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 addre... Read allIn 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.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.
- Awards
- 9 wins & 55 nominations
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film Ansa and Holappa see in the cinema is The Dead Don't Die (2019), which was directed by Jim Jarmusch. Jarmusch has said he has been influenced by Kaurismäki, appearing in Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989) and set part of his own film Night on Earth (1991) in Finland, where he used several of Kaurismäki's regular actors.
- GoofsThe sequence of radio news reports about the Russo-Ukrainian War is not in chronological order. For example, the Mariupol hospital airstrike is mentioned at the very beginning of the film, whereas a report on the Mariupol theatre airstrike is heard in the second half, even though there's only a week of difference between those events. Between those bulletins there are several others about the events having happened in the summer and in the autumn of 2022. This is impossible in the reality of the film, because its narrative is completely linear.
- Quotes
Holappa: Remember The night you sang karaoke?
Hannes Huotari: And sang well?
Holappa: And sang well
Hannes Huotari: I'm still waiting for the record company and the tour manager to call
Holappa: Maybe they weren't around
Hannes Huotari: Such a performance should have the word spreading
Holappa: There were the two... women
Hannes Huotari: Dames, gals, skirts, Sheilas. I wasn't good enough. Too old, I was told
Holappa: I met the smaller one later. We almost got married.
Hannes Huotari: Why didn't you? pretty girl, though a quiet one
Holappa: I lost her phone number.
Hannes Huotari: Why don't you ask the directory?
Holappa: I don't know her name.
Hannes Huotari: That certainly is a slight problem
- Crazy creditsThe closing credits end with 'Dedicated to the memory of Harri Marstio.' in Finnish.
Ansa (Alma Pöysti) is the lonely single woman; her best friend is Liisa (Nuppu Koivu). Holappa (Jussi Vatanen) is the single guy; his best friend is Huotari (Janne Hyytiäinen). Ansa and Holappa are at the bottom of the labor market and have difficulty holding jobs. One of Holappa's problems is his love of alcohol.
Ansa and Holappa first experience sparks at a karaoke bar, but don't actually meet for a while. After they do, one thing after another complicates their potential relationship. It all takes place against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, posters of old movies and events, and music describing the emotions of the characters at that particular point in time. And, despite their plights, the characters all have a sarcastic sense of humor.
"Fallen Leaves" is a delightful comedy that works even for an English audience. I laughed frequently in the mostly empty theater. The four main characters all excellently portray universal humanity. The filming is quirky, and some settings, like furniture and radios, don't reflect 2024, thus lending a touch of unreality.
- steiner-sam
- Nov 25, 2023
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $954,307
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $48,803
- Nov 19, 2023
- Gross worldwide
- $6,612,591
- Runtime1 hour 21 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1