Summary Twin sisters Helena and Irene are born in Helsinki during World War II. A few months later their mother Sirkka leaves the girls in the care of their grandmother, an old Communist, and runs away with a German soldier. Their life under the protection of their grandmother and the teachings of communism ends first with the death of Stalin, then with that of their grandmother. The girls are eight years old when they are put in an orphanage. Their mother shows up at the orphanage in the company of Ramon, a Spanish trapeze artist. They are on a talent search for a German circus. Ramon trains the reluctant Irene during circus tours in Central Europe, and she becomes the trapeze star of the circus. The hard work soon exhausts Irene and she falls from heights, as if on purpose. Helena has secretly learned the art of fire-eating. Now she is burdened with both her mother and her sister. The violent life, however, separates the three from one another. In present-day Helsinki, middle-aged Helena has looked into her past, ceased to hate, and now, for the first time in her life, voluntarily accepts responsibility for another human being. View more details
Directed : Pirjo Honkasalo
Written : Pirkko Saisio
Stars : Tiina Weckström Elsa Saisio Elena Leeve Elina Hurme
Genres : Drama
Release date : Oct 29, 1998
Countries of origin : Finland Sweden
Official sites : Official site Official site (english)
Language : German Spanish Russian Finnish
Filming locations : Helsinki, Finland
Production companies : SVT Drama Marko Röhr Productions
Summary Twin sisters Helena and Irene are born in Helsinki during World War II. A few months later their mother Sirkka leaves the girls in the care of their grandmother, an old Communist, and runs away with a German soldier. Their life under the protection of their grandmother and the teachings of communism ends first with the death of Stalin, then with that of their grandmother. The girls are eight years old when they are put in an orphanage. Their mother shows up at the orphanage in the company of Ramon, a Spanish trapeze artist. They are on a talent search for a German circus. Ramon trains the reluctant Irene during circus tours in Central Europe, and she becomes the trapeze star of the circus. The hard work soon exhausts Irene and she falls from heights, as if on purpose. Helena has secretly learned the art of fire-eating. Now she is burdened with both her mother and her sister. The violent life, however, separates the three from one another. In present-day Helsinki, middle-aged Helena has looked into her past, ceased to hate, and now, for the first time in her life, voluntarily accepts responsibility for another human being. View more details
Genres : Drama
Release date : Oct 29, 1998
Countries of origin : Finland Sweden
Official sites : Official site Official site (english)
Language : German Spanish Russian Finnish
Filming locations : Helsinki, Finland
Production companies : SVT Drama Marko Röhr Productions
