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By
DEBORAH NICOL
A man's memory has crumbled
as the result of a violent assault, just as
Helsinki, Finland, has crumbled under harsh
economic times.
In director Aki Kaurismäki's second film in his
Finland Trilogy (the first being "Drifting
Clouds") a mystery man finds himself penniless and
without a name, but soon manages to gain a roof
over his head, an odd group of vagrant friends,
and a girlfriend stolen from the local soup
kitchen.
Everyone around him seems more concerned with his
identity than he does, even as he tries his best
to gain both employment and his memory. His lack
of background goes so far as to offend many who
believe he is lying, and even lands him in jail.
But despite the bitter doubters, he still manages
to bring about positive change in this town of
hardship. As the Salvation Army band learns to
appreciate rock n' roll, so does the mystery man
relearn to appreciate the little things that may
not have been apparent in his previous life, and
seeks the paths that bring him fulfillment.
Within Kaurismäki's bleak landscape lies a subtle
humor and an overwhelming and innate kindness of
people, once the ice has been broken. As soon as
the comedy is discovered, it shines through all of
the worn sidewalk cracks in what could be a
depressing tale of scarcity. But faith prevails,
and when an opportunity presents itself, each soul
is given a second chance for happiness.
The pan-and-scan DVD is slim and only includes
subtitle options and trailers of other movies, but
it is worth viewing this film from Finland's
foremost directors who (with his brother) provides
most of the country's motion picture
entertainment. |
