Nikander, a rubbish collector and would-be entrepreneur, finds his plans for success dashed when his business associate dies. One evening, he meets Ilona, a down-on-her-luck cashier, in a local supermarket. Falteringly, a bond begins to develop between them.
Matti Pellonpää
Nikander
Kati Outinen
Ilona
Sakari Kuosmanen
Melartin
Esko Nikkari
Nikander's Co-Worker
Kylli Köngäs
Ilona's Friend
Pekka Laiho
Store Manager
Jukka-Pekka Palo
Third Man
Svante Korkiakoski
Police Officer
Mari Rantasila
Nikander's Sister
Safka Pekkonen
Pianist
Antti Ortamo
2nd Pianist
Mato Valtonen
Pelle
Sakke Järvenpää
Staffan
Ulla Kuosmanen
Melartin's Wife
Neka Haapanen
Cook
Pentti Koski
Singer
Ari Korhonen
Man in Restaurant
Teuvo Rissanen
Police Officer
Erkki Rissanen
Porter
Sirkka Silin
Woman in Restaurant
Marina Martinoff
Hostess
Jussi Tiitinen
Garbage Man / Bartender
Riikka Kuosmanen
Melartin's Daughter
Eskil Mansikka
Keyboardist (uncredited)
Jaakko Talaskivi
Guard (uncredited)
Haije Alanoja
Woman in Restaurant (uncredited)
Bertta Pellonpää
Bingo Player (uncredited)
Helmeri Pellonpää
Bingo Player (uncredited)
Malla Hukkanen
Woman in Restaurant (uncredited)
Aki Kaurismäki
Hotel Receptionist (uncredited)
Olli Varja
Customer (uncredited)
Tanja Talaskivi
Woman in Cinema (uncredited)
Jukka Mäkinen
Garbage Man (uncredited)
Director, Writer
Aki Kaurismäki
September 6, 2018
7
Released in 1986, Aki Kaurismaki's <i>Varjoja paratiisissa</i> (Shadows in Paradise) is one of the Finnish filmmaker's earliest efforts, and it stands as one of the most idiosyncratic romantic comedies of all time. The painfully shy Nikander (Matti Pellonpää), a garbage man, means the moody Ilona, a supermarket checkout girl. The film tracks their bumbling attempt to establish a lasting relationship: dates that end as soon as they've begun, a romantic getaway where they each retreat to separate hotel rooms, and rare conversations which employ the absolute bare minimum of words. Nikander's best and only friend Melartin (Sakari Kuosmanen), whom the garbage man only recently met through a spell in jail, gives some needed encouragement.
The film's soundtrack is rooted in early rock-and-roll, though unlike later Kaurismaki films where the characters seem to be living in a 1950s bubble, all the action takes place in contemporary Helsinki. I've criticized Kaurismaki's vision of Finland in other films, but <i>Varjoja paratiisissa</i> does, in my opinion, accurately depict the collection of gloomy, taciturn binge drinkers that are the Finns.
<i>Varjoja paratiisissa</i> is an early work and doesn't show the confidence of later efforts, but it's still quite entertaining, its leads and their struggles extremely charming, and I would recommend the film. Certainly the performances of Pellonpää (in a typical Pellonpää role) and Outinen (who seemingly reinvents herself in every film) will prove quite memorable.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
Finnish
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00