Definitely a unique sensibility displayed here; all signs in style and character portrayal point to me loving this. I come out mixed.

Finnish misery is a great source of comedy when dealt with right.

There is an atmosphere of social desolation a little bit reminiscent of Olmi, and the sparse dialogue and slight underacting place this somewhere between Fassbinder and sixties Bresson, but basically this is unlike anything. It's distinctly Aki Kaurismäki, on his third feature film already a formidable auteur. A parsimonious drama that packs a real punch.

Is this the Scandinavian answer to Stranger Than Paradise?

A pleasant little working-class love story with charming performances from Kaurismaki regulars Kati Outinen and Matti Pellonpää. Short and sweet, with the usual dose of deadpan comedy.