Fallen Leaves

A charmingly minimalist romance between a melancholic labourer with an excessive fondness for alcohol and a shy, introverted shop assistant. This sombre old-world tragicomedy about the painful coming together of two desperate souls excels thanks to its flawless directing, Kaurismäki's unmistakable distinctive stylisation, dry humour delivered with a straight face and idiosyncratic characters. The film also has a social dimension, as it unobtrusively incorporates current events (in the form of radio reports about the war in the Ukraine heard in the timeless retro setting of Helsinki, which is given a nostalgic air), as well as superbly appropriate music and charming, loving cinephilic references to the work of Kaurismäki’s directing role models and friends from the world of independent and art film. And all of this in only eighty minutes. (10/07/2023)

Fallen Leaves is a refreshingly comical view of Finland from a classic director who hasn’t lost even a bit of his storytelling flair. The age of feminism has handed him another pertinent story about Finnish “tough guys”. The absurdist dialogue with a rich cadence of dry jokes is combined with traditional retro stylization (interiors, costumes) laced with radio reports from the ongoing war in Ukraine. And movie posters, because Aki loves movies. The cinematic salute to Jarmusch is delightful. The brief runtime is a revelation among contemporary films and is confirmation that Kaurismäki has remained true to himself. [Karlovy Vary International Film Festival] (07/07/2023)

Aki Kaurismäki's refreshingly long film follows the worries and joys of Finnish misfits who have little to be happy about in their misery and hardship. Understated, tender, warm, funny and paying tribute to the love of cinema – it was the perfect first screening of this year's edition of the festival. A small film with a big heart. [KVIFF 2023] (27/07/2023)

Few filmmakers believe so much in the good of humanity and the power of film to make the world a better place. Few alcoholics have such consistency and detached humor. There is only one king of deadpan. Aki again occupies his unique position as a sentimental bastard and serves up the beautiful best of his tried-and-true moments. Around the fifth minute, I burst into tears of emotion and I never lost the feeling of being at home, in a place where the world can be tolerated despite its cruelty. I don’t know about you, by Fallen Leaves somewhat reminded me of Diary of a Country Priest, or maybe Godard. I’m going to go have my sixth second beer. Kiitos, Aki! (06/07/2023)