Fallen Leaves (film)

Fallen Leaves (Finnish: Kuolleet lehdet, lit. 'Dead Leaves') is a 2023 Finnish-German comedy-drama film written and directed by Aki Kaurismäki.[3] It is Kaurismäki's 20th full-length film and a continuation of his Proletariat series, which was originally planned as a trilogy and already includes Shadows in Paradise (1986), Ariel (1988), and The Match Factory Girl (1990).[4][5] Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen star in the main roles. The film is produced by Sputnik and Bufo.[3]

Fallen Leaves
Theatrical release poster
FinnishKuolleet lehdet
LiterallyDead Leaves
Directed byAki Kaurismäki
Written byAki Kaurismäki
Produced by
  • Misha Jaari[1]
  • Aki Kaurismäki[1]
  • Mark Lwoff[1]
Starring
CinematographyTimo Salminen
Edited bySamu Heikkilä[2]
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • B-Plan Distribution
  • Pandora Film
Release dates
  • 22 May 2023 (2023-05-22) (Cannes)
  • 14 September 2023 (2023-09-14) (Germany)
  • 15 September 2023 (2023-09-15) (Finland)
Running time
81 minutes[2]
Countries
  • Finland
  • Germany
LanguageFinnish

The film competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize. It is also selected as the Finnish entry for the Best International Feature Film award at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards.[6][7]

Synopsis

Ansa (which means 'trapped' in Finnish[5]), is single and lives in Helsinki. She works on a zero-hour contract in a supermarket, stocking the shelves; later she sorts recyclable plastic. One night she accidentally meets the equally lonely worker Holappa, an alcoholic. Against all odds and misunderstandings, they try to build a relationship. As a result, Holappa manages to get his alcohol addiction under control.[8] According to Alma Pöysti, the female lead, "the film is about lonely people with baggage, who meet later in life. It takes courage to fall in love later in life."[5] It has been described as a tragicomedy.[8]

Cast

Production

Fallen Leaves was produced by Sputnik Oy and Bufo, and co-produced by the German company Pandora Film. The production also received the support of the Finnish Film Foundation, Yle, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, ZDF / ARTE, ARTE G.E.I.E, Filmförderungsanstalt and Film-und Medienstiftung NRW.[10]

Filming began in August 2022 in Kallio, Helsinki. Timo Salminen served as director of photography.[11] Production was done "in one take" and in Kaurismäki's typical style, according to Pöysti: "don't rehearse and don't read the script too much".[5]

The time period of the film is unclear, and it has been said to be set in an alternate reality.[12] The wall calendar shown in the film shows autumn 2024, but the news narrated on the radio takes place in the early moments of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[13] Tube radios, landline phones and old-fashioned trains are used in the world of the film, among other things.[12]

Release

Fallen Leaves was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival,[14][15] where it had its world premiere on 22 May 2023.[16][17] International sales are handled by The Match Factory.[18] In May 2023, Mubi acquired the distribution rights for North America, UK, Ireland, Latin America and Turkey.[19] In the United States, the film will be released on 17 November.[20]

The film was screened at the Midnight Sun Film Festival on 17 June 2023.[21][22] It was also invited to the 27th Lima Film Festival in the Acclaimed section, where it was screened on 10 August 2023.[23] Following screenings at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and 2023 New York Film Festival.[24][25]

It was released in Germany by Pandora Film on 14 September 2023, under the title Fallende Blätter.[26] B-Plan Distribution theatrically released the film in Finland on 15 September 2023.[27]

It was also invited at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'Icon' section and was screened on 6 October 2023.[28]

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 38 reviews, with an average rating of 8.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "A quirky tale of star-crossed lovers, Fallen Leaves is a life-affirming gem from Finnish filmmaker Kaurismäki."[29] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 79 out of 100, based on 8 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[30]

Nordisk Film & TV Fond pointed out, that the movie contains references to Jim Jarmusch's The Dead Don't Die, David Lean's Brief Encounter, and Charlie Chaplin's Limelight.[5]

Reviewing the film following its Cannes premiere, Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote that the film is "romantic and sweet-natured, in a deadpan style that in no way undermines or ironises the emotions involved and with some sharp things to say about contemporary politics."[31]

In August 2023, it was voted as the Best Film of the Year by the International Film Critics Federation Fipresci.[32]

Awards and nominations
Awards and nominations for Fallen Leaves
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Cannes Film Festival 27 May 2023 Palme d'Or Aki Kaurismäki Nominated [33]
Jury Prize Won [34]
Sydney Film Festival 18 June 2023 Best Film Fallen Leaves Nominated [35]
Miskolc International Film Festival 9 September 2023 Adolph Zukor Prize Won [36]
Chicago International Film Festival 22 October 2023 Gold Hugo Nominated [37]
Silver Hugo for Best Director Aki Kaurismäki Won [38]

See also

References
  1. Gleiberman, Owen (23 May 2023). "'Fallen Leaves' Review: Aki Kaurismäki Stages a Tiny Sliver of a Romance in a Quirky Finnish Kaurismäki Land That Hasn't Changed in 30 Years". Variety. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. "KUOLLEET LEHDET". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  3. B-Plan Distributionin tiedote (10 June 2022). "Aki Kaurismäki ohjaa työläistrilogiansa neljännen osan". www.filmikamari.fi. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  4. "Köyhät luuserit paremman maailman haussa – Kaurismäen työläistrilogia on ihmisyyden asialla". yle.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  5. Pham, Annika (24 May 2023). "Kaurismäki about war in Ukraine, love, Chaplin, and asparagus". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  6. Sundqvist, Janne (13 September 2023). "Kuolleet lehdet on Suomen Oscar-ehdokas – Kaurismäki Ylelle: Mikään ei voisi kiinnostaa vähemmän". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  7. Raita-aho, Sanna (13 September 2023). "Aki Kaurismäen Kuolleet lehdet valittiin Suomen Oscar-ehdokkaaksi – ohjaajan boikotti päättyi tällä erää". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  8. Pham, Annika Pham (13 April 2023). "Cannes Film Festival selects Aki Kaurismäki's Fallen Leaves for main competition". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  9. Balaga, Marta (23 May 2023). "'Fallen Leaves' Stars Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen Talk 'Sensei of One-Liners' Aki Kaurismäki". Variety. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  10. "Fallen Leaves". The Match Factory. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  11. "Ohjaaja Aki Kaurismäki tekee uutta elokuvaa – "Sormeni ja alitajuntani kirjoittivat näköjään neljännen osan työläistrilogiaan"". Aamuposti (in Finnish). 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  12. Huhtala, Jussi (14 September 2023). "Kuolleet lehdet – elokuvan arvostelu". Episodi.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  13. Kartastenpää, Tero (7 September 2023). "Arvio: Viisi tähteä – Kuolleet lehdet on parasta Kaurismäkeä". Suomen Kuvalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  14. "Aki Kaurismäki tekee näyttävän paluun: työläistrilogian neljäs elokuva valittiin Cannesin pääkilpasarjaan". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  15. "Elokuvat | Aki Kaurismäki palaa komeasti parrasvaloihin – uusi työläiselokuva kilpailee Cannesissa". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  16. mraultpauillac (10 May 2023). "The Screenings Guide of the 76th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  17. "Kaurismäki nousi voittajasuosikiksi Cannesissa" [Kaurismäki favourite to win at Cannes] (in Finnish). Yle. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  18. Balaga, Marta (22 May 2023). "Review: Fallen Leaves". Cineuropa. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  19. Grobar, Matt (24 May 2023). "'Fallen Leaves': Mubi Acquires Aki Kaurismäki's Acclaimed Tragicomedy – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood.
  20. Davis, Edward (30 August 2023). "'Fallen Leaves' Teaser Trailer: Aki Kaurismäki's Latest Wry TragiComedy Opens November 17". The Playlist. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  21. "Ohjelmakartta" (in Finnish). Midnight Sun Film Festival. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  22. "Aki Kaurismäen uusi Kuolleet lehdet -elokuva saa ensiesityksensä Suomessa kesäkuussa". Muropaketti (in Finnish). 4 May 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  23. "Fallen Leaves" [Kuolleet lehdet]. 27 PUCP Lima Film Festival (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  24. Lattanzio, Ryan (10 August 2023). "TIFF 2023 Centerpiece Program Showcases Aki Kaurismäki, Wim Wenders, Agnieszka Holland, and More". IndieWire. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  25. Rubin, Rebecca (8 August 2023). "New York Film Festival Unveils 2023 Lineup: 'Zone of Interest,' 'Poor Things,' 'Anatomy of a Fall' and More". Variety. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  26. "Fallende Blätter" (in German). Pandora Film Verleih. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  27. Riskala, Tuomas (22 May 2023). "Aki Kaurismäki ei pidä iltapuvuista eikä mediahuomiosta – Kuolleet lehdet saa tänään ensi-iltansa Cannesissa ilman ylimääräisiä fanfaareja". Seiska (in Finnish). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  28. "The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List". Busan International Film Festival. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  29. "Fallen Leaves". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  30. "Fallen Leaves". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  31. Bradshaw, Peter (22 May 2023). "Fallen Leaves review – deadpan Aki Kaurismäki comedy with springtime in its heart". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  32. Hopewell, John (23 August 2023). "Aki Kaurismaki's 'Fallen Leaves' Voted Best Film of the Past Year by International Film Critics Federation Fipresci". Variety. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  33. "The films of the Official Selection 2023". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  34. Debruge, Peter (27 May 2023). "Cannes Awards: 'Anatomy of a Fall' Takes Palme d'Or, 'The Zone of Interest' and 'The Pot au Feu' Among Winners". Variety. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  35. Frater, Patrick (9 May 2023). "Sydney Film Festival Unveils Bumper Lineup for 70th Edition". Variety. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  36. "FESTIVALS: Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry Wins 2023 CineFest Miskolc IFF". FilmNewEurope. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  37. Kay, Jeremy (14 September 2023). "'Fallen Leaves', 'About Dry Grasses', 'La Chimera' among Chicago fest international line-up (exclusive)". Screendaily. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  38. "59th Chicago International Film Festival Announces Award-Winners". RogerEbert.com. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
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