Category: Culture
At Least 70 Exposed to the Coronavirus in Student Parties Across Helsinki
Health authorities have found several coronavirus infections in restaurants and among short-term exchange students in Helsinki.
Light Festival Lux Helsinki Canceled
Organizers have decided to move the festival in its entirety to the beginning of 2022.
How a Holiday in Helsinki Changed My Life
One December weekend I did the unimaginable and planned an express trip to Helsinki from a small town far away.
National Saint Lucia Ingrid Enkell: Standing in That Big Church Almost Alone Was the Scariest Thing
In our interview, this year’s Lucia maiden, Ingrid Enkell, shared her thoughts on her crowning during exceptional times and how to find light in one’s life.
Film Review: ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ Is About Pointless Banter
The story about “the mother of blues” is taken over by a bunch of players who do more arguing than playing.
‘The Midnight Sky’ Film Review: The ‘Unfortunately Timely Film’ Is a Pleasure for the Viewer
George Clooney acts and directs in this recommended post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama.
‘Mank’ Film Review: A Witty Talkie From Behind the Scenes of the ‘Greatest Movie of All-Time’
Here’s our review of ‘Mank,’ which premieres on Netflix December 4.
‘Hillbilly Elegy’ Film Review: A Complex Tale With Powerful Leading Women
Ron Howard gives us another movie to be remembered for a lifetime.
Flags Are Hoisted to Honor Finland-Swedish Identity
There are about 300,000 people living in Finland whose mother tongue is Swedish.

Day of the Dead Celebrates Everlasting Life
Some may think that Halloween and the Day of the Dead are similar celebrations but even though the dates are close they are not related.
Here’s Why ‘Kekri’ is Wilder Than Halloween
This is how rural Finland went all out during All Saints’ Day.
When You Are Lost the Birch Can Guide You Home; The Magical Tree Can Also Relax You in Sauna
After arriving in Finland, I first learned about this beautiful slim tree in the local library.
Compulsory School Age Raised to 18; One of the Aims Is to Improve Employment Rate
At the same time, upper secondary education would be made free of charge for students in extended compulsory education.
Study Shows Over 70% of Finnish Higher Education Students Hopeful About Their Future
Eurostudent VII study indicates that 90% of higher education degree holders have found a job within a year after graduation. The study also found that labor- and education-related immigration needs to increase significantly in Finland.
‘Enola Holmes’ Film Review: Sherlock Holmes’ Sister Shows Knack in Solving Mysteries
Netflix’s ‘Enola Holmes’ is a mystery-adventure to watch.
450 Applicants to Higher Education Receive False Offer of Admission
The Finnish National Agency for Education defines the mistake as a human error.
‘The Devil All the Time’ Film Review: Disturbing But Displays Another Side of Tom Holland
Netflix’s ‘The Devil All the Time’ premieres in Finland on September 16.
GALLERY: Event Organizers Protest to Raise Awareness of Their Financial Troubles
View the gallery of event organizers protest in Helsinki on chilly Tuesday afternoon.

Multiple Coronavirus Infections at Student Parties
“As many as several hundred people have participated in the events.”
Limit on Public Gatherings Still 500; Ministry: ‘A Zero Was Missing’
The guidelines included a misspelling.
Public Gatherings and Events Limited to 50 People in September
However, events or gatherings can exceed 50 people if the organizers can follow the guidelines set by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Ministry of Education and Culture.
John Legend, Emeli Sande, Chick Corea Confirmed for Pori Jazz 2021
Pori Jazz festival was canceled this year, but it has already confirmed some big names for 2021.
The City of Helsinki: School Reopening Didn’t Spread Coronavirus
The opening of schools did not increase the number of coronavirus infections in Helsinki, according to a press release by the city.
Another Coronavirus Contraction in Sipoo; 13 Students Enter Quarantine
13 students are exposed to the virus and have been transferred to home quarantine on Tuesday where they will continue learning through remote connections.
Schools to Reopen on May 14; ‘We Shouldn’t Restrict Children’s Civil Rights More Than Necessary’
The government’s decision is based on health authorities’ assessment; the restrictions to tackle the coronavirus spread are going to be lifted on early childhood education and care and those on primary and lower secondary education.
Virtual Crowning of Havis Amanda to Mark the Beginning of ‘Vappu’ This Year
“My hope is that, like always, the crowning of Manta could mark the beginning of vappu, while also bringing joy to the vappu at-home celebrations,” says Mayor Jan Vapaavuori of Helsinki.
Moomin Creator Tove Jansson to Get a Flag Day in August
“On this flag day we can celebrate Tove Jansson’s profound impact on Finnish art and literature, while also celebrating great Finnish works of art more widely.”

