Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002)

Director:

Aki Kaurismäki

Writer:

Aki Kaurismäki (written by)

Release Date:

23 August 2002 (Norway)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

The second part of Aki Kaurismäki's "Finland" trilogy, the film follows a man who arrives in Helsinki...

Plot Keywords:

Amnesia | Bank Robbery | Bar | Cameo Appearance | Deadpan Humor

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 18 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Markku Peltola	...	M
Kati Outinen	...	Irma
Juhani Niemelä	...	Nieminen
Kaija Pakarinen	...	Kaisa Nieminen
Sakari Kuosmanen	...	Anttila
Annikki Tähti	...	Manager of Flea Market
Anneli Sauli	...	Bar Owner
Elina Salo	...	Dock Clerk
Outi Mäenpää	...	Bank Clerk
Esko Nikkari	...	Bank Robber
Pertti Sveholm	...	Police Detective
Matti Wuori	...	Layer
Aino Seppo	...	Ex-wife
Janne Hyytiäinen	...	Ovaskainen
Antti Reini	...	Electrician

Also Known As:

Homme sans passé, L' (France)
Irtolainen (Finland) (working title)
Mann ohne Vergangenheit, Der (Germany)
The Man Without a Past (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

Finland | Germany | France

Language:

Finnish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Hungary:14 | Iceland:12 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-7 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Italy:T | Singapore:PG | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Helsinki, Finland

Company:

Bavaria Film

Trivia:

The second part of Aki Kaurismäki's "Finland" trilogy, following Kauas pilvet karkaavat (1996).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The Helsinki railway station's extension roof is clearly visible at the opening scene, but it hadn't been build yet in 1996 (the year can be read from the newspaper).

Quotes:

[M is renting an abandoned shipping container]
M: When can I move in?
Anttila: As soon as I turn my back.
M: And the keys?
Anttila: You see a lock anywhere?
M: No.
Anttila: Don't go splitting hairs then, or I'll take the door, too.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

My Heart Must Do The Crying

superb, warm, special and sweet

Having spent time working and living in Finland, I absolutely loved the film. Not only the visuals, the Helsinki waterfront, but moreso, the special warmth of Finnish culture and people. The way the men related to each other, for example, was amazingly clever in its capture (and parody) of male-male relationships. Man-woman was just was wonderful, with the long-suffering women and the helpless men (this is of course universal, not just Finnish, which makes the film fully human). The bank employee was fantastic; I saw "her" when I opened an account in a city north of Helsinki! No, it wasn't the stereotypes, but the rich cultural images that were NOT "Hollywooded" up or forced American fare. It's a real film, and I am glad I saw it. Kiitos!