It’s been a good year for Aki Kaurismäki and his latest film “Fallen Leaves” so far. After the movie’s world premiere, it won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival back in May. And as “Fallen Leaves” made its way through the Fall festival circuit, screening at Telluride and TIFF, it also won the Fipresci Grand Prix as the Best Film Of 2023.
As “Fallen Leaves” wraps its festival run with showings at NYFF and AFI Fest, Kaurismäki looks ahead: will his film win Best International Feature at the Oscars next year? It’s Finland’s official selection for the award. Let’s see if the Academy nominates it first (and with the film’s critical reception, that’s almost guaranteed).
“Fallen Leaves” sees Kaurismäki in familiar territory, telling another tragicomic tale of two middle-aged people in Helsinki who strike up an unexpected romance.
Here’s an official synopsis for “Fallen Leaves,” courtesy of MUBI:
Fallen Leaves tells the story of two lonely people (Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen) who meet each other by chance in the Helsinki night and try to find the first, only, and ultimate love of their lives. Their path towards this honourable goal is clouded by the man’s alcoholism, lost phone numbers, not knowing each other’s names or addresses, and life’s general tendency to place obstacles in the way of those seeking their happiness. This gentle tragicomedy, previously thought to be lost, is the fourth part of Aki Kaurismäki’s working-class trilogy (“Shadows in Paradise,” “Ariel,” and “The Match Factory Girl“).
“Fallen Leaves” stars Jussi Vatanen, Alma Pöysti, Janne Hyytiäinen, Nuppu Koivu, and Matti Onnismaa. Kaurismäki writes the film’s screenplay along with directing. He also co-produces “Fallen Leaves” with Misha Jaari and Mark Lwoff.
A Finnish-German co-production, Kaurismäki’s latest has already been theatrically released in both countries. However, it doesn’t hit US theaters until November 17. Watch a trailer for “Fallen Leaves” below.
