Typical Kaurismaki, except longer and less concise than usual. In retrospect i can understand how i disliked it when i first saw it, it's actually not a very good introduction to Kausimaki. His most overrated.

In the second installation of the Finland AKA Loser trilogy, Kaurismäki utilizes a premise as old as Random Harvest (1942) - man loses identity due to amnesia - but with magnificent results. Characteristically, it is a kind film about a harsh reality, with Kati Outinen exploding with talent in her supporting role. One of the director's brightest, most amusing and riveting works.

Simultaneously light and dark, sweet and harsh, it's a unique experience that's enjoyable even while it distances you.

A lovely film about human kindness and the inhumanity of institutions, completely unsentimental and laced with bone-dry Finnish humour. A treat.

#02#, reviews, story

Saw it in 2002 so can't say I remember it all that clearly (punz ahoy), but I do remember considering it brilliant at the time.

The acting felt quite detached, and sometimes stiff, which made it hard to relate to a lot of what was happening. It's nice that the memory loss cliché for once didn't lead towards some final life-affirming / shocking reveal. There is a certain charm to this movie about starting anew among the dregs, but it never managed to really draw me in.

Very detached and unsentimental, and yet also really sweet. It has some wonderful dry humour to it, and manages to take the story in more interesting directions than you'd expect. The only thing holding it back is that it can at times feel like a collection of scenes that don't totally coalesce, but considering how much I enjoyed it this is a minor complaint.

Probably the best Kaurismäki film I've seen in recent years. A both bleak and warm Prince Mushkin-style story about a man who, after being beaten within an inch of his life, loses his memory and tries to survive as a homeless man in Helsinki.

I was never a big fan of Kaurismaki's, always felt he's a bit pretentious and over the top, but I liked this one. Charming.

Essentially, it's neither an artistic achievement -- a tale of dignity or the importance of care and kindness, some might say --, nor a deadpan comedy, some sort of european Wes Anderson with an european cool soundtrack. The thing is: Kaurismaki's still camera seems to be picturing not just a touching story of a nameless man trying to get back on track, but a dull sense of epic greatness or filmmaking poetry. I found that very pretentious.

A very touching film by Aki Kaurismäki.

A subtle but hilarious comedy drama about a man who loses his memory and everything he has, to create new friendships and a new life. Although it is so subdued, there's a lot of emotion here.

91.000

My first Aki Kaurismäki film ... and it was great!

...and I always thought this is a sad movie about sad people. I was wrong.

"Though his engagement of silent idiom recalls Chaplin, his leisurely pacing brings to mind Jarmusch." - Ed Gonzalez