Sculptor Markku Hirvelä from Kotka created the statue based on the song of the character Tatu Pekkarinen and the story of the 1950 film "Kaunis Veera eli Ballaadi Saimaalta" by Ville Salminen. The sculpture was commissioned by the Lappeenranta businessman Ossi Vilhu and the The city accepted the donation at an unveiling event on August 7, 2020 at the birthplace of the story on the banks of the Saimaa River in the linden avenue leading to the port of Lappeenranta.
The beautiful Veera is a life size statue and is made using the traditional bronze casting process. The statue stands over a copper basin of water, on an acid-resistant steel hand. The hand has copper-colored lily pads from which the water flows into the basin. The stone base of the sculpture is brown Upland granite and the rim of the water basin is green Upland granite.
The Story of the Movie Beautiful Veera or Ballaadi Saimaalta
The film's locations are Saimaa, Lappeenranta, the Saimaa Canal and Pietari, and of course the tar steamer Prinsessa Armada itself. In addition to the songs, the film has a lot of humor and romance and is set in the early 20th century. The main role is played by a gypsy couple's little girl, whom they call Veera.
When a gypsy couple later wants to marry their beautiful daughter Veera against her will in the hope of a dowry, the girl runs away and is washed up as a coffee machine and maid in the tar steam "Princess Armada".
In St. Petersburg, refugees board the ship: a Finnish lieutenant fleeing the Cossacks, a Russian noblewoman and an elderly man who, having seen Veera's medallion, claims that the girl is his own daughter, that of gypsies was stolen. Full of romance, humor and music, the film radiates like a beautiful Finnish summer day. Kaunis Veera, based on Tatu Pekkarinen's song piece, will always keep its place in the hearts of Finns.
Beautiful Veera is now in its own place in the Port's Rantapuisto, where it enchants with its presence
Translated by Google •
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