The charismatic innovations of the Kaurismaki brothers transformed the perception of Finnish cinema during the 1980s. In this hilarious spoof on capitalism, Aki cocks a snook at the Bard and re-enacts Hamlet in a modern setting, with the tremulous hero a devourer of ‘ham’ and Timo Salminen’s lustrous black-and-white photography investing each scene with rich nuances of absurdity. But, as Aki cautions: ‘Do not let the plastic beauty of the work deceive you: it’s about money!’

Dir: Aki Kaurismaki.
Finland, 1987.
Subtitled.
86 mins.