Drifting Clouds (1996)

The recession hits a couple in Helsinki.

Director:

Aki Kaurismäki

Writer:

Aki Kaurismäki

Stars:

Kati Outinen, Kari Väänänen, Elina Salo

10 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kati Outinen	...	Ilona Koponen
Kari Väänänen	...	Lauri Koponen
Elina Salo	...	Rouva Sjöholm (Mrs. Sjöholm)
Sakari Kuosmanen	...	Melartin
Markku Peltola	...	Lajunen
Matti Onnismaa	...	Forsström
Matti Pellonpää	...	Lapsi valokuvassa (Child in the Photograph)
Pietari	...	Pietari
Shelley Fisher	...	Pianisti (Pianist)
Markus Allan	...	Orkesteri (Band)
Pauli Granfelt	...	Orkesteri (Band)
Kari Lindqvist	...	Orkesteri (Band)
Pentti Mutikainen	...	Orkesteri (Band)
Tommi Parkkonen	...	Orkesteri (Band)
Taisto Wesslin	...	Orkesteri (Band)

Storyline

Tram driver Lauri loses his job. Shortly later, the restaurant where his wife Ilona works as a head waitress is closed. Too proud to receive money from the social welfare system, they strive to find new jobs. But they are completely unlucky and clumsy, one disaster is followed by the next.

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Plot Keywords:

tram driver | tram | work | waitress | restaurant | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Homepage (The Finnish Film Foundation)

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Release Date:

10 July 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Drifting Clouds

Filming Locations:

Punavuori, Helsinki, Finland

Box Office

Budget:

FIM 5,562,154 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sputnik

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although most of the films directed by Aki Kaurismäki take place in Helsinki, which is a bilingual city, this is the first of his movies where someone speaks Swedish.

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Quotes

Melartin: Let's take the whole bottle, it's cheaper

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Connections

References Night on Earth (1991)

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Soundtracks

Kuihtuu kesäinen maa
Written by Rauli Somerjoki /P. Vakkuri/J. Ollila
Performed by Rauli Somerjoki

User Reviews

Gloomy but good

I particularly liked Man Without A Past, by the same director, and this is much in the same vein. A couple having financial difficulties tries to make their way. Sounds like all of us. Only this couple delivers delicious witty dialogue in a deadpan style that cracks me up every time. Even their fights and make ups are so understated that it's a style all it's own. Don't look for the obvious here, it's hidden under a layer of Finnish humor so opaque that you have to watch very closely to see even a glimmer of laughter in anyone's eye.

The film is gloomy, depressing, bleak, but somehow it does your heart good. Even when things seem to be at their worst, you can't help but feel that the hardworking and honest couple will manage to somehow get back on solid ground and right with the world. You want them to. You need them to. They simply must, or your poor little heart will break.

It's hard to describe this film because nothing much seems to happen, there are only the normal setbacks of life in the low income zone, but by the end you realize that you've seen a great movie and are happy with it. What helps keep you interested are the dialogue and the understated style. For example, why do all the men wear their hair the same way? Does anyone own clothes that aren't drab? Why does all the furniture look like it's from the 1950's? All these questions and more will occur to you while watching the film and wondering if anyone will ever crack a smile.