Restless (2000)

For Ari, nothing feels like anything. He doesn't do relationships, doesn't do attachments. There's only sex. That is until he meets Tiina. Together with Tiina and her closest circle of friends, this could be their last summer of freedom.

Director:

Aku Louhimies

Writers:

Aleksi Bardy (screenplay), Aleksi Bardy (original story)

Stars:

Mikko Nousiainen, Laura Malmivaara, Petteri Summanen

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mikko Nousiainen	...	Ari
Laura Malmivaara	...	Tiina
Petteri Summanen	...	Stig
Matleena Kuusniemi	...	Ilona
Valtteri Roiha	...	Riku
Irina Björklund	...	Hanna-Riikka
Samuli Edelmann	...	Roope
Vilma Melasniemi	...	Piia
Eija Nousiainen	...	Arin äiti
Jaana Järvinen	...	Helena
Pertti Sveholm	...	Pera
Niina Kurkinen	...	Päivi
Kirsi Tarvainen	...	Tipi
Wanda Dubiel	...	Tupu
Jere Viitanen	...	Roopen ja Pian poika

Storyline

An old dog has a hard time learning new tricks in this drama set in Turku. Ari, a paramedic, is a chronic womanizer; he makes it a point of pride to never sleep with the same woman twice, and his nights are a long series of brazen one-night stands. But when Ari meets Tiina (Laura Malmivaara), something unexpected happens - he falls in love. For the first time, Ari finds himself pursuing a long-term relationship, and he makes a genuine effort to remain faithful to her. But old habits die hard; Tiina introduces Ari to her circle of friends and temptation arises as he encounters Hanna-Riikka, a theology student, and Ilona, who is soon to be married. Despite Ari's feelings for Tiina, he begins having affairs with both Hanna-Riikka and Ilona, leading to an unpleasant revelation on the day of Ilona's nuptials.

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Plot Keywords:

cuckolded husband | cheating girlfriend | female full frontal nudity | male full frontal nudity | fellatio | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

After the success of Restless (2000), Solar Films released two films that were promoted as a part of the "Levottomat-trilogy", Me and Morrison (2001) and Levottomat 3 - kun mikään ei riitä (2004). Aku Louhimies wasn't happy with the marketing strategy, later calling it a "short-sighted deception of the viewer".

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Quotes

Hanna-Riikka: Happiness doesn't need to be deserved

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Connections

Featured in Naurun tasavalta: Sielu ja ruumis (2010)

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Soundtracks

Nuoruustango
Written by Kaj Chydenius
Arranged by Leri Leskinen

User Reviews

Sad in its portrayal of the lives of 20-something Finns

After having seen this film three times, I am still wondering... is this all there is? The film depicts Finland in a way that is quite unknown to most foreigners. Yes, Finland is full of depressed, melancholic, pathetic individuals, and this film doesn't actually prove anyone wrong. Still, 'Levottomat' is full of sunshine and wonderful, positive portrayals of southern Finland... put as positively as possible, with all the academic and non-academic screw-ups who - in all their restlessness and despite the sunshine - are just looking for the same things as everyone else. Slightly unrealistic like all films but also very truthful in its depiction of the lives of the 20-something people from Finland. Sad really. And in case you were wondering... yes. Even gorgeous lead-actresses have cellulite. At least in Finland.

Details

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Release Date:

28 January 2000 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Restless

Filming Locations:

Turku, Finland

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,632, 5 November 2000

Gross USA:

$16,239

Company Credits

Production Co:

Solar Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1