Review: Matkalla Porkkalaan
A FASCINATING MURDER MYSTERY IN THE SHADOW OF THE TOWER
In the autumn of 1944, Finland is living in a state of emergency. An armistice has been signed, but the real power is held by the Control Commission in the Hotel Torni. Sami Keski-Vähälä’s play On the Way to Porkkala depicts this explosive time through the means of a suspense story and at the same time creates a broader picture of the post-war atmosphere and the strained relations between Finns and Russians.
Directed by Milko Lehto, this visually fascinating and dynamically progressing performance in war-torn Helsinki is about to live and celebrate as if it were the last day. On the way to Porkkala, you can easily capture the unstable and tense atmosphere of the state of emergency.
Murder of a Russian captain
Keski-Vähälä’s play starts with real events. Russian Captain Ivan Belov, who was travelling in the last horse carriage of a military column on its way from Helsinki to Porkkala, is shot dead in Lauttasaari on a November night in 1944.
The list of suspects is long. The motives can be found in both the Civil Guards and the Communist Party, and the Russians’ own attempt at provocation is also possible. Or was it an embittered Finnish soldier or perhaps a jealous woman who was behind the murder?
The most important thing, however, is to find the culprit, which is accepted by the Control Commission. Freedy Kekäläinen, a researcher at Valpo, played by Santeri Kinnunen , must cope with the task as quickly as possible and by any means necessary.
On the night of the murder, officer Räsänen (Ilkka Heiskanen) celebrates his return from the front together with his friend Martikka (Oskari Katajisto), who served as an office officer. No one wants to remember anything about the booze-soaked night, but all signs point to Räsänen being guilty of Belov’s murder.
Jealousy is a drama
In addition to the murder mystery, the story explores the war-torn relationship between Räsänen and his wife (Ursula Salo) and the volatile relations between Russians and Finns. Castren’s government is in a state of disgust in front of the Supervisory Commission. The Control Commission is skilfully fooling around under the leadership of Colonel General Zhdanov, played by Antti Litja .
The acting of the performance is finely paced and skilful throughout. There are many carefully constructed characters in smaller roles. The story is held together especially by the tight tension that arises between Räsänen and Kekäläinen – the accused and the prosecutor. Heiskanen and Kinnunen create their characters that are multifaceted and touching.
Energy and efficient transitions
From the point of view of the criminal investigation, the murder of Ivan Belov remains an unsolved crime. However, the play offers its own solution to the events. Keski-Vähälä masters the fluent and apt dialogue, but the story escapes in too many directions and loses its sharpest grip on the protracted investigation of the motives of the murder candidates. A handsome murder mystery gets a slightly bland ending.
However, Lehto’s precise direction keeps all the elements of the story and the performance together stylishly. The performance moves smoothly forward with efficient transitions and an energetic approach.
Maija Pekkanen’s stylish costumes and Katariina Kirjavainen’s magnificent set design create an exciting and functional setting for a crime story. The situations change with quick cuts from the station restaurant to Räsänen’s doorstep and from Torni to the Lauttasaari bridge.