'Zombie and the Ghost Train'
NEW YORK -- It is hard to discern whether ''Zombie and the Ghost Train'' is a depressing film or if it's merely a depressing experience sitting through it.
Mika Kaurismaki, Aki's obviously more morose brother, conceived, directed, produced and edited this painful slice of life, currently on display at the New York Film Festival. Certain to appeal to the segment of the art-house crowd that thrives on ''dark'' pieces, ''Zombie, '' screening this weekend at Alice Tully Hall as part of the New York Film Festival, still won't have much life elsewhere.
It is difficult not comparing the brothers Kaurismaki, especially since one is so upbeat and funny, while the other seems to be obsessed with Dostoyevski. Both make films that comment on society and its abstract relationship with us inhabitants. But Mika seems intent on looking only at the bleak side of life, without delving into its causes.
Technically, Mika Kaurismaki provides some impressive shots, and successfully creates his desired mood throught the use of appropriate camera angles and stark location shooting. But the pessimistic outlook and atmosphere are taken to such an extreme, that it ultimately undermines its effectiveness.
Part of the problem lies with the main character, Zombie (Silu Seppala). Here is a wholly unattractive, unsympathetic man, a man who never wins the compassion of the viewer. It's his sad story, but we don't care enough about him to share in his sadness.
Burdened with the same physique as Wile E. Coyote, Zombie trudges lifelessly from one non-destination to another. He seems fated, even if it is a self-fulfilling prophecy, to fail at everything. His fear of heights causes him to quit a job repairing roofs. An experience with a dead body terminates his job at the morgue. Even the army ''fires'' him for being such a nuisance.
The only people who want Zombie around are his tolerant girlfriend, Marjo (Marjo Leinonen) and his sole friend, Harri (Matti Pellonpaa, an Aki regular). In spite of their efforts, or maybe because of them, Zombie sinks even further into the bottomless well of his own despair.
His one ambition, it seems, is to be a failure, and at that he is successful. Even after landing a bass player spot with Harri's band, the Mulefukkers (an acknowledgement to brother Aki's ''Leningrad Cowboys Go America''), Zombie screws things up by showing up late and drunk for their first gig.
Highlighting his, and apparently all bass players', predisposition towards tragedy, is the mysterious Ghost Train, a strange band who ''gets lots of gigs, but no one has heard them play.'' They periodically and silently show up in Zombie's life, but their symbolic purpose in the film is even more mysterious than they are.
The rare injection of humor only makes us long for more. Yet the humor that is used feels completely out of place in conjunction with the depressing story line.
''Zombie and the Ghost Train'' is a downer that gets off on the wrong track right from the beginning. It's one train you won't mind missing.
ZOMBIE AND THE GHOST TRAIN
A Villealfa Filmproductions Oy Presentation
Director-producer-editor Mika Kaurismaki
Writers Pauli Pentti, Sakke Jarvenpaa
Story Mika Kaurismaki
Cinematographer Olli Varja
Music Mauri Sumen
Color
In Finnish, with subtitles
Cast:
Zombie Silu Seppala
Marjo Marjo Leinonen
Harri Matti Pellonpaa
Mother Vieno Saaristo
Father Juhani Niemela
Running time -- 88 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
Mika Kaurismaki, Aki's obviously more morose brother, conceived, directed, produced and edited this painful slice of life, currently on display at the New York Film Festival. Certain to appeal to the segment of the art-house crowd that thrives on ''dark'' pieces, ''Zombie, '' screening this weekend at Alice Tully Hall as part of the New York Film Festival, still won't have much life elsewhere.
It is difficult not comparing the brothers Kaurismaki, especially since one is so upbeat and funny, while the other seems to be obsessed with Dostoyevski. Both make films that comment on society and its abstract relationship with us inhabitants. But Mika seems intent on looking only at the bleak side of life, without delving into its causes.
Technically, Mika Kaurismaki provides some impressive shots, and successfully creates his desired mood throught the use of appropriate camera angles and stark location shooting. But the pessimistic outlook and atmosphere are taken to such an extreme, that it ultimately undermines its effectiveness.
Part of the problem lies with the main character, Zombie (Silu Seppala). Here is a wholly unattractive, unsympathetic man, a man who never wins the compassion of the viewer. It's his sad story, but we don't care enough about him to share in his sadness.
Burdened with the same physique as Wile E. Coyote, Zombie trudges lifelessly from one non-destination to another. He seems fated, even if it is a self-fulfilling prophecy, to fail at everything. His fear of heights causes him to quit a job repairing roofs. An experience with a dead body terminates his job at the morgue. Even the army ''fires'' him for being such a nuisance.
The only people who want Zombie around are his tolerant girlfriend, Marjo (Marjo Leinonen) and his sole friend, Harri (Matti Pellonpaa, an Aki regular). In spite of their efforts, or maybe because of them, Zombie sinks even further into the bottomless well of his own despair.
His one ambition, it seems, is to be a failure, and at that he is successful. Even after landing a bass player spot with Harri's band, the Mulefukkers (an acknowledgement to brother Aki's ''Leningrad Cowboys Go America''), Zombie screws things up by showing up late and drunk for their first gig.
Highlighting his, and apparently all bass players', predisposition towards tragedy, is the mysterious Ghost Train, a strange band who ''gets lots of gigs, but no one has heard them play.'' They periodically and silently show up in Zombie's life, but their symbolic purpose in the film is even more mysterious than they are.
The rare injection of humor only makes us long for more. Yet the humor that is used feels completely out of place in conjunction with the depressing story line.
''Zombie and the Ghost Train'' is a downer that gets off on the wrong track right from the beginning. It's one train you won't mind missing.
ZOMBIE AND THE GHOST TRAIN
A Villealfa Filmproductions Oy Presentation
Director-producer-editor Mika Kaurismaki
Writers Pauli Pentti, Sakke Jarvenpaa
Story Mika Kaurismaki
Cinematographer Olli Varja
Music Mauri Sumen
Color
In Finnish, with subtitles
Cast:
Zombie Silu Seppala
Marjo Marjo Leinonen
Harri Matti Pellonpaa
Mother Vieno Saaristo
Father Juhani Niemela
Running time -- 88 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 10/3/1991
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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