Fallen Leaves Review
Aki Kaurismäki’s gorgeously framed, off-kilter romance, Fallen Leaves, is a tonic in these uncertain times. The Finnish auteurs Palme D’or nominated eighteenth feature film follows Ansa and Holappa, two lonely misfits, adrift in modern-day Helsinki, who meet by chance at a karaoke bar. What follows is a tender romance, alive with the director’s dry wit and gentle humour, that sees its characters tackle misfortune in the face of their blossoming relationship.
Kaurismäki lovingly fuses the textures and rhythms of everyday life with his trademark deadpan style, which, as with his greatest work, never undercuts the sincerity of its characters or their experiences. We’re given a look at a world that is both recognisably ours and totally unique to its director.
Sadness exists on the periphery of Fallen Leaves, though; we hear about the tragic loss of life in Ukraine over the radio, substance abuse and the precarious nature of the modern gig economy are both sensitively explored, but Kaurasmäki dares both his audience and his characters to hope for a brighter future. Resulting in a timely film with a timeless love story at its heart. Human connection, he posits, is a necessary and worthwhile distraction. So is this film.