Bolla

HELSINKI CITY THEATRE

A massive Helsinki City Theatre hit based on Pajtim Statovci’s equally massive Finlandia-winning novel, Bolla is a story about forbidden love.

Arsim, an Albanian family man, and Miloš, a Serb, fall for each other during the Kosovo War in the late 1990s, and what ensues is a timeless and topical tale about impossible relationships and a depiction of conflicts, marriage and longing. This crushing love story with loaded dialogue and restrained presentation shows us how dire circumstances can turn someone into a knot of cruelty, violence, caring and tenderness.

”Bolla has the timeless power of classical tragedies. It shows a side of recent European history we Finns have never really seen”, says director Milja Sarkola.

”Once again, Sarkola’s direction results in precise and brilliant acting.”
Sanna Kangasniemi, Helsingin Sanomat newspaper (text in Finnish and behind a paywall)