Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)

Siberian rock band Leningrad Cowboys go to the USA in pursuit of fame.

Director:

Aki Kaurismäki

Writers:

Sakke Järvenpää (story), Aki Kaurismäki (screenplay)

Stars:

Matti Pellonpää, Kari Väänänen, Sakke Järvenpää

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matti Pellonpää	...	Vladimir Kuzmin, the 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

Storyline

The Leningrad Cowboys, a fictional Russian rock band, and their manager, travel to America seeking fame and fortune. As they cross the country, trying to get to a wedding in Mexico, they are followed by the village idiot, who wishes to join the band.

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Plot Keywords:

band | wedding | village idiot | rock band | leningrad cowboys | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Leningrad Cowboys are a Finnish band with a constantly rotating lineup who often mix American rock music with traditional Russian folk songs, sometimes playing one in the style of the other.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Siberian Svengali: [after audition] Bullshit.
Igor: How come?
Siberian Svengali: No commercial potential. Go to America. They'll put up with anything there...

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Connections

Featured in Global Balalaika Show (2003)

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Soundtracks

Säkkijärven polkka
Trad.
Arranged by Mauri Sumén
Performed by Leningrad Cowboys

User Reviews

A perfect movie

I just saw Leningrad Cowboys for the third time and think it is a perfect film. Whatever else it may be about, it is a quest into the heart of rock and roll. The Cowboys start in New York playing their soulful/klezmerish immigrant blues on a seedy rooftop, then reel back through the roots of the genre--Memphis, Natchez, New Orleans, Honky Tonk and Biker Bars, road house and funeral...to their destination in Mexico where their Finnish filtered rock returns to its original sound, converging on the joyous soulful wedding as they back up a singer whose classic Indian features are not that different from some of the singers'... The esthetic is stylish and dead pan. The cinematography is actually quite beautiful, lyric of industrial decay. If you like Jarmusch (who does a spot as a car salesman) you'll like this movie. The pacing did not seem slow to me at all--but that may just be a sign of my age. The form is a series of theatrical skits and blackouts, and the tension of many scenes owes more to mime or comedia than MTV. I think my favorite is one involving the village idiot and a shoe that is not the one he wants. Poignant and hysterical at the same time. Oh, and maybe his treck with what looks to be a 50lb catfish... If you have a chance to see it, go. It is hilarious and sweet and utterly unlike anything else you've ever seen.

Details

Official Sites:

Leningrad Cowboys - True Internjet Story

Country:

Finland Sweden

Language:

English Finnish

Release Date:

24 March 1989 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Leningrad Cowboys Go America

Filming Locations:

Del Rio, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Villealfa Filmproductions, Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI), Finnkino

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1