Fallen Leaves

There's a lovely scene in this film where "Holappa" (Jussi Vatanen) and his mate are in an Helsinki karaoke bar staffed by a motionless barman who looks like he's straight out a zombie movie! Talking of zombie movies, the story follows the lives of this fellow and of "Ansa" (Alma Pöysti) whose first date at the local "Ritz" cinema is ecactly that - unlikely fodder for a burgeoning romance - even if their post film chat afterwards is under the gaze of a "Brief Encounter" poster. She has recently been fired for pinching some out-of-date food from the supermarket in which she worked. He's been fired a few times for too many vodka breaks at work. Her latest boss is arrested for drug dealing and that's when they first meet. They click, they go for a coffee - then that cinema trip ensues. Thing is, she has views on excessive drinking - it has profoundly affected members of her family. He's a bit of an ass about that - but perhaps she's had more of an impact on him than he realised. Maybe he can give up? Maybe she'll give him another chance? The humour here is plentiful but really quite dark and subtle. There are plot developments that we probably ought not to laugh at, but we do - and the ending leaves us hoping but not knowing. It's not exactly laugh out loud but you'll get plenty to smile about if you keep your wits about you for eighty minutes. Perhaps not a film the Finnish Culture Ministry would be too fond of - but I enjoyed it.

It's a romantic comedy set in Helsinki, Finland in 2024. It follows two lonesome souls who try to connect despite many obstacles, some of them self-inflicted. Ansa (Alma Pöysti) is the lonely single woman; her best friend is Liisa (Nuppu Koivu). Holappa (Jussi Vatanen) is the single guy; his best friend is Huotari (Janne Hyytiäinen). Ansa and Holappa are at the bottom of the labor market and have difficulty holding jobs. One of Holappa's problems is his love of alcohol. Ansa and Holappa first experience sparks at a karaoke bar, but don't actually meet for a while. After they do, one thing after another complicates their potential relationship. It all takes place against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, posters of old movies and events, and music describing the emotions of the characters at that particular point in time. And, despite their plights, the characters all have a sarcastic sense of humor. "Fallen Leaves" is a delightful comedy that works even for an English audience. I laughed frequently in the mostly empty theater. The four main characters all excellently portray universal humanity. The filming is quirky, and some settings, like furniture and radios, don't reflect 2024, thus lending a touch of unreality.

For anyone who has never watched a Finnish comedy before, you may struggle with this one. The humour is a level more subtle than British comedy, so don't expect big slapstick laughs. The humour in Fallen Leaves lies mostly in the delivery from its characters, very understated and at times in contrast to the situations they find themselves in. Romance can come in many different guises and this film really showcases that. There are no grand sweeping gestures from our protagonists, instead just small moments and offerings; a cinnamon bun, a cup of coffee, a meal thoughtfully cooked. It's also desperately sad at times (I won't divulge why and give any spoilers) but I believe it opens up at the end to true optimism. Very unique little film in today's industry.

Aki Kaurismäki is definitely one of the highlights of Finnish cinema, being a very internationally acclaimed director and one who has provided a vast number of incredible dramas, with some well written humour in them. This one falls very much into his typical low-key, subtle and funny exploration of the human psyche, being somewhat Roy Anderson-esque in the best of ways. The actors all do an incredible job, and the script is simply masterful, truly an incredible achievement. The cinematography, cutting and editing is splendid, very subtle and scaled back, and in line with Kaurismäki's style. Overall, very likely one of the director's better films, one of the best of the year, and one which is highly recommended for any lover of film!

..not with the movie, but with another seeker. That seems to be the main idea of Kaurismäki's movie Fallen Leaves. Life is hard and monotonous. It's also petty, particularly when you're on low wages. So find someone to squeeze. Have a go at a bit of solidarity too. Ansa and Holappa are both working annoying jobs in modern day Finland. They listen to news of the latest atrocities from the Russian army in Ukraine, they have a cigarette or a swig, they sit in unhappy bars, they struggle with their bosses, they are lonely. They admire the cinema. Some of the vignettes are well informed about poverty, earlier in my life I worked in a supermarket where we would be in trouble if we took out-of-date food, even though we were hungry and were being made to throw it in the bin. The bosses' view was that we would deliberately let things go off, or over prepare fresh food if we were allowed to take the out-of-date food away. When we have money we take for granted things like internet access, when you don't someone will gouge you for a few minutes access. Spend some time with someone who catches your fancy, use some energy to not mess it up. There's no sex in the movie and I quite like that in a society that over-fixates on fetishized addiction sex. Sometimes it's just lovely to have company, to talk and listen to music, just to feel their presence. Wouldn't you like a person round the house oh lonely cinema goer?

No doubt the movie scores on all 3. The director repeats this scenario in I would say all his movies. Seen one you've seen them all. So as a viewer you are looking for non sequiturs and other one-liners that you can chuckle about. Not many. Many voice overs about the killings in Ukraine war. To what point? How an alcoholic goes sober? Just empty two bottles in the sink. How you get another job? Just show up. Date didn't work out? Just throw away the one set of dishes. Need a pick me up? Have another drink, or light another cigarette or chew out your boss, or how about adopting a dog. The next movie will probably have voice overs about the killings in Gaza. I can't wait.

