7.6/10
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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 »
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On Disc

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6 wins & 5 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

See all 38 photos »
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Edit

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 »
Edit

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 (57) »

Genres:

Drama | Comedy

Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

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 »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although being in nearly every scene, the protagonist does not speak until the 25-minute mark in the film. See more »

Quotes

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

Connections

Follows Ariel (1988) See more »

Soundtracks

Sidran
Composed by Klaus Treuheit
Performed by The Klaus Treuheit Trio: Chris Lachotta (as Christian Lachotta) (Contrabass), Hans-Günter Brodmann (Drums), Klaus Treuheit (piano)
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the book Iris is given as a present by her mother?
See more »

User Reviews

 
Horrible tragedy with great comic timing.
13 March 2002 | by seltzer – See all my reviews

I saw this film many years ago at a local university-run cinema, and I thought it was the most brilliant comedy I had ever seen. The timing of the actors and the pacing of the scenes lent a weird feel to the movie. It was like the elements of a tragedy were being presented with a certain comic flair. Of course, I was the only one in the theater laughing, so I could be wrong, but it struck me as a completely flat comedy, with the story itself not giving out the usual comic clues. I claim either total admiration for Aki Kaurismaki or ignorance. In either case, it was very compelling.
22 of 32 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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