Review: 2 – J. T. Laakso – Ilta-Sanomat – 04.11.2005

WAR GUILT IN THE BALANCE

Written and directed by Bengt Ahlfors, this new play in Swedish deals with the consequences of the final settlement of wars. 1945 – The Long Winter’s Journey to Spring is a small-scale, radio play-like discussion play about a family from Töölö in the midst of historical events.

The father of the family, Ernst (Joachim Wigelius), becomes a member of the war guilt tribunal. The reluctant task turns patriotic and Ernst accepts the sentences of the guilty as a sacrifice for Finland. Magnus (Sampo Sarkola), who lost his arm in the war, is left to demand the truth. He is the fiancée of the family’s daughter Rose-Marie (Edith Holmström) and a fellow soldier at the front of the fallen Vilhelm.

The disagreement over the trial develops so strong that the relationship between the young people dissolves. Magnus disappears to South America, like the German Nazis. Mother Karin (Hellen Willberg) is busy in the apartment wearing an apron, just like the cheerful mother of the Suominen family in films about the same times.

The narrator of the play is Rose-Marie (Märta Laurent), who has aged to the present day, and who comments on the events with delightful feminine fragility and charm.


Ralf Forström’s set design is both small and sturdy. The metre-thick picture frames around the stage reinforce Ahlfors’ message: these contradictions began to develop into the Second Republic of Finland.


1945 is an important interpretation of the discussion about the events of 60 years ago. The play progresses in an exciting and even fun way under the control of a balanced group of actors.