Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)

Director:

Aki Kaurismäki

Writers:

Sakke Järvenpää (story)
Aki Kaurismäki (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

24 March 1989 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot:

The Leningrad Cowboys, a fictional Russian rock band, and their manager, travel to America seeking fame and fortune...

Plot Keywords:

Band | Rock Band | Manager | Mexico | Wedding

Cast

Matti Pellonpää	...	Vladimir (Manager)
Kari Väänänen	...	Igor (Village Idiot)
Sakke Järvenpää	...	The Leningrad Cowboys
Heikki Keskinen	...	The Leningrad Cowboys
Pimme Korhonen	...	The Leningrad Cowboys
Sakari Kuosmanen	...	The Leningrad Cowboys
Puka Oinonen	...	The Leningrad Cowboys
Silu Seppälä	...	The Leningrad Cowboys
Mauri Sumén	...	The Leningrad Cowboys
Mato Valtonen	...	The Leningrad Cowboys
Pekka Virtanen	...	The Leningrad Cowboys
Nicky Tesco	...	Lost Cousin
Olli Tuominen	...	Siberian Svengali
Kari Laine	...	Siberian Chauffeur
Jatimatic Ohlstrom	...	Father of the Cowboys
Richard Boes	...	Rockpromotor
Jim Jarmusch	...	Car Dealer / New York
George M. Kunkle	...	Banjo Player
William W. Robertson	...	Barber
Mr. Morris	...	Bartender / Memphis
Ms. Morris	...	Bartender / Memphis
Marty Olavarrieta	...	Police Officer
Earl Howard Jr.	...	Bar Owner
Albert Gonzales	...	Prison Warden
Duke Robillard	...	Nightclub Owner
Frank Johnson	...	Car Dealer / Houston
Ernie Wright	...	Bartender / Houston
Phillip Linson	...	Nightclub Customer (as Phil Linson)
Rock	...	Engine Thief
Terry	...	Engine Thief
Speed	...	Engine Thief
Carlton	...	Engine Thief
Judge Felix Barrera	...	Bride's Father
Laura Barrera	...	Bride
John Martinez	...	Groom
José G. Salas	...	Mexican Singer

Directed by
Aki Kaurismäki

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sakke Järvenpää		story
Aki Kaurismäki		screenplay
Aki Kaurismäki		story
Mato Valtonen		story

Produced by
Katinka Faragó	....	producer
Aki Kaurismäki	....	producer
Klas Olofsson	....	producer

Original Music by
Mauri Sumén

Cinematography by
Timo Salminen

Film Editing by
Raija Talvio

Art Direction by
Kari Laine
Heikki Ukkonen

Costume Design by
Tanja Tolonen

Makeup Department
Tanja Tolonen	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Lisa Blok-Linson	....	production manager: USA
Phillip Linson	....	production manager
Jaakko Talaskivi	....	production manager: Finland

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pauli Pentti	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jouko Lumme	....	sound
Kjell Westman	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph Dianda	....	gaffer (as Joey Dianda)
Marja-Leena Helin	....	still photographer
Gary Hildebrand	....	gaffer
Timo Markko	....	second assistant camera
Mikko Mattila	....	gaffer
Heikki Ortamo	....	first assistant camera
Olli Varja	....	gaffer

Editorial Department
Outi Hyytinen	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Matti Hukkanen	....	assistant music recordist
Jyrki Hytti	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Bobby Barret	....	driver
Joanne Figueroa	....	driver

Other crew
Haije Alanoja	....	production secretary
Dale Ashmun	....	production assistant
Erkki Astala	....	publicist
Marja-Leena Helin	....	script supervisor
Klaus Heydemann	....	production executive
Jan-Eric Nyström	....	titles
Paula Oinonen	....	caterer: USA
Ken Schmalz	....	production assistant: New Orleans
Jaakko Talaskivi	....	caterer: USA

Production Companies

• Esselte Video
• Finnish Film Foundation
• Finnkino
• Megamania
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI)
• Villealfa Filmproduction Oy

Distributors

• Pyramide Distribution (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Artificial Eye (UK)
• Criterion Collection, The (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Future Film (2013) (Finland) (DVD)
• Orion Classics (1990) (USA) (subtitled)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (video) (VOD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

Finland | Sweden

Language:

Finnish | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Del Rio, Texas, USA

Company:

Esselte Video

Trivia:

At the wedding, when Vladimir pours himself a shot by the tap hidden in the cactus, he uses a Jägermeister glass.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the desert scene where Igor frees Vladimir, Vladimir (Matti Pellonpää) storms out to attack the band, who are sitting at a fire. He furiously beats them with large ropes, but band members Mauri Sumén and Sakke Järvenpää smile and laugh the whole way through their beating. Sakke especially tries to hold his laughter in while Vladimir storms up.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Matka suomalaiseen elokuvaan: Naurua pimeässä (#1.2)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Chasing the Light

Just good clean fun

The most politically inclined and intellectual viewer would analyze this movie as a political satire, and they would be right. However, this movie is more enjoyable if seen as a road movie and a look at America through the eyes of a foreigner. Funny and poignant.