6 Facts You Need to Know About the Finnish Education System
In our new serial on the Finnish education system, reporter Paulina Bouzas finds answers to common and intricate questions and indulges in conversations with various experts.
‘Richard Jewell’ Film Review: Clint Eastwood Continues His Exploration of Real-Life Heroism
Not all heroes wear capes, nor always get the credit they deserve.
GALLERY: Seniors of Upper Secondary School Hang Banners With Trump, Groke and Vegetarianism
About 4,000 seniors of upper secondary school (abit) in a hundred trucks celebrated ‘penkkarit’ in Helsinki.
‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ Film Review: A Feel-good Odyssey Through the American South
Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen are a heart-warming duo on the run.
Australian Talent Margot Robbie Takes the Cinemas by Storm on Friday
Margot Robbie stars in ‘Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)’ and ‘Bombshell’ – both premiering in cinemas on Friday.
Flags Salute Finland’s National Poet, Runeberg
Mr. Runeberg produced an ample corpus of works including poems and critiques. Today, he is also remembered for his addiction to the torte baked by his wife.
DocPoint Film Festival Breaks Crowd Record: 32,000
My own selection of films included some renowned names of documentary cinema.
GALLERY: Chinese New Year Festival Takes Over Casino Helsinki
The beginning of the Year of the Metal Rat was celebrated at the Casino Helsinki. View the highlights.
VIDEO: The First International Children’s Lunar New Year Gala Gathers a Crowd of Hundreds in Helsinki
“I think we have to find a bigger spot to celebrate next time.”

Borrow Art From Töölö Library With a Library Card
The theme of the collection is the nowness of photography and how it seeks and produces information about the world.
Musical Maestros From Finland and China to Share Stage at Finlandia Hall; Open Your Heart in 2020 with Paganini Violin Winner and Antonio Pedeotti Conducting Winner
Huang Mengla, the famous Chinese violinist and Paganini prize winner, and Lu Jia, the chief conductor of China National Theatre and Macau Orchestra, will perform together with Turku Philharmonic Orchestra on January 27.
In Helsinki’s Pilot Project Preschool Place Can Be Accepted With an SMS
The guardian will receive an SMS message of an available preschool place, and the place can be accepted by answering it.
Anni Harjunpää, Miss Finland 2019: ‘When I’m Not Being Miss Finland, I Definitely Don’t Wear High Heels’
The newly crowned Miss Finland tells us about her journey.
Three Films Playing in Cinemas to Watch During the Holidays
Here’s our guide to cinemas during the holidays.
PICTURES: National Lucia Sara Ray, 24, Brings Light to Snowless Helsinki
The national Lucia procession illuminates downtown Helsinki.
Finland Ranks as a Top Performer in Reading Literacy, According to the Latest PISA Results
Finnish 15-year-olds rank among top performers in reading literacy in OECD countries, the latest PISA results reveal.
‘Surfer: Teen Confronts Fear’ Film Review: So Strange and Unpolished, It’s Amusing
The titular surfer, played by Douglas’ son Sage Burke, is a teenage boy who wiped out on a huge wave some time ago and has since been afraid to get back in the water.
GALLERY: Finns Go Berserk After Finland Qualifies to European Championship in Football
The fans in Helsinki climbed, shouted, made the cars “dance” limbo and more.

