Friday, May 2, 2008

Saturday, May 10: "Mother of Mine" Foreign Film at JavaVino

The Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., offers a vast selection of the very best in foreign films. Join fellow film enthusiasts to preview some of this collection as JavaVino, 424 Main St. hosts free screenings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. The next film in the series, Mother of Mine, will be shown on May 10. During World War II over 70,000 Finnish children were evacuated to neutral Sweden to avoid the conflict. For many of the children uprooted from their homes, the experience was an adventure; for others, especially the very young, it was a tragedy. The latter returned to Finland after the war, not knowing their parents and speaking only Swedish.

Facing the impossible task of telling the story of so many of these children, Finnish director Klaus Härö chose instead to tell the emotionally charged tale of 9-year-old Eero. The Film starts in the present, as Eero (Esko Salminen), a Finn in his 60s, visits his aged mother, Kirsti (Aino-Maija Tikkanen) telling her it's now time to have a proper talk about the war and what happened during and after Eero's stay in Sweden. After she grudgingly agrees, Eero's story unfolds in long flashbacks. Topi Majaniemi plays the young Eero and is a rare find, often letting just his eyes an face do the talking.

Being an unrated film, the screening is not recommended for those under the age of 17. The movie is free and no registration is necessary.

For more information about the Racine Public Library's upcoming programs please contact the reference desks at 262.636.9217 or 262.636.9245. Information may also be found on the library's website at racinelibrary.info or on the library blog at rplinfo.blogspot.com

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