Calamari Union (1985)

An exodus to a better life in Eira

Director:

Aki Kaurismäki

Writer:

Aki Kaurismäki

Stars:

Timo Eränkö, Kari Heiskanen, Asmo Hurula

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Timo Eränkö	...	Frank
Kari Heiskanen	...	Frank
Asmo Hurula	...	Frank
Sakke Järvenpää	...	Frank
Sakari Kuosmanen	...	Frank Armoton (as Saku Kuosmanen)
Dave Lindholm	...	Mies rannalla
Mikko Mattila	...	Frank
Pate Mustajärvi	...	Frank
Tuomari Nurmio	...	Taksikuski (as Hannu Nurmio)
Pirkka-Pekka Petelius	...	Frank
Matti Pellonpää	...	Frank
Pertti Sveholm	...	Frank
Martti Syrjä	...	Frank
Pantse Syrjä	...	Frank
Markku Toikka	...	Pekka

Storyline

Fourteen desperate men named Frank, band together to escape from a repressive section of Helsinki. An English-speaking non-Frank named Pekka joins the barroom conspirators, whose avoidance of last names, and any affect, help them outsmart overwhelming forces as they sneak through dark subway tunnels and alleys, hoping against despair to reach magical seaside Eira. The Calamari Unionists take advantage of unending night to venture their intrepid journey.

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Plot Keywords:

alley | tunnel | subway | journey | city | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish English Spanish

Release Date:

8 February 1985 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Calamari Union

Filming Locations:

Eira, Helsinki, Finland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Villealfa Filmproductions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Near the end of the movie, a character says: "The mother's sure going to forgive us yet." Exactly the same dialogue line is heard in Mika Kaurismäki's film "Klaani", which premiered a few months before this one.

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Goofs

The Director is seen in reflection of Frank's (Sakke Järvenpää) sunglasses in "My friend got sick, can you help us" scene.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Frank: Gentlemen! I don't want to tire you and especially myself by going through those many reasons which make life completely impossible in this part of the city. We all know the circumstances forced on us in our early years: crowded homes, ignorance and hunger. Not to mention the bad air conditioning in the busses with their irregular timetables. In this part of the city there are more hills than anywhere else in the world. Loose-running kids and dogs make it impossible to move in the ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Matka suomalaiseen elokuvaan: Kaupunkiblues (2006)

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Soundtracks

Symphonie no. 6 h-moll 'Pathétique' / Sinfonia nro 6 h-molli 'Pateettinen sinfonia' op. 74
Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performed by symphony orchestra

User Reviews

Simply outstanding : Aki Kaurismaki films a gauche rock band's members seeking their elusive El Dorado in Helsinki.

Finnish film "Calamari Union" is not at all a motion picture with a defined setting.It is more of a visual experience with surreal touches which must be seen many times to feel the plight of hapless rock musicians in an urban milieu.In "Calamari Union",there is also a minor battle of sexes to be witnessed as most of the women get their demands met by hapless,vulnerable men.Women are shown as strong willed individuals who would not stop at anything to humiliate, scorn confused men who are treated as mere caddish oafs.Rock music is also one of this film's leading element which reveals the hidden talent of some vagrant musicians.There are some mellifluous tunes which could easily be lapped up by music lovers.No talented film director in the history of modern cinema has come even remotely closer to Finnish author Aki Kaurismaki's vision of urban angst.This is a director who has made an absolutely wise use of his hometown Helsinki and its nocturnal atmosphere by shooting in pristine black and white.He shows why some people are not able to put any order in their utterly disorganized,messy lives.A unique film which is absolutely needed for those nihilists who believe that they are part of existential times.PS:A great film dedicated to Baudelaire,Michaux and Prévert who still hover on earth.Lalit Rao does not care if non Francophones are not aware of Baudelaire,Michaux and Prévert.