Finland Breaks the Guinness World Record For Most Nationalities in Sauna
A total of 101 nationalities fitted themselves in the world’s largest wood-heated sauna at the Finnish Naval Academy in Suomenlinna Island, Helsinki.
VIDEO: International Students Attempt to Break the Guinness World Record For Most Nationalities in Sauna
We interviewed a group of students attempting to break the Guinness World Record today.
‘The Lighthouse’ Film Review: A Tempestuous Tale Ye Can Believe
The screenplay in general is incredible.
Flags Fly For Fathers For The First Time Officially
Happy Father’s Day!
‘Midway’ Film Review: Japan Attacks America As if They Were From Outer Space
In ‘Midway,’ director Roland Emmerich approaches the historic battle with a pedigree in planetary destruction while forgetting all about character development.
‘Dogs Don’t Wear Pants’ Film Review: BDSM as Grief Counselling
Finnish director J-P Valkeapää takes us on a visceral journey, in turns heart-wrenching and stomach-churning.
‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ Film Review: Bigger Scale, Lesser Effort
Unfortunately, the creators bet everything on banter and the occasional zombie-killing spree, though even that seemed in short supply until the final showdown.
Sami Community Reaches Deal With Disney on Cultural Heritage; ‘Frozen 2’ Premieres in Cinemas on Christmas Day
Following, what some thought was a culturally inconsiderate description of Samis in Disney’s ‘Frozen’ in 2013, the Samis had contacted Disney.

PICTURES: Mall of Tripla Opens on Thursday in Pasila
Located in Pasila, Mall of Tripla will reportedly be the biggest shopping center in the Nordic countries, but also promises much more.
‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ Film Review: Superb Fairy Tale in Every Way
Angelina Jolie returns with a larger-than-life screen presence.
‘Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love’ Film Review: A Portrait of an Artist and His Muse
The story is told through archive footage, photographs, audio recordings and video interviews of those who saw Marianne’s and Leonard’s love story unfold firsthand.
‘Gemini Man’ Film Review: Worst Film of the Year So Far
‘Gemini Man’ is a bad bad film.
‘Joker’ Film Review: Decent, but Doesn’t Live Up to the Hype
Todd Phillips’ take on the Joker falls short of high expectations, despite an amazing Joaquin Phoenix.
Here’s A List of Some of the Best Films We Watched at the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy
Here’s a list of some of the top movies that screened at HIFF Love and Anarchy.
We Talked About Trainhopping, Cockfighting and Music With Filmmaker Arno Bitschy and Composer Warren Ellis
In his latest project, French filmmaker Arno Bitschy collaborated with Warren Ellis, a composer and a member of alt-rock group Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.
Finland Is the Fourth-Best Country in the World, According to Social Progress Index
Finland takes first place in environmental quality and in access to basic drinking water.
Blanchett, Pitt and Stallone in Cinemas Today – What a Weekend for the Moviegoer!
On Friday, three films enter the cinemas across the country: ‘Where’d You Go, Bernadette,’ ‘Ad Astra’ and ‘Rambo: Last Blood.’

‘It Chapter Two’ Film Review: The Clown is Creepy; The Film is Boring
‘It Chapter Two’ is long and boring.
Zinaida Linden is a Russian-Born Finnish Prose Writer Who Loves to Write in Swedish.
“At the same time, I love the Finnish language and the people of Finland,” she says in our interview.
Children of Immigrants Have Dramatically Lower Educational Skills Than Children of Natives in Finland, According to a Study
A new study examines the education level of immigrant children.
Food & Art Festival is a Treat For Food, Wine and Art Lovers – We Interviewed Pekka Terävä, the Father of the Festival
First held in 2014, the event has been a rousing success with renowned chefs.
GALLERY: The Night of the Arts Gathered Thousands in the Streets of Helsinki and Funk Group Orgone Got the Crowd Twisting and Shaking
The carnival celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.
‘Once Upon a Time . . . in Hollywood’ Film Review: An Exuberant Love Letter to a Bygone Era
The ninth film by Quentin Tarantino is an ode to moviemaking.
‘Hobbs & Shaw’ Film Review: A Deep Action Mayhem
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is here to save the world with Jason Statham and we like it.
‘Child’s Play’ Film Review: Chucky is Back With the Knife, Luke Skywalker’s Voice and a Finnish Connection
Chucky is back more advanced than ever. Here’s our review.
‘The Lion King’ Film Review: The Furriness Distracts Away From the Greatness of the Original
Simba is back furrier than before. The original is still better.
