Review: Kipupiste

Cool and appealing

How can a person distinguish between him and his actions?

Where is the line between man and Nazi? The big questions are on the minds of Sweden’s best-known theatre director, Lars Norén, as he begins to work on a prison play with three dangerous prisoners.

Based on a book based on a book by Bengt Ahlfors and Johan Bargum based on true events from 14 years ago, Pain Point on the Small Stage of the Helsinki City Theatre does not end beautifully. The prisoners escape from the final performance and kill two police officers on their way to escape.

Did Norén have the need to act as a savior? Did he really believe that the performance would make the prisoners abandon National Socialism? Was the performance a play or propaganda?

The prison management and the theatre did not stop the performances, which Norén’s assistant demanded. The director wanted to continue. Maybe because there were plenty of spectators. Many left in the middle of the performance, crying.

Kari Heiskanen’s cool, calm direction raises the question. What is far-right extremism today?