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Fallen Leaves
Kuolleet lehdet
2023 81 min Finland, Germany 12+
★7.8
Romance, Comedy, Drama
Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Trailers
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Teaser
Description
In modern-day Helsinki, two lonely souls in search of love meet by chance in a karaoke bar. However, their path to happiness is beset by obstacles – from lost phone numbers to mistaken addresses, alcoholism, and a charming stray dog.
Budget:
$1.48M
US Gross:
$954,307
Worldwide:
$12.4M
Starring
Alma Pöysti
Actor
Jussi Vatanen
Actor
Janne Hyytiäinen
Actor
Awards
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2023
— FIPRESCI Prize
Cannes Film Festival 2023
— AFCAE Award – Special Mention
Cannes Film Festival 2023
— Palm Dog Award – Jury Prize
European Film Awards 2023
— Best Screenplay
Cannes Film Festival 2023
— Palme d'Or
European Film Awards 2023
— Best Actor
César Awards 2024
— Best International Feature Film
Cannes Film Festival 2023
— AFCAE Award – Special Mention
Golden Globe 2024
— Best Actress (Comedy or Musical)
Cannes Film Festival 2023
— Palm Dog Award – Jury Prize
Golden Globe 2024
— Best International Feature Film
Cannes Film Festival 2023
— Jury Prize
European Film Awards 2023
— Best Director
Key opinion
Aki Kaurismäki’s 'Fallen Leaves' is widely celebrated as a masterful, minimalist tragicomedy that finds profound warmth within the bleakness of working-class life. While most critics praise its signature retro-aesthetic and understated hopefulness, a minority of viewers find the intentionally wooden acting and sparse dialogue to be distancing.
| Cinematography | The film effectively uses a minimalist, retro aesthetic and warm, moody cinematography to capture a timeless sense of melancholic intimacy in Helsinki. | |
| Score | The soundtrack functions as a key narrative participant, using music to bridge the emotional gaps left by the characters' sparse dialogue and rigid, working-class realities. | |
| Theme | The narrative succeeds as a tender, hopeful exploration of human connection, with many viewers finding the central romance between two alienated individuals deeply touching. | |
| Direction | The directorial style—characterized by deadpan delivery and a lack of overt moralizing—divides opinion; some find it a masterful, ironic portrait of human resilience, while others perceive it as emotionally detached or stiff. | |
| Acting | Performances are highly polarizing; fans argue that the clipped, stoic acting style anchors the film's authenticity, while critics contend that the wooden dialogue makes the leads difficult to connect with. |