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Cult Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki is internationally renowned for his distinctively spare and deadpan character studies of society s also-rans. This three disc set contains his acclaimed Underdog Trilogy , which finds Kaurismäki at the height of his sardonic humanist powers. Shadows in Paradise Kaurismäki regulars Matti Pellonpää and Kati Outinen star in this offbeat yet remarkably touching romantic comedy. Pellonpää plays Nikander, a rubbish collector and would-be entrepreneur who finds his plans for success dashed with the unexpected death of his business associate. Whilst searching for a job, he meets Ilona (Outinen) a down-on-her luck cashier in a local supermarket and, falteringly, a bond begins to develop between them. Ariel Acclaimed as one of Kaurismäki s most accomplished early films, Ariel follows the exploits of the laconic Taisto, a newly-unemployed Lapland miner who sets off in a Cadillac convertible for a fresh start in Helsinki. Joined in his odyssey by meter maid Irmeli and her young son, Taitso s plans take a series of unexpected turns in this dryly comic and satirical melange of road movie and film noir. The Match Factory Girl This blackly comic minimalist masterpiece stars Kati Outinen as Iiris, a shy and dowdy young woman stuck in a dead-end job on a match factory production line. She dreams of finding love at the local dancehall, but her attempts are constantly foiled by her selfish parents and the callous behaviour of would-be suitors. Finding herself pregnant after a one-night stand and abandoned by the father, Iiris finally decides the time has come to get even and she begins to plot her revenge.
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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Finnish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: 3-DVD Set, Box Set, Collectors Edition, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Cult Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki is internationally renowned for his distinctively spare and deadpan character studies of society's also-rans. This three disc set contains his acclaimed "Underdog Trilogy", which finds Kaurismäki at the height of his sardonic humanist powers. Set Comprises: Shadows in Paradise (1986): Kaurismäki regulars Matti Pellonpää and Kati Outinen star in this offbeat yet remarkably touching romantic comedy. Ariel (1988): Acclaimed as one of Kaurismäki's most accomplished early films, 'Ariel' follows the exploits of the laconic Taisto, a newly-unemployed Lapland miner who sets off in a Cadillac convertible for a fresh start in Helsinki. The Match Factory Girl (1990): This blackly comic minimalist masterpiece stars Kati Outinen as Iiris, a shy and dowdy young woman stuck in a dead-end job on a match factory production line. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Berlin International Film Festival, European Film Awards, Moscow International Film Festival, ...Aki Kaurismäki Collection (Vol. 1) - 3-DVD Box Set ( Varjoja paratiisissa / Ariel / Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö ) ( Shadows in Paradise / Ariel / The Match Factory Girl )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Wenders would say that Ozu was a secret treasure of cinema...well, if there is such a thing.
For me I would put Aki Kaurismäki's films as a would-be treasure as well.
Simple plot, deadpan humour, great shot compositions in color or bw...JUST WHAT FILMS SHOULD BE ABOUT
Even when he goes wrong he's more right than most films around.
A secret PLEASURE of cinema! Makes Jarmusch an apprentice of minimalism.
Here in Brasil, we cannot find a single film from his collection, even his brother's films (who lives here) is hard to find.
Lucky you!
For me I would put Aki Kaurismäki's films as a would-be treasure as well.
Simple plot, deadpan humour, great shot compositions in color or bw...JUST WHAT FILMS SHOULD BE ABOUT
Even when he goes wrong he's more right than most films around.
A secret PLEASURE of cinema! Makes Jarmusch an apprentice of minimalism.
Here in Brasil, we cannot find a single film from his collection, even his brother's films (who lives here) is hard to find.
Lucky you!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
I really enjoyed all three films from this volume. I would say that they are minimalist, with lovely retro music. They reminded me of old films and theatre. They are stories of a dustman, a supermarket assistant, a worker in a match producing factory and a miner. The characters do not talk very much so I can recommend the films even for people who hesitate to watch films with subtitles. Besides, it is nice to hear Finnish. However, a blockbuster fan may be disappointed. Mirka J
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
One of Kaurismäki's early films, Shadows in Paradise centres on the burgeoning love affair between a bin man, Nikander, and a supermarket checkout girl, Ilona. The romantic leads are played by Matti Pellonpää and Kati Outinen, Kaurismäki's favorite actors whom he used consistently since, and are both excellent. The film displays many of the qualities and themes that Kaurismäki has developed throughout his career - a love affair characterised both by tenderness and a shy awkwardness and formality; characters in poverty or otherwise on the edges of society, minimalistic and stylised dialogue and an unmistakable visual aesthetic. This isn't a masterpiece, but is nevertheless impressive for such an early work and it is interesting to see the strength with which Kaurismäki had found his unique voice so early in his career.
The Match Factory Girl the gem of this collection, and undoubtedly one of Kaurismäki's best works. The film is minimalist (even for Kaurismäki!), with very little dialogue (the first line comes 12 minutes into the film) and a sparse but profoundly compelling plot that unfolds at an impeccable pace. On screen for nearly every minute of the film, Kati Outinen holds the piece together as Iris, the Match Factory Girl of the title, whose downtrodden, poverty-ridden existence takes a turn for the worse when a man she meets, and sleeps with, makes it very clear to her that she was a one night stand - and she then discovers that she's pregnant. Her response to her situation is as unexpected as it is thrilling. Outinen won the Best Actress award at Cannes in 2002 for her role in The Man Without a Past, but I really think her performance in this film is even better - she's simply mesmerising.
Ariel is the weaker film of the three. It has strong thematic similarities to Kaurismäki's 2002 masterpiece THe Man Without a Past in that it follows a man who suffers a series of misfortunes that seem designed to crush his spirit and his hope. Ariel has less gravity than the 2002 film and is also somewhat darker. This is an interesting film, especially when viewed in conjunction with The Man Without a Past but really not Kaurismäki at his best.
The Match Factory Girl the gem of this collection, and undoubtedly one of Kaurismäki's best works. The film is minimalist (even for Kaurismäki!), with very little dialogue (the first line comes 12 minutes into the film) and a sparse but profoundly compelling plot that unfolds at an impeccable pace. On screen for nearly every minute of the film, Kati Outinen holds the piece together as Iris, the Match Factory Girl of the title, whose downtrodden, poverty-ridden existence takes a turn for the worse when a man she meets, and sleeps with, makes it very clear to her that she was a one night stand - and she then discovers that she's pregnant. Her response to her situation is as unexpected as it is thrilling. Outinen won the Best Actress award at Cannes in 2002 for her role in The Man Without a Past, but I really think her performance in this film is even better - she's simply mesmerising.
Ariel is the weaker film of the three. It has strong thematic similarities to Kaurismäki's 2002 masterpiece THe Man Without a Past in that it follows a man who suffers a series of misfortunes that seem designed to crush his spirit and his hope. Ariel has less gravity than the 2002 film and is also somewhat darker. This is an interesting film, especially when viewed in conjunction with The Man Without a Past but really not Kaurismäki at his best.
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