Eila Roinee’s biography was published this week.
Eila Roine is remembered both on the theater stage and on television. Minna Jalovaara
Eila to Roine husband, actor, director Vili Auvinen, worked really hard. If you were to ask your loved ones, maybe too much.
As he got older, his nerves began to tighten and he consumed more and more alcohol. Eila describes in her recent biography that Vili burned his candle from two ends, sometimes from the middle. He was given a leave of absence from the theater.
– Vili’s leave of absence sincerely had one purpose. The fact that he would get relief from his own problems. It didn’t really help. But it was a good attempt, Eila recalls in the book.
In the fall of 1985, Vili retired from Tampere Työväen Theater at the age of 54.
– I have wondered many times why that happened to him. For a talented person, a well-liked friend, a great director. Vili was so imaginative, fast and intelligent at his best that I have never met another director like him. And I say this, even though I am reluctant to say it, Eila states.
After retiring, Vili no longer directed. He did go to the theater and appeared in public from time to time. The alcohol still tasted good, but it no longer affected the life of the theater. Yes, I will live.
Eila and Vili stayed together. Although faith and hope sometimes had to do with it, love didn’t disappear anywhere – even if it was also sometimes tested.
– I can’t say that separation was not on my mind during the most difficult times. However, I wonder how Vili is going to be – who will take care of him, no one.
– Besides, we had a lot of good moments and I loved that man. And he me. We were each other’s great loves, Eila recalls in her biography.
Vili died on August 2, 1996.
Eila says that Vili had had good times before his death. He had survived and cleaned the gutters at the cottage. In the process, however, he fell from the roof, was injured and had to be hospitalized.
In the hospital, Vili got blood poisoning, fell unconscious and never woke up.
– The stage has always been a refuge for me, it was like that then too. Vili had been unconscious for a month and it was a relief that he got out. I performed the agreed-upon performances and surely no one noticed that I had just become a widow, Eila says.
Vili Auvinen and Eila Roine were married for more than 40 years. IL archive
Vili was buried in Kalevankanka, the couple’s first child, who died as an infant Tommi Petterin beside.
– After the funeral, we visited Vili’s grave and someone asked if we should sing. Tell one of the grandchildren that he knows a very good song for this situation. I said let her come, sing away. And the child sings that snail, snail, show the horn, will there be a tree tomorrow.
The song selection was very suitable for the situation.
– Vili would have laughed to death in that moment. If you hadn’t already died. And it was fine when knocked anyway. It’s moments like that that can’t be scripted. They will come if there is to come and if life is to give them, Eila sums up in her biography.
Antti Heikkinen: Eila Roine (Otava) was published on May 10.