Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
In modern-day Helsinki, two lonely souls in search of love meet by chance in a karaoke bar. However, their path to happiness is beset by obstacles – from lost phone numbers to mistaken addresses, alcoholism, and a charming stray dog.
Aki Kaurismäki's Fallen Leaves is a quintessentially singular work — deadpan, spare, and unmistakably his own. The cinematography is exceptional, with carefully composed static frames, muted palettes, and a near-painterly use of colour and light that elevates Helsinki's working-class spaces into something quietly beautiful. Novelty is high not because the premise is radical (two lonely people find love) but because Kaurismäki's execution is utterly one-of-a-kind: the dry humour, the minimal dialogue, the radio news of Ukraine as an absurdist backdrop, and the tragicomic rhythm are deeply distinctive. Acting earns a solid above-average — the performers excel within a rigidly constrained, anti-naturalistic style that demands a rare kind of discipline. The plot is slight by design, which works as a feature but limits its score; the episodic obstacle structure is charming but unambitious. The ending is warm and satisfying without being surprising, landing comfortably above average.