Fallen Leaves, the latest film by Finnish master Aki Kaurismäki, is a charming and poignant comedy-drama that follows two lonely souls who find each other in the cold and dark Helsinki night. The film is the fourth installment of Kaurismäki's Proletariat Trilogy, which began with Shadows in Paradise in 1986 and continued with Ariel in 1988 and The Match Factory Girl in 1990. The film stars Alma Pöysti as Ansa, a young woman who works as a supermarket cashier and a plastic sorter, and Jussi Vatanen as Holappa, a middle-aged man who works as a security guard and a drunkard. They meet by chance at a bus stop and strike up a conversation. They soon discover that they have something in common: they are both lonely and unhappy with their lives. They decide to spend the night together, but their budding romance is not without obstacles and misunderstandings. The film is a typical Kaurismäki film, with his trademark deadpan humor, minimalist style, retro aesthetic and humanist touch. The film is full of quirky characters, absurd situations, dry dialogue and subtle emotions. The film also features Kaurismäki's regular collaborators, such as cinematographer Timo Salminen, composer Jakwob and actors Sakari Kuosmanen, Janne Hyytiäinen and Matti Onnismaa. The film is also a tender and hopeful portrait of love and friendship in the face of adversity and alienation. The film shows how two people can find comfort and joy in each other, even if they come from different backgrounds and have different problems. The film also celebrates the solidarity and generosity of the working class, as Ansa and Holappa are helped by their co-workers, neighbors and strangers along the way. Fallen Leaves is a film that offers a simple but profound story of love and loneliness in the modern world. It is a film that will appeal to fans of Kaurismäki's cinema, but also to anyone who enjoys a good story with humor and heart.

I get the impression 'Fallen leaves' was made for a very specific category of people - and I do not fall into that category. Early on it is established that our lead characters are thieves and alcoholics. Apparently this shouldn't deter us from liking them at all? In fact I actually think the way the theft scene was handled we were supposed to side with her for doing this. How dare this manager be angry he's being stolen from, right? The movie is unbelievably flat, in a way that can only be intentional. Every single character in the movie, be it a big role or a minor one, is completely lacking in character of any sort. There's no humour in the movie. There are no levels of any kind. Even when something "dramatic" happens it is handled in a way that ensures it will get minimal emotional reaction from the audience. The icing on the cake was that they included some cinema scenes, implying the main character's love of film, so that film festivals and the Academy (this was the official submission of Finland for the 2024 Oscars) would look favourably on it. Absolutely shameless. This one was an absolute shocker. 3/10.

It's not much of a secret that the worldview of Finnish society can be more than a little bleak. At the same time, though, it also possesses an understatedly campy, eminently whimsical quality that comes in stark contrast to this otherwise-dour outlook. And this makes for a combination of traits that can be somewhat puzzling to fathom, especially to outsiders. That's the quirky social conundrum that writer-director Aki Kaurismäki seeks to capture in his latest offering, a wry comedy-drama focused on the lives of two lonely, lovelorn working class Helsinki residents (Alma Pöysti, Jussi Vatanen) who struggle against life's hiccups while seeking to forge a romance. But, in telling their story, the filmmaker has difficulty finding sufficient traction to engage viewers. We witness a story full of modest, garden variety ups and downs, as well as more than a few miscommunications, experiences we've all no doubt undergone ourselves from time to time. However, is that enough to make a compelling picture? It certainly doesn't feel that way much of the time, given its wooden dialogue and restrained, sometimes-stilted performances, no matter how pointedly this production may portray the nature of this extraordinarily reserved people. To its credit, the film works best when it pokes fun at the nature of Finnish culture, providing some delicious nuggets of droll humor, backed by a diverse yet spot-on soundtrack that fittingly and ironically complements what's unfolding on screen. Nevertheless, there's so much here that lends so little to a narrative that just never catches fire that it's hard to imagine almost anyone generating any interest in, or enthusiasm for, the protagonists and their feeble attempts at launching a relationship. Maybe I'm missing something here, but, if there is something meaningful that this release is trying to convey, it's apparently well buried under one of those big piles of fallen leaves that give this picture its title.

I found this film quite dull, the characters rather lifeless and stiff. And, it seemed that the Director was coaching ALL his actors and extras to be as somber and unemotional as they could muster. I stayed with it to the end in that the film was not without some charm. Once again, to my regret I got enthused to see this film by a reviewer who praised this as some kind of great rom-com, but the romance was dull and the comedy lacking. Mostly, there was nothing much that connected me or made me care about the principal characters. I suppose my biggest association was what it's like to be depressed and to live in a gray and dull environment. No doubt that's the way working class people often live, with work that is uninteresting and dull. I was in Helsinki once and it's an attractive and vibrant city. This is not 'that' city.