Leningrad Cowboys Go America

Film/Video LENINGRAD COWBOYS GO AMERICA DIRECTED BY AKI KAURISMÄKI PRESCREENING LECTURE BY MARKKU KOSKI, 7 PM WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2004, 7 PM $7 ($5 WALKER MEMBERS) AUDITORIUM

PRESCREENING LECTURE BY MARKKU KOSKI, 7:00 PM
Markku Koski is a free-lance journalist who specializes in cinema and popular culture. Koski holds a Master's degree in Sociology and Communications. Currently he is editor of the Finnish cinema magazine Filmihullu, and lecturer at the Lahti Polytechnic Institute of Design in Finland. Koski has published several Finnish-language books on Finnish popular culture including Olavi Virta (1978, with Peter von Bagh and Pekka Aanio), Armin vuodet (1982 with Leo Lindsten), Alemmat taiteet (1985), The Beatles (1986), Sorsa-diagnoosi (1989), Lööppikirja (2000 with Peter von Bagh), and Julkisia eläimiä (2001).

Peter von Bagh who had originally been scheduled to speak