Hanko is a place where stories come to life. Crime novelist Matti Remes, for example, draws inspiration from the town’s history, nature, and unique atmosphere. For him, Hanko is more than just home—it is the heart of his stories.
It’s easy to see why Remes’s thrillers are set in Hanko. He has lived in the town for decades and has written thirteen crime novels, all set by the sea. “I want the reader to feel the wind, hear the seagulls, and taste the seawater while reading,” Remes says. He finds writing peace in his Hanko home—a century-old wooden villa where new plots take shape in the upstairs study. Often, ideas are sparked during walks along the coastal cliffs or among the old villas. “Hanko is a multi-layered town—spa history, the sea, bilingualism, and old families make it unique. It’s easy to imagine stories taking place here,” Remes explains.
Hanko’s history lives on in stories
In Remes’ work, history flows naturally into fiction. He has, for example, drawn inspiration from a local news story about human bones discovered during the renovation of an old villa. “The news left many questions unanswered – I decided to fill in the details myself,” he says.
His own villa has also revealed traces of the past. During renovations, Remes found old Russian vinyl singles hidden inside the floor. One of the records became the background of a table clock – a reminder of the city’s layered history.
The world created by Remes has expanded from books to television. “It was exciting to see the characters become three-dimensional and come to life in the same surroundings where I write,” he says. The author intends to continue writing for as long as stories keep emerging.
“A cinema is a meeting place for culture”
Located in the centre of Hanko, Kino Olympia is one of Finland’s oldest cinemas still in operation. The building dates back to 1918 and was renovated in 1947. In 2024, film producer and former civil servant Petra Tarjanne took over the cinema’s operations, renting the premises from the owner Ari Tolppanen. Tarjanne believes a cinema is more than just a place to watch films. “It’s the heart of the community and a genuine meeting place. Many people come here to meet others, read, or enjoy a glass of wine,” she says.
During its first year under new management, Kino Olympia received new projection technology, a sound processor and improved acoustics, enabling concerts and films with live musical accompaniment. The cinema is licensed to serve alcohol, and its atmosphere is, according to Tarjanne, “like the living room of a small town”. The programme focuses on Finnish and European films – especially British, French and Italian dramas.
“Fortunately, Finnish films help keep small cinemas like this alive,” Petra Tarjanne notes. She also wants Kino Olympia to be a stage for local stories. The documentary Hyvon, directed by Stefan Randström, attracted audiences and demonstrated how a cinema can function as a community’s collective memory.
Petra Tarjanne lives in Hanko year-round and praises the city’s nature and calm pace of life. “The sea is close here, and life is easy. One of my grandchildren would even like to move to Hanko,” she smiles. Her love for cinema is enduring: “When the lights go down and the image begins to move, there is still something magical there – something that never disappears.”
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