Finnish film night! This coming Wednesday, February 22, at 6 p.m. I’ll be showing a film called Prinsessa – a movie based on a true story of a woman who believes to be a genuine princess.

Synopsis: Prinsessa – Princess (2010)

The movie is based on a true story of Anna Lappalainen – a cabaret dancer who was given away as a child and placed in several foster homes. In the end, she ends up in a mental institution where the staff realize that she believes to be a member of the British royalty. Despite her condition, she manages to bring joy wherever she goes capturing the hearts of those around her.

Link to trailer (in Finnish): www.prinsessaelokuva.fi

The location of the film night is the same as previously, Dwinelle B-4. The movie is shown in Finnish with English subtitles. Everyone is welcome - feel free to bring friends!

What: Finnish film night
When: Feb 22, 6pm
Where: UC Berkeley campus, Dwinelle B-4
(The doors on the Campanile side are unlocked. As you enter from the Campanile side, turn left and then take the stairs on the left to the bottom floor.)
Price: FREE

-Jenni
Finnish TA
U.C. Berkeley

Finnish education expert speaker in Marin

Finnish education expert spoke in Marin last week.

Pasi Sahlberg, director of the Center for International Mobility and Cooperation with the Finnish Ministry of Education, will discuss Finnish models of education reform at 4 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Marin County Office of Education.

Sahlberg, who has previously worked with the World Bank and the European Commission as an education policy expert, currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Helsinki and as a member of the board of directors of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

His most recent work is "Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland?"

The event is being co-sponsored by the Office of Education and the League of Women Voters of Marin County.

To register for the event, or for more information, call 499-5870. The Office of Education is located at 1111 Las Gallinas Ave. in San Rafael.

MOVIE: Maria Larssons "Eviga Ogonblick" Weds, 6 p.m. B- Dwinelle Hall

Please join us this *Wednesday *evening for a screening of Jan Troell’s latest…

“Sweden, early 1900s. In a time of social change and unrest, war and poverty, a young working class woman, Maria, wins a camera in a lottery. The decision to keep it alters her whole life. The camera grants Maria new eyes with which to see the world, and brings the charming photographer "PiffPaff Puff" into her life. Trouble ensues when Maria's alcoholic, womanizing husband, feels threatened by the young man and his wife's newfound outlook on life.” (IFCFilms)

*Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick *

*(Everlasting Moments, 2008)*

Directed by Jan Troell
2 hrs. 11 minutes.
In Swedish with English subtitles.

*18.00 (**6 pm**)
**FEBRUARY 15, 2012**(WEDNESDAY)
B-4 DWINELLE*

For a look at the trailer check out:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3258712857/

Just to remind you, all screenings (Finnish and Swedish) will take place on*
Wednesday nights at **6pm**in B-4 Dwinelle. *

new FREE Finnish on line dictionary : sanakirja.org

There's a new free Finnish on line dictionary called: sanakirja.org. If you want the English translation of a strange Finnish word., type in the word into the designated spot and tap "hae" (find). The English equivalent plus that of a number of other languages will come up. On the right will appear a number of synonyms in Finnish of the Finnish word you're translating. If you want the Finnish equivalent of an English language word, on the top, to the right, see "in English". Punch that and it will convert into "webscionary.com". Write in the English word and its equivalent will come up in Finnish as well as in a number of other languages. sanakirja.org is a useful tool. Pass the word.

---> I'll do that.

KIITOS kovasti,

Harri Siitonen!

Kaleva Curtain Call Fundraiser - March 24, 4-9 p.m. - Fine Finnish Music From All Styles & Song-Makin!

Berkeley Lodge 21 would like to invite all Finns in the area to come sample our local Bay Area Finnish Talent as well as help fundraise for new stage curtains for our lodge. Kirsti Bellows has been working really hard to order new stage curtains for our hall. To offset costs, Lodge 21 has arranged a Curtain Call Fundraiser.

WHEN? Saturday, March 24, from 4-9 p.m.

WHERE? 1970 Chestnut St; Berkeley, CA

SCHEDULE:

4 PM Family Concert & Sing-Along

5 PM Dinner with Finnish DJ & Tunes

6 PM Concert & Dancing

Silent Auction

Performances by Heikki Koskinen's Studio Finland Trio, Helen Tyrrell &
the South Bay Kantele Group, the Horsmas, Kaleva All Stars, Kippis, Solstice, Ralliryhma and more.

TICKET price includes dinner and the program, drinks are extra. Adults $35, Seniors $25, Teens (12-18) $15, Kids (5-12) $5

Those planning to attend are asked to PLEASE RSVP to Irma Jarvenpaa @ IrmaTJ@aol.com.

Niinistö Wins by Wide Margin

Niinistö Wins by Wide Margin.

Sauli Niinistö (National Coalition) defeated Pekka Haavisto (Green League) for the Finnish Presdency in voting concluded on Sun. Feb. 5, 62.6% to 37.4%. The winner received 1,802,400 votes to Haavisto's 1,076.957 votes. With some exceptions, the electoral district percentage results were approximately the same. Niinistö only won in the Helsiniki District by 1300 votes, 50.2 - 49.8%. The most lopsided vote for Niinistö was in the Vaasa District, 72.13 to 27.13%. Haavisto's only victorious district was in Ahvenenmaa (Aaland Islands, 6)-40% In the advance voting the winner was ahead 65-4% to 34.6%. The final percentage of those eligible to vote who did was 68.8 per cent, a drop from 72.8% in the first round two weeks ago. The vote was a considerable drop from six years ago when retiring President Tarja Halonen defeated Niinistö, 73.9 per cent voting in the first round to 77.2% in the run-off. Niinistö will be sworn into office on March 1.

Harry Siitonen

NOTES: The final runoff vote for the Finnish presidential election will take place on Sunday at the polls in Finland. The top finalists from the first round are Sauli Niinistö (National Coalition Party) and Pekka Haavisto (Green League). A total of 1,565,987 have already cast their ballots in the early voting in the final , both in Finland and elsewhere in the world. The largest absentee vote in other countries was in Sweden with 11,949 votes. Elsewhere: Spain 8,308, USA 3,568, UK 3,239, Germany 3,096, Thailand 2,678, Belgium, 1,536. A total of 224 voted at the polling place at Berkeley's Kaleva Hall last Saturday. The latest YLE poll indicates that Niinistö has a 62-38% lead over Haavisto, although a lot of voters are still undecided. Haavisto, who represents the smallish Green League, was an upset finalist from the first round, in which 8 candidates vuied for the presidency. Check www.hs.fi Sunday for the results. The winner will succeed President Tarja Halonen who has served for 12 years.

Steam of Life | Feb 19, 2012 2:00pm at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in SF

A wonderful Finnish documentary will be shown in SF on February 19.

http://tickets.ybca.org/single/psDetail.aspx?psn=14650

Steam of Life | Feb 19, 2012 2:00pm
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts | 701 Mission St; San Francisco, CA

Screening Room
By Joonas Berghall & Mika Hotakainen

In the warmth of the sauna, naked Finnish men cleanse themselves both physically and mentally. We meet men of all walks of life in many different saunas, and hear their touching stories about love, death, birth and friendship. Steam of Life reveals the men's naked souls in an
exceptionally personal and poetic way. We’re pleased to present the full and uncut version of this remarkable documentary. (2010, 84 min, digital)