Speaking of auteurs, Kaurismäki surely is worth mentioning as one of the last 20-odd years' finest. You can see that this is an Aki-film from the very first minute, and the tempo, style (very noir-30's-french-ish-lightning in exterior) and manuscript is so very recognizable as his. They speak as were they reading the script out loud, yet it ends up full of charm, being serious, funny and melancholic at the same time. Watch this film about bohemian life in Paris. Love, food, wine and hardship.

I'm afraid I know absolutely nothing about the original stories or Puccini's opera, but the film is about three starving artists - a writer, a painter, and a composer - struggling and scheming their way through a bohemian life. Their self-importance in spite of a profound lack of talent provides many comic moments, and yet Kaurismaki succeeds in building a connection with them, and the tragic ending is quite touching. Very funny and warm, quite watchable throughout.