Two lost souls meet by chance and gradually effect each other’s salvation in Aki Kaurismäki’s typically melancholic, yet wryly humorous and ultimately life-affirming new film. The director’s hand is immediately apparent as we are introduced to Holappa (Jussi Vatanen), a morose construction worker who wastes his days drinking in dingy bars; he’s depressed because he drinks, and drinks because he’s depressed, he tells Huotari (Janne Hyytiäinen), his laconic co-worker. Parallel to this we find supermarket worker Ansa (Alma Pöysti), who has just been fired for pocketing some out of date food destined for the rubbish bin. One night, their trajectories intersect in a karaoke bar and a tacit relationship ensues, but the course of true love rarely runs as smoothly as in the classic movies they enjoy together.

Notes by David O’Mahony