Kaurismäki's Finnish Magic

Recommending a film that has recently won the Cannes Grand Prix (the annual festival's second most prestigious prize, behind the Palme d'Or) seems rather like blowing in the direction of a hurricane. I so much enjoyed "The Man Without a Past" from Finland's Aki Kaurismäki, however, that I can't resist adding my 2 pence worth of cheerleading. Centered amongst a lovable community of Helsinki's less fortunate denizens, it's tremendous fun, and full of bone dry humour plus infectious warmth and humanism. Darkness is not far away, however - in fact, it's instrumental to the plot - which adds depth to the film.



ICA/Optimum's R2 UK DVD is as every bit as good as this film deserves: a stable, well-defined picture with minimal artefacting.