Review: Aina

Coping with grief

There is no room for 11-year-old Aina’s (Vuokko Hovatta) grief. Aina’s father has died, but she has to take her 4-year-old brother Aarre (Hannes Suominen) to daycare and heat up spinach pancakes for dinner. Their mother (Aino Seppo) is curled up in grief under a patchwork quilt. When the others are already asleep, the daughter speaks to her father, staring at the sky.

Written by Kati Kaartinen and directed by Olka Horila, the play for over 9-year-olds is more than welcome. For those approaching prepuberty, there is no theatre to the point of crowding. The play, made with a funny touch, leaves you feeling comforted.

Fortunately, there are other adults who notice the child’s distress, such as the Jesus-shaped uncle (Rauno Ahonen) who has moved in next door.
– Awesome substitute!, my 9-year-old son giggles when the substitute teacher played by Ahonen tells me to write about the topic “What is life?” and disappears into the teacher’s room for coffee.