1999·Comedy·1h 18m
7.1
★
A farmer's wife is seduced into running away from her stolid older husband by a city slicker, who enslaves her in a brothel.
Directed by Aki Kaurismäki
based on novel or book
IMDB
N/A
Cast
Sakari Kuosmanen
Juha
Kati Outinen
Marja
André Wilms
Shemeikka
Elina Salo
Shemeikka's Sister
Markku Peltola
Driver
Esko Nikkari
Police Chief
Ona Kamu
Shemeikka's Woman
Outi Mäenpää
Shemeikka's Woman
Jaakko Talaskivi
Bodyguard
Sami Kuoppamäki
Orchestra Member
Matti Hyvönen
Bar Customer
Atte Blom
Reverend
Crew
Aki Kaurismäki
Director
Aki Kaurismäki
Screenplay
Aki Kaurismäki
Editor
Aki Kaurismäki
Producer
Markku Pätilä
Production Design
Jaakko Talaskivi
Unit Manager
Popular Reviews
11 reviews
Mirriau
7.0★ · 04/25/26
The old mute film gimmick really adds a flair of charisma.
The old mute film gimmick really adds a flair of charisma.
lian
8.0★ · 02/26/26
My first silent film!
Here's what I can say:
The good stuff: The film is actually great and way easier to understand than I expected. Since you're sitting there in total silence, it really lets you focus and digest every single scene, lines and even the soundtrack itself. Thus, found myself appreciating things so much more deeply: like how unique everyone’s faces are and how much you can tell just from body language. Also it taught me how to read the "message" in a scene just through objects. Loved the dialogue, defo my favorite part. It’s very poetic because there’s so little of it, so when it does pop up, it feels really bold and impactful.
The Mid stuff: The silence is like a schizophrenia, because your own thoughts can start to cloud your mind. I also had this weird "envy" where I kept thinking the film would be a hundred times more melancholic if they were actually speaking. You also notice the soundtrack is kind of repetitive, which some people might find annoyin. You'll be feeling like you're deaf.
Overall, I loved it. This will be special since it’s my first silent film and it’s by Aki Kaurismaki. Perhaps, this is a canon experience when you’re a silent film beginner.
Here's what I can say:
The good stuff: The film is actually great and way easier to understand than I expected. Since you're sitting there in total silence, it really lets you focus and digest every single scene, lines and even the soundtrack itself. Thus, found myself appreciating things so much more deeply: like how unique everyone’s faces are and how much you can tell just from body language. Also it taught me how to read the "message" in a scene just through objects. Loved the dialogue, defo my favorite part. It’s very poetic because there’s so little of it, so when it does pop up, it feels really bold and impactful.
The Mid stuff: The silence is like a schizophrenia, because your own thoughts can start to cloud your mind. I also had this weird "envy" where I kept thinking the film would be a hundred times more melancholic if they were actually speaking. You also notice the soundtrack is kind of repetitive, which some people might find annoyin. You'll be feeling like you're deaf.
Overall, I loved it. This will be special since it’s my first silent film and it’s by Aki Kaurismaki. Perhaps, this is a canon experience when you’re a silent film beginner.
My first silent film!
Here's what I can say:
The good stuff: The film is actually great and way easier to understand than I expected. Since you're sitting there in total silence, it really lets you focus and digest every single scene, lines and even the soundtrack itself. Thus, found myself appreciating things so much more deeply: like how unique everyone’s faces are and how much you can tell just from body language. Also it taught me how to read the "message" in a scene just through objects. Loved the dialogue, defo my favorite part. It’s very poetic because there’s so little of it, so when it does pop up, it feels really bold and impactful.
The Mid stuff: The silence is like a schizophrenia, because your own thoughts can start to cloud your mind. I also had this weird "envy" where I kept thinking the film would be a hundred times more melancholic if they were actually speaking. You also notice the soundtrack is kind of repetitive, which some people might find annoyin. You'll be feeling like you're deaf.
Overall, I loved it. This will be special since it’s my first silent film and it’s by Aki Kaurismaki. Perhaps, this is a canon experience when you’re a silent film beginner.
Here's what I can say:
The good stuff: The film is actually great and way easier to understand than I expected. Since you're sitting there in total silence, it really lets you focus and digest every single scene, lines and even the soundtrack itself. Thus, found myself appreciating things so much more deeply: like how unique everyone’s faces are and how much you can tell just from body language. Also it taught me how to read the "message" in a scene just through objects. Loved the dialogue, defo my favorite part. It’s very poetic because there’s so little of it, so when it does pop up, it feels really bold and impactful.
The Mid stuff: The silence is like a schizophrenia, because your own thoughts can start to cloud your mind. I also had this weird "envy" where I kept thinking the film would be a hundred times more melancholic if they were actually speaking. You also notice the soundtrack is kind of repetitive, which some people might find annoyin. You'll be feeling like you're deaf.
Overall, I loved it. This will be special since it’s my first silent film and it’s by Aki Kaurismaki. Perhaps, this is a canon experience when you’re a silent film beginner.
alicia
7.0★ · 12/21/25
me ha encantado la musica
me ha encantado la musica
Anna Vargas
6.6★ · 11/16/25
Tras verme esta película, he visto mucho análisis sobre que el karma de Marja es vivir con la muerte de lo único que amaba (Juha), pero yo creo que nunca ha dejado de sufrir. La importancia de la mujer insatisfecha, de la que vive como extensión de otros y nunca consigue lo que quiere (porque no sabe que es eso ni le han preguntado nunca) es esencial en esta película. Eso la lleva a aceptar cualquier oferta porque imagina ser libre y tomar sus propias decisiones. Poner el punto en el plano romántico es reduccionista cuanto menos y quita toda la importancia a la esclavitud física y emocional de Marka.
Tras verme esta película, he visto mucho análisis sobre que el karma de Marja es vivir con la muerte de lo único que amaba (Juha), pero yo creo que nunca ha dejado de sufrir. La importancia de la mujer insatisfecha, de la que vive como extensión de otros y nunca consigue lo que quiere (porque no sabe que es eso ni le han preguntado nunca) es esencial en esta película. Eso la lleva a aceptar cualquier oferta porque imagina ser libre y tomar sus propias decisiones. Poner el punto en el plano romántico es reduccionista cuanto menos y quita toda la importancia a la esclavitud física y emocional de Marka.
Joakim
9.0★ · 08/19/25
Decade-thon - August 19th 2025
90s
Akis stumfilm fra 1999. Det er en god hyllest til formatet, og viser virkelig fram styrkene til hans.
Filmens musikk er driftet og dritpen. Visuelt er det mye bra lyssetting hentet fra noir som igjen henter fra ekspresjonismen som tok sted i stumfilm eraen. Filmrullen til Aki skinner mer enn andres.
Kaurismäki
90s
Akis stumfilm fra 1999. Det er en god hyllest til formatet, og viser virkelig fram styrkene til hans.
Filmens musikk er driftet og dritpen. Visuelt er det mye bra lyssetting hentet fra noir som igjen henter fra ekspresjonismen som tok sted i stumfilm eraen. Filmrullen til Aki skinner mer enn andres.
Kaurismäki
Decade-thon - August 19th 2025
90s
Akis stumfilm fra 1999. Det er en god hyllest til formatet, og viser virkelig fram styrkene til hans.
Filmens musikk er driftet og dritpen. Visuelt er det mye bra lyssetting hentet fra noir som igjen henter fra ekspresjonismen som tok sted i stumfilm eraen. Filmrullen til Aki skinner mer enn andres.
Kaurismäki
90s
Akis stumfilm fra 1999. Det er en god hyllest til formatet, og viser virkelig fram styrkene til hans.
Filmens musikk er driftet og dritpen. Visuelt er det mye bra lyssetting hentet fra noir som igjen henter fra ekspresjonismen som tok sted i stumfilm eraen. Filmrullen til Aki skinner mer enn andres.
Kaurismäki