some words I have a hard time coming up with accurate translations. Puhditus could be akin to cleansing, ethnic cleansing. or a cleansing of a certain idealism in this case, communism, rather than any impure appearance. Vaino translates to persecution, thought I feel the connotation of the word in finnish is stronger to me than it’s english counterpart. I might be wrong.

yesterday Minka and I went and saw the movie called Puhdistus based on a book we’d both read. the book itself rocked my world. thought I didn’t find it a tough read, it moved me, just as all the other books I’ve read about our relatively recent and cruesome history. the wars, the military and the slaying of our kin and all. all by the hand of our neighbors, brothers and families. you never knew who might turn against you and turn up on the other side. who might point a finger, off you went and never came back.

I haven’t seen a movie in a while that shocked me as much as this one did. horrified because I know that even thought the book was fiction that the events held true to many people only a hundred years ago. though none of the finns were hauled off to siberia to die as they were in Latvia, they faced persecution and fear of whom might come storm down their door and slaughter your family. all fueled by rumors.