Aki Kaurismäki

Aki Kaurismäki is more famous abroad than in Finland.
He started hes film career along with hes brother Mika with the movies Valehtelija(1981) and a documentery about finnish rock`n roll scene Saimaa ilmiö(1981)
It would have been easier to be a serious film maker in the moon than in mid 80s in Finland. To begin with for an average Finnish person good movies consist all the Uuno Turhapuro movies from Spede Pasanen and Tuntematon sotilas(1955) from Edvin Laine. So Finnish audience was very suspicious. "Is this supposed to be funny?" They asked after Calmari Union(1985).
 Calmari Union-an epic story of 15 men all called Frank on an Odyssey journey from Kallio to Eira. Back-and-white movie with cast full of well known Finnish actors and musicians like Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, Matti Pellonpää, Pate Mustajärvi, Dave Lindholm, Martti Syrjä, Puntti Valtonern ja Kari Väänänen.
 Then came Varjoja paratiisissa, Ariel ja Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö and the Finnish people where even more confused even when Aki Kaurismäki got Jussi-palkinto (Finnish movie award) from Varjoja paratiisissa and Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö.
Kaurismäki uses very unique dialogue. Often the most important things are said without any words. Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö has less words than in any other Kaurismäki movie. First words are said after ten minutes: "Small Beer."
 Hes movies are said to be eccentric and melancholic but i don't think like that. I found Kaurismäki films beautiful and sometimes hilariously funny.
 Mies Vailla Menneisyyttä(2002) (The Man Without The Past) was nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign language film and won Grand Prix at Cannes. Now Finnish people had to admit too that Aki Kaurismäki is a serious screenwriter and movie director.

 Interesting Facts:
 Aki kaurismäki boycott New York´s 40.th Film Festival because Abbas Kiarostami, Iranian movie director couldn't get visa to USA

 My Top 5 Favourite Aki Kaurismäki films:

 Calmari Union(1985)
 Drifting Clouds(1996)
 Shadows in Paradise(1986)
 I Hired a Contract Killer(1990)
 The Match Factory Girl(1990)