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IMDbPro

Leningrad Cowboys Go America

  • 19891989
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 19m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
7.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
35,092
4,519
Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
ComedyMusic
Siberian rock band Leningrad Cowboys go to the USA in pursuit of fame.Siberian rock band Leningrad Cowboys go to the USA in pursuit of fame.Siberian rock band Leningrad Cowboys go to the USA in pursuit of fame.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
7.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
35,092
4,519
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Aki Kaurismäki
    • Writers
      • Sakke Järvenpää(story)
      • Aki Kaurismäki(screenplay)
      • Mato Valtonen(story)
    • Stars
      • Matti Pellonpää
      • Kari Väänänen
      • Sakke Järvenpää
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Aki Kaurismäki
    • Writers
      • Sakke Järvenpää(story)
      • Aki Kaurismäki(screenplay)
      • Mato Valtonen(story)
    • Stars
      • Matti Pellonpää
      • Kari Väänänen
      • Sakke Järvenpää
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 35User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos16

    Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
    Sakke Järvenpää and Mato Valtonen in Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
    Matti Pellonpää and Silu Seppälä in Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
    Silu Seppälä in Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
    Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
    Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
    Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
    Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
    Sakke Järvenpää, Heikki Keskinen, Puka Oinonen, Mauri Sumén, Mato Valtonen, and Pekka Virtanen in Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
    Matti Pellonpää, Duke Robillard, and Mato Valtonen in Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
    Sakke Järvenpää, Heikki Keskinen, Pimme Korhonen, Sakari Kuosmanen, Puka Oinonen, Matti Pellonpää, Mauri Sumén, Mato Valtonen, and Pekka Virtanen in Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
    Marty Olavarrieta in Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Matti Pellonpää
    Matti Pellonpää
    • Vladimir Kuzmin, the Manager
    Kari Väänänen
    Kari Väänänen
    • Igor (Village Idiot)
    Sakke Järvenpää
    Sakke Järvenpää
    • The Leningrad Cowboys
    Heikki Keskinen
    • The Leningrad Cowboys
    Pimme Korhonen
    • The Leningrad Cowboys
    Sakari Kuosmanen
    Sakari Kuosmanen
    • The Leningrad Cowboys
    Puka Oinonen
    Puka Oinonen
    • The Leningrad Cowboys
    Silu Seppälä
    Silu Seppälä
    • The Leningrad Cowboys
    Mauri Sumén
    • The Leningrad Cowboys
    Mato Valtonen
    Mato Valtonen
    • The Leningrad Cowboys
    Pekka Virtanen
    Pekka Virtanen
    • The Leningrad Cowboys
    Nicky Tesco
    Nicky Tesco
    • Lost Cousin
    Olli Tuominen
    • Siberian Svengali
    Kari Laine
    • Siberian Chauffeur
    Jatimatic Ohlstrom
    • Father of the Cowboys
    Laika
    • Siberian Dog
    Richard Boes
    • Rockpromotor
    Jim Jarmusch
    Jim Jarmusch
    • Car Dealer…
    • Director
      • Aki Kaurismäki
    • Writers
      • Sakke Järvenpää(story)
      • Aki Kaurismäki(screenplay) (story)
      • Mato Valtonen(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • Goofs
      In the opening scene, and throughout the movie, the frozen bass player's bass guitar is some cheap off-brand guitar. But when he thaws out and gets up to play at the end of the movie, it's a Fender.
    • Quotes

      Siberian Svengali: [after audition] Bullshit.

      Igor: How come?

      Siberian Svengali: No commercial potential. Go to America. They'll put up with anything there...

    • Connections
      Featured in Global Balalaika Show (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Cossack Song
      Russian trad.

      Performed by Leningrad Cowboys

    User reviews35

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    "Have you ever heard of rock and roll?...Study 'dis book!"
    This is without question one of the greatest rock and roll movies ever made. It's sort of THE BLUES BROTHERS meets STROSZEK with some MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON thrown in. Aki Kaurismaki has to be admired for making this gutsy and crazy film. There is not much of the European "art film" here, nor is there any real serious social commentary or aesthetic stunts underneath the comedy here either. There is also no condescension toward America or Americans. In fact there is a wide-eyed, dreamy fondness for America, especially its messy landscapes that hug the interstates and its simple, likable working-classes (but definitely not its prick cops). Here we get to meet the immensely likable dreams, music and attire of the Leningrad Cowboys, the misunderstood, maligned, salt of the earth band that comes to America to live out its rock and roll dream. Personally, I simply admire the actors for driving around the American South wearing those fantastic mullet pompadour quiffs and pointy shoes. That takes guts.

    Kaurismaki has a special fondness for characters with big dreams but little or misunderstood talent, who can scrape up just enough cash just get by. Here, as in his another of his great comedies, LA VIE DE BOHEME, there are some characters who are unambiguously untalented (in LENINGRAD COWBOYS: the singers; in LA VIE DE BOHEME: the composer) and there are some characters who have some or much, but quirky, or misunderstood talent (in LENINGRAD COWBOYS: the band; in LA VIE DE BOHEME: the painter). All of the performers and artists are immensely likable and amusing and their patrons and audience are just as suspect as they are in their taste, but great to be around nonetheless. Moreover, their detractors are cold, a-hole jerks.

    Jim Jarmusch makes a funny cameo as a used car salesman. Matti Pellonpää, probably Kaurismaki's favorite actor, is hilarious as Vladimir, the band's beer slugging, tyrannical manager. I love the scene early in the film where he meets with the New York "cousin" of the Finnish talent scout (who also, by the way, has a "cousin" in Mexico). When the New York band booker tells Vladimir that he needs to hear the band play, Vladimir says, "Is that necessary?"

    Anyone who loves rock and roll comedies, weird hairstyles and movies about little people with big dreams need to see this film. If you like Kaurismaki films then you may or may not like this film, depending on how square you are. I say check it out. I think it's one of the funniest films I've ever seen. But then again I have had some crazy hairstyles too.
    helpful•36
    4
    • enicholson
    • Aug 10, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 24, 1989 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • Finland
      • Sweden
    • Official site
      • Leningrad Cowboys - True Internjet Story
    • Languages
      • English
      • Finnish
    • Also known as
      • Leningrad Cowboys van a América
    • Filming locations
      • Natchez, Mississippi, USA
    • Production companies
      • Villealfa Filmproductions
      • Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI)
      • Finnkino
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 19 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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