7.6/10
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31 user 36 critic

The Match Factory Girl (1990)

Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö (original title)
Not Rated | | Drama, Comedy | 6 November 1992 (USA)
The Match Factory Girl Poster
A woman's terribly dull life is upended by a one-night stand pregnancy, causing her to seek retribution.

Director:

Aki Kaurismäki

Writer:

Aki Kaurismäki

Stars:

Kati Outinen, Elina Salo, Esko Nikkari | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
6 wins & 5 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

See all 50 photos »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kati Outinen ... Iris Rukka
Elina Salo ... Mother
Esko Nikkari Esko Nikkari ... Stepfather
Vesa Vierikko Vesa Vierikko ... Aarne
Reijo Taipale Reijo Taipale ... The singer
Silu Seppälä ... Iris Rukka's brother
Outi Mäenpää ... Iris Rukka's co-worker
Marja Packalén Marja Packalén ... The doctor
Richard Reitinger Richard Reitinger ... Man in the bar
Helka Viljanen Helka Viljanen ... Office employee (as Helga Viljanen)
Kurt Siilas Kurt Siilas ... Policeman
Ismo Keinänen Ismo Keinänen ... Policeman
Klaus Heydemann Klaus Heydemann ... Worker
Erkki Friman Erkki Friman ... Member of dance band
Tapani Ikonen Tapani Ikonen ... Member of dance band
See full cast »
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Storyline

Iris has a dead-end job in a match-factory, lives with her dour and forbidding parents, and her social life is a disaster. But when she is made pregnant after a one-night stand by a man who thought she was a prostitute, she decides that enough is enough and plans her revenge... Written by Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

finland | matchstick factory | helsinki finland | year 1989 | 1980s | See All (62) »

Genres:

Drama | Comedy

Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is included on Roger Ebert's "Great Movies" list. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Iiris: Half pint, please!
See more »

Connections

Follows Ariel (1988) See more »

Soundtracks

Kolme kitaraa
The Strangers
See more »

User Reviews

Incredibly depressing - and highly enjoyable
19 September 1999 | by mark-506 – See all my reviews

Short, simple, almost completely free of dialogue, "The Match Factory Girl" is perhaps cinema at its purest form. How brave to create a film where the viewer is forced to watch the poor heroine spiral down further and further into wretchedness, all the way to the bottom, with a wry smile and deadpan detachment all the way. But just because the movie's tone is cold and standoffish doesn't mean it's unaffecting. I saw this movie over 5 years ago and the memory of it still ties my heart in a knot.
17 of 24 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
Review this title | See all 31 user reviews »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the book Iris is given as a present by her mother?
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Details

Country:

Finland | Sweden

Language:

Finnish

Release Date:

6 November 1992 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Match Factory Girl See more »

Filming Locations:

Vallila, Helsinki, Finland See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Villealfa Filmproductions, Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI), Esselte Video See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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