The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

The Finnish film “Valo” will be shown April 20 at 11 a.m. at the Appelo Archives Center, located at 1056 SR 4 in Naselle. There is no admission charge.

It is a story of a boy, Aleksanteri Ahola-Valo, about eight years old, who begins to keep diaries during the time of tsarist rule in Finland. Valo, his best friend, and Valo’s father participate in a parade in St. Petersburg in January, 1905, to present demands for change to representatives of the Russian government. Valo loses his best friend that day when the peaceful demonstrators are shot down. That day is now known as “Bloody Sunday.”

The father is considered a revolutionary, so he and Valo are exiled to a small village within Finland. Valo begins school and stands up to the abusive headmaster. Just then the new young female teacher arrives. She immediately wins the hearts of her students. However, when she reads David Copperfield to them in Finnish, she is considered a subversive by the officials and is taken away. The officials shut down the school. Valo then vows to start his own “playschool.”

The film, directed by Kaija Juurikkala, was produced in 2005. It runs 84 minutes, and is in Finnish with English subtitles. It is appropriate for youngsters who can read the rapid subtitles. When produced, it was geared to an 8-12 year-old audience.