Film No. 42 (2016) The Mine (Jattilainen) July 7th

Film No. 42 (2016) July 7th.  6.30 PM PALACE  Como, South Yarra Melbourne. 

"Your sauna buddies keep secrets from you" (Jussi (Joonas Saartamo) receives a warning from a compatriot).

The chance to visit Melbourne's plushest film house (The Palace, Como, South Yarra) was tantalising and on this occasion The Scandinavian Festival was on offer; The Mine (Jattilainen), a fictionalised version of the unnerving events surrounding the environmental catastrophes at a mine established in Lapland. A first class cinema and a chance to see a story from Lapland on screen, another first for me, what could be better?

Well, The Mine, in my view could have been a story told more effectively but that's film making for you. There are some risks taken in telling the tale, but The Mine falls short from both an impact and entertainment POV. 

We are taken on a 2 dimensional journey which doesn't take into account the people of Lapland and the human drama endured by the folk most impacted by the corrupt process whereby their drinking water becomes contaminated. Our story is told through the eyes of an environmental scientist Jussi (Joonas Saartamo)  who is employed by a company who have "sweetheart" deals already in place with both the Government and the mining company in relation to the granting of environmental permissions. 

Jussi (Joonas Saartamo) is hoodwinked at first into making sure his decisions are more aligned with his employee than with what is right until finally, after wrestling with his moral dilemmas, he decides which way to turn. So while the events surrounding this travesty of justice are real the convenient methods director Salmenpera and writer Pesonen take to manipulate us are at times cumbersome and far too convenient. It is, however, an important story and one worth telling.  7GUMS.