Rating: 
Summary: wonderful . . .
Review: I don't have much to say about this film, other than that I enjoyed everything about it. I am as yet unfamiliar with the work of Aki Kaurismäki or any other Finnish director, but rest assured that I'll be seeking out their work after having seen Man Without a Past.Many people have commented here on the stark, deadpan, etc. flavor of this film; I'm wondering whether it was a commentary or joke of some sort by the director in response to the common stereotype of Finns as quiet, stoic people. If you're one of those people who can deal with silence only by filling it with the first words that come to mind, you might find this movie a bit boring. If you prefer silence to mindless jabber, you'll probably find it refreshing. Starting over...in this film the main character, M, has as complete a chance to start life anew as any of us will ever have. Although his opportunity is the direct result of a tragedy, he turns it into something else. I think this is why so many people seem to love this film (that, and the low-key humor). It's an appealing idea: having no choice other than to begin at the beginning, with no personal history: to leave behind doubts, mistakes, rejections, uncertainties, bad habits, weaknesses of character... Positivity reigns here, with M growing his few potatoes and turning a dirty, abandoned shipping container into a (nearly) cozy home complete with jukebox and dog, in a ruggedly beautiful seaside locale. For those who have dreamt of jettisoning the material and emotional baggage of everyday life and moving to the forest or a city where we are completely unknown, this movie should prove enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful . . .
Review: I don't have much to say about this film, other than that I enjoyed everything about it. I am as yet unfamiliar with the work of Aki Kaurismäki or any other Finnish director, but rest assured that I'll be seeking out their work after having seen Man Without a Past. Many people have commented here on the stark, deadpan, etc. flavor of this film; I'm wondering whether it was a commentary or joke of some sort by the director in response to the common stereotype of Finns as quiet, stoic people. If you're one of those people who can deal with silence only by filling it with the first words that come to mind, you might find this movie a bit boring. If you prefer silence to mindless jabber, you'll probably find it refreshing. Starting over...in this film the main character, M, has as complete a chance to start life anew as any of us will ever have. Although his opportunity is the direct result of a tragedy, he turns it into something else. I think this is why so many people seem to love this film (that, and the low-key humor). It's an appealing idea: having no choice other than to begin at the beginning, with no personal history: to leave behind doubts, mistakes, rejections, uncertainties, bad habits, weaknesses of character... Positivity reigns here, with M growing his few potatoes and turning a dirty, abandoned shipping container into a (nearly) cozy home complete with jukebox and dog, in a ruggedly beautiful seaside locale. For those who have dreamt of jettisoning the material and emotional baggage of everyday life and moving to the forest or a city where we are completely unknown, this movie should prove enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: More than a movie...
Review: I made a hellish trip to see this movie and was hoping it would be worth it. It blew me away with the humor. There were only three other people in the theater with me, one of them being a friend. There were parts that only I laughed out loud to but I couldn't stop. This movie has an underlying humor that makes some people lose their marbles.
It was well worth the trip and definitely started my fascination with the actors and director. I am happy that I was able to see it in Finnish with English captions.
I recommend this movie to anyone who has or hasn't seen the director's previous work.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for an Amnesia Movie
Review: I saw this film in Germany shortly after it came out in Europe. Most people would have to admit that amnesia is horribly overused in film to make up for lack of a creative script or solution to the film. However, I was very surprised by this film. I don't want to give much away but it doesn't actually focus much on the amnesia nor is the character at all predictable with it. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and wish only that I hadn't seen it dubbed in german, as I enjoy hearing finnish much much more and am used to subtitles. If this film is playing near you, make the trip and see it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I saw this movie at the Detroit Institute of Arts and loved it. It was one of those rare movies that changed my view of the world after seeing it. I strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys watching meaningful films.
Rating:
Summary: Time Travel Starved of Myths
Review: I'm not from Finland myself, but I have to say that this movie does not realistically describe Finnish society. Finland is probably the most "modern" country in the world when it comes to instrumentalities. Instead it is an exaggurated picture of a country that for 50 years has been balancing between East and West and landed on the West. It could easily been the other way around. And 99 minutes on a boat lies the grim reminder. Everyone I have spoken to about this film disagree with me, but I think this film is playing with time or epochs from 1945 until now. Back and forth, back and forth, like a bottle of Kosken being passed among friends. On a deeper level, this is about Stalin and his refusal to let Finland accept any Marshall aid. This is history gone awry and dreams postponed. How can you keep your dignity when your neighbours are prospering while yourself is left outside the feast? How can you keep yourself sane between the birch and the wood? Give up! Be yourself and have the last word with style. Anyways, for me film is about entertainment, not for intricate BS analysis. This movie is highly entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Time Travel Starved of Myths
Review: I'm not from Finland myself, but I have to say that this movie does not realistically describe Finnish society. Finland is probably the most "modern" country in the world when it comes to instrumentalities. Instead it is an exaggurated picture of a country that for 50 years has been balancing between East and West and landed on the West. It could easily been the other way around. And 99 minutes on a boat lies the grim reminder. Everyone I have spoken to about this film disagree with me, but I think this film is playing with time or epochs from 1945 until now. Back and forth, back and forth, like a bottle of Kosken being passed among friends. On a deeper level, this is about Stalin and his refusal to let Finland accept any Marshall aid. This is history gone awry and dreams postponed. How can you keep your dignity when your neighbours are prospering while yourself is left outside the feast? How can you keep yourself sane between the birch and the wood? Give up! Be yourself and have the last word with style. Anyways, for me film is about entertainment, not for intricate BS analysis. This movie is highly entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: True Love travels on a gravel road -- Beautiful!
Review: In the impoverished slum area on the outskirts of a bigger city in Finland, a middle-aged working man is brutally attacked, robbed and left for dead by a pair of ruthless thugs. Taken to a hospital, the man is pronounced dead, but miraculously emerges from his trauma and literally walks away. Suffering from amnesia, the man meets many well-meaning people who help him back on his feet. A scene where a waitress offers the penniless man a plate of food, saying "better you eat it than we throw it away", is reminiscent of the days of the Great Depression, where many able-bodied men would starve for lack of work. The film spins beautifully to an unexpected, thus even more satisfying conclusion. A contender at many International Film Festivals, "The Man Without A Past" is testimony to the triumph of the human spirit. A rare gem among recent World Cinema. Highly recommended!*****
Rating: 
Summary: A little slow
Review: Man without a past is a slow movie, and I lost interest after a while.
Rating:
Summary: Lowlifes on the low key
Review: Plusses: interesting faces; quiet, caring interactions between characters; nice music when present; warm take on the Helsinki underbelly in summer. Minuses: predictable situation comedy, artificial plot with little symbolic saving grace, incompetently staged revenge scene, unsuccessful attempts at imitating David Lynch's style, persistent doubts that the film's losers could survive a Finnish winter. Give it a try, considering that others like it, but don't be surprised if you're disappointed.
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