On Tour in Helsinki

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The Arts Hour is on tour in Helsinki to explore how Helsinki’s creative scene is feeling at a time of increased tension with neighbouring Russia following Finland’s application to join Nato. Nikki Bedi is joined on stage by award-winning writer Rosa Liksom, the author of Compartment No. 6. Her novel explores the historic tensions between Finland and neighbouring Russia through the eyes of a young Finnish student and Russian miner, who strike up an unlikely friendship while travelling on a train across Russia. The film adaptation of Liksom’s novel, was released to widespread critical acclaim and won the Grand Prix at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. Krista Kosonen joins Nikki to discuss Finnish film and TV. Krista stars in HBO Nordic’s series Beforeigners and is a two time winner of the lead actress gong at Finland’s premier film industry ceremony, the Jussi Awards. Iranian-born Finnish comedian and presenter, Ali Jahangiri also joins Nikki on stage. Ali arrived in Finland as a refugee aged 10 and his comedy has often reflected Finnish attitudes to immigrants. St Petersburg-born artist and émigré to Finland Pavel Rotts from the artistic duo SashaPasha on reflecting the Russian experience during a time of conflict. Plus one of Finland’s rising stars, Olivera, talks to Nikki about finding self-expression through music, and Nordi-Pop, indie-folk star Sansa tells us how she marries a modern outlook with the traditions of the Finnish tango...all in front of a live audience at the Apollo Live Theatre, Helsinki. Produced by Oliver Jones.