Lights in the Dark (Laitakaupungin Valot)

Bea says: Helsinki looked bleak, grey and made of concrete. Cafes and bars looked functional, rather than comfortable. Everyone was taciturn, and the plot - a "loser" whose life spirals quickly downward after a misguided liaison with a conwoman - not at all cheery. Except that next to me were two Finns who found the whole thing hilarious. Somewhat nonplussed, I listened to them laugh at the misfortunes of this sorry character. And it kind of rubbed off, and I found myself chuckling as our unfortunate hero is rejected by women, ignored by society, beaten up and imprisoned, and winds up living in a shelter, washing dishes for a living and sitting in bars listening to the depressing lyrics of Finnish tango (yes, that's right, Finnish tango - the Argentinian kind but with Finnish lyrics). I really enjoyed this film. The lead is perhaps just a little too good-looking to be truly a loser, but it works.
****

Cecil says: I saw my first Kaurismaki film 12 years ago in Brussels - I was taken by a Finnish colleague and the cinema was full of Finns falling about in the aisles as they watched an equally dismal plot develop ("Drifting Clouds"). So, I was ready for the style of film. What struck me was the total silence in the NFT (I didn't hear Bea's laughing Finns or even Bea's own chuckles) and all I could think was: there aren't many Finns among us tonight...

As I say, having seen the previous Kaurismaki film, I found it easier to relax and begin to see through the apparent hopelessness of the main character's life. There is something wonderful about the male characters in this film - a rough lot to say the least, but something strangely fascinating, even about the three buffoons in the bar who beat up our poor hero (my Finnish is pretty rubbish, but even I could see that they are just given the title 'gorillas' in the credits) - but why does everyone in the film smoke (is this some subliminal message from Kaurismaki or is it a true reflection of Helsinki working life?). There are only two female characters: one is the woman who cons the main man into falling for her (and who is then seen simply vacuuming while the male gangsters play cards); the other is the grilled sausage seller who is always there to listen, to help and to support. At the end, it is their holding hands which leaves us with a message of hope in spite of all that society can throw at us. Now, when is the next Kaurismaki coming out...
***