2023 romantic comedy by Aki Karismäki.

Kaurismaki

He writes, directs, produces and usually edits the films himself: a true "auteur". He won many awards in his career, for example 3 times winner of the FIPRESCI prize, from the international critic association.

Influenced by the French directors Jean-Pierre Melville, Jacques Becker, and Robert Bresson, the Japanese director Yasujirō Ozu, the American director John Cassavetes.

Known for: Ariel (1988), Leningrad Cowboys series, The match-factory girl, I Hired a Contract Killer, The Man Without a Past, Drifting Clouds, Le Havre.

He's a great story-teller, with an easily recognizable very personal style: minimalist and poetic, "deadpan" dark comedy, often nostalgic (rockabilly). Cf Jim Jarmush, with whom he co-signed "Night on Earth".

He often portrays with a lot of humanity working class or marginalized people in absurdist situations, showing a kind of existentialism and zen.

Fallen Leaves

Production was done "in one take" and in Kaurismäki's typical style, according to the main actress (Alma Pöysti): "don't rehearse and don't read the script too much". This results in a mix between spontaneity and very well planned result.

DOP: Timo Salminen, who worked with Kaurismaki since the beginning in 1983. Use of saturated yet grey-ish colors, still shots, with many ellipsis (preparation and result is shown, but not the action), used as a comic device.

Last word

Fallen Leaves is a kind of bonus in his rich career, as he announced that he would stop making films after his previous movie. So it is his 19th movie, which receives critical acclaim and got the Jury Price in Cannes last year.

For once, we have not seen the movie. So, we're very happy to share with you this new Kaurismaki.