Finally facing my Waterloo ...

What to do on All Saints Day in Finland, a public holiday on a Saturday, when no shops are open? The answer turned out to be a triumph for Anglo-Finnish cultural exchange. We went to see the "sing along" version of Mamma Mia!, now the highest grossing British film at UK box offices. For those who've not heard of it, the film is based on the musical show, in turn based on the music of Abba.

We went to see the movie here at Finnkino in Kinopalatsi last time the family were over and enjoyed it, singing along in our heads. But the producers had an inspired idea and have issued a version of the film with the song words displayed, karaoke-style, so that you don't have to listen to your neighbours get them wrong.

This seems a stroke of genius for the Finnish audience. Karaoke is popular here; in fact, Finland holds the world record for karaoke singing, after they won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006. In my neighbourhood there are two karaoke bars and I have been known to indulge myself, in true Finnish style (which involves the consumption of alcohol, purely to lubricate the vocal chords).

Behind us in the cinema was a group of already well lubricated students who were almost in tune and almost in time. The most hilarious moments included them singing along with Colin Firth trying to emulate his English accent. Funnier than this was when one of them, inexplicably dressed in a gorilla suit, tried to chat to my daughter's friend in Finnish. I'm not sure which was the most surprised!

If you think you can cope with the idea of Pierce Brosnan singing (badly) to Meryl Streep, then I recommend the film. If you like the songs of Abba, the plot does not get in the way of a good sing-along. And though I doubt that any UK cinema would allow the level of harmless fun that our good natured Finnish students were enjoying, it is definitely worth seeing this version of the film in a crowd. Preferably a very large one with very few people who know you!