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I love this movie so much

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Aki Kaurismaki is one of the visually most astonishing directors of the past couple of decades. Finnish movie maker blurs the line between the theater and the cinema, as well as the one between comic books and movies. "The man with no past" is no exception when it comes to color gamma and lighting.The thing that represents the major issue with Kaurismaki's flick is the script. It is too blunt and too shallow for a movie. Characters are pretty much flat from beginning to the end and their actions can be considered naive by present standards. Same thing applies for the plot itself."The man without a past" is the feast for the eye, but sadly, not for the brain as well.

Man Without a Past (Mies vailla menneisyyttä), directed by Aki Kaurismaki, is an inspiring tale of rediscovery and moving forward following amnesia, all wrapped up in a deadpan parody of classic crime fiction. When a man known as M (Markku Peltola) is attacked and left to die, he awakens with no memory of his previous self and has to forge a new life among a large community of homeless people. While this sounds like the plot of a typical drama involving the eventual triumph over hardship, visual gags and sonic incongruities make it clear that the film is actually a satire. This isn't to say that the film doesn't have feeling—it's just hidden by a lack of obvious emotion. I can see how other reviewers have taken issue to the film. All of the performances are totally deadpan, with an absolute lack of emotion. The dialog is fairly minimal, creating many awkward pauses and meals eaten in total silence. However, this only adds to the comedic aspect of the story overall. The visual gags are obvious from the outset. When M is in the hospital after his beating, his face is so bandaged that he wouldn't even be able to breathe. The visual gags continue throughout; many times, characters are found staring off into the distance after saying something profound or generally emotional (all done, of course, without any change in vocal inflection or facial expression). A woman leaps into her lover's arms, to be held for about a microsecond, and a "rock band" forms composed of men wearing their Salvation Army jackets and button downs. The visual gags are emphasized by the music. A dramatic swelling of notes is accompanied by generally blank stares. The background songs are also frequently incongruous, such as choosing upbeat dance music to accompany a transition into nighttime. As a comedy, Man Without a Past is free to play with the archetypes of classic crime dramas. There's the usual tough police officer with a tendency for softness. In this case it manifests as philosophical musings, but his observations have absolutely no connection to the situation at hand. There's the damsel (portrayed stoically by Kati Outinen), who is the object of our hero's affection. She is heartbroken when he has to leave to do his duty, calling him her "first love." Except in this case, she's not a fresh-faced young woman but a tired, forty-something volunteer at the Salvation Army. Additionally, the bank robber is incredibly apologetic and checks in to make sure he hasn't traumatized his victims too much. The use of archetypes and predictable actions could be boring, but the subtle twists that change the original type really adds to the humor of the film.Nestled among the satire and parodies are a few touching anecdotes about how nice people really can be. In the homeless community in which M takes refuge, people share food and skills, helping each other build a life from very little. M shows up with no name and no past, but a family takes him in, helping him recover and feeding him, despite having nothing themselves. Similarly Irma, the Salvation Army worker, gives M clothing for free, saying that he can pay it back once he is on his feet. She also accepts a date with him, despite knowing nothing about his previous life. It's easy for the casual viewer to dislike this film. It feels like the actors are reading from a teleprompter rather than acting, and the delivery of dialog is stilted and awkward. Many of the characters are just downright strange (and strange-looking) as well. It's a film that would probably never be made in Hollywood, due to its seeming non-appeal to American audiences. Its differences though are what lend it charm and creativity. Rather than taking the same tired plot of a flawed person undertaking a journey to rediscovery, Man Without a Past offers a new view on the situation. It mixes genres and various classic pillars of film, creating an interesting, multi layered story. Depending on the mood of the viewer, it can be touching, triumphant, or hilarious. I definitely recommend this film for anyone willing to try something just slightly different and off the wall.

I sort of stumbled on this, actually was looking for more crime fiction movies, which this got put under somewhere. And yet, I quickly got engrossed in this movie. I think it was because it showed the joy of 'small things'. A man gets nothing in the beginning but hard luck, and yet, you see the joy and humor in his life, and in the lives around him. I immediately became a Aki Kaurismaki fan, and now can't get enough of him. But for anybody who has not seen this one, find the joy of independent film making once again.From his hotplate when cooking, to his relationship with his 'landlord' I kept finding the humor addictive, and even romance, which I'll not spoil, but just to say that love exists in poverty and despair kept giving way to music and the comfort of another human being. To think that just smoking a cigarette, one of the few small pleasures the poor had been left with during the depression, became heartwarming...

Aki Kaurismäki's The Man Without a Past tells the story of a goodhearted man trying to recreate his life after developing amnesia. His search for work, love and answers takes place in the Finnish city of Helsinki, where M (Markku Peltola) finds out the way he truly wants to live.Peltola does a convincing job at playing a man without a past. There is a considerable difficulty in creating a memorable persona for a role in which the character has none prior. Peltola keeps everyone guessing, including himself, by allowing the character of M to develop slowly throughout the film, learning from his new experiences, adapting to the current situation and never relying on mannerisms or information created outside the film itself. The audience is able to share the journey, and our sympathy for M's situation is heightened. The film addresses the actions of people and their disparities quite clearly. The story starts with M being brutally attacked in the dark night of Helsinki, then mugged and left for dead. For a first scene, the plot doesn't do much for creating a positive view of the city, or of Finland itself. However, Kaurismäki artfully crafts his story to bring the characters (and the audience) down to the very depths of despair, only then to bring them back up to a feeling of affirmation for humanity. Because he struggles with his identity, every encounter is a new one for M, and he is only shown compassion by many of those he meets. People give what they can and make an honest effort to help M make the transition into a new life. Iron-fisted landlords bend the rules, preeminent lawyers defend his rights,and even a bank robber turns out to be altruistic in his plight.A concerning part of all this compassion, however, is the manner in which it is presented. Finns are portrayed as, well, very Finnish. Emotions are kept in check, and not much is ever outwardly expressed as appreciated as so much necessary. Still, the human side of an outwardly stern community can be felt with a certain energy. People band together when they need to, and give the support that those like M need at the moment to survive.A part of this survival is not so much physical for M, but emotional as well with the Salvation Army worker Irma (Kati Outinen). Shortly after M receives the communal assistance and compassion from those around him, he too feels the need to share it with someone, in his case, a woman. The relationship between M and Irma could be described as cute to some: a pair of middle-aged adults attempting their very best shot at a youthful romance. The simplicity of their relationship, with walks in the woods, rides in cars, and home-cooked dinners is heartwarming, and gives a glimpse into the sincerity the two share for the comfort and security afforded by their relationship. The two merely want to be happy, and they do their best to participate in the love that brings them to that destination.The Man Without a Past shows not only how a man can choose to live, but also how he can change. The film presents the challenges of relationships, and the things that tear them apart. M receives a second chance, and in doing so, he perhaps subconsciously changes his way of life. Though he has no knowledge of his prior self, the decisions he makes after starting over may very well be influenced by the mistakes he had lived through before. In the end, Kaurismäki brings us full-circle, with the level of M's happiness showing the validity of his decisions in the new life he has created. All in all an enjoyable film delving into the culture and community of Finland that would be a great flick to see on a slower evening allowing you to take in the subtle interactions between it's vast cast of characters. 7 stars out of 10.