We always appreciate clever photography, but we love it even more when it involves Star Wars and Finland. The work of Helsinki-based illustrator and photographer Vesa Lehtimäki does just that, bringing the world of Star Wars to life right in the heart of Helsinki. Using Star Wars scale models and forced perspective, Vesa (or Avanaut…
Many creative people have successfully predicted future events and technological advances through their art. Aldos Huxley predicted the widespread use of antidepressants in the 1931 novel, Brave New World. Douglas Adams predicted the invention of translation apps in the 1972 novel, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. The writers of The Simpsons have predicted pretty…
Finland does not get many lines in Hollywood. When it does, they tend to land somewhere between “cold” and “possibly fictional” — which is exactly what makes them worth collecting. Blade Runner 2049 gave the language an unusually large stage, with Finnish spoken on screen and Finnish actress Krista Kosonen in the cast. That set…
What does sisu mean to you? Most Finns will tell you that sisu is perseverance, guts, grit or willpower. They will probably also quickly mention that sisu is a Finnish concept that has no translation in other languages. When prodded, many Finns give a lengthier explanation of what sisu means to them personally, whether it…
Few young actors in Hollywood history reached the legendary status of James Dean. The rebellious actor starred in only three films during his short career. The impression he made on brooding teenage audiences was unmatched. His sensitive bad boy image has captivated audiences for decades. Over 60 years have passed since his death. He remains…
Finnish Americans make up just a tiny slice of the American population at only 0.2%. Yet many talented celebrities and influential Americans claim Finnish heritage. This list rounds up famous Finnish Americans who have made their mark on US culture. Two babies born the same Tuesday morning, one in Helsinki and one in Columbus, Ohio….
The release of Star Wars captivated audiences around the world in 1977. Today things are no different. The Star Wars trilogies are fan favourites for a reason. They are filled with imaginative storylines, action, drama and intriguing characters. Han Solo is many fans’ favourite character. Harrison Ford portrays Han’s cool cockiness effortlessly. For many fans…
Early movies were dominated by the novelty of showing an event. They were single-shot moments captured on film such as a train entering a station, a boat docking or factory workers leaving work. These short films were called actuality films. The term documentary was not coined until 1926. Many of the first films made by…
Finnish cinema is a tough racket. Its scope is limited by a minuscule market of 5.4 million inhabitants who speak an unusual language. Even big mainstream movie productions rely on grants to be feasible. Unlike their Swedish colleagues, Finnish filmmakers do not get a boost from a potential audience of neighbouring countries who understand the…
I have lived in Finland for nearly five years after moving from the United States. Curious Finns ask many questions. Usually they start with why I came here. I tell them it was for university. Then they ask why I stayed. I stay because I love it here. After a few drinks the conversation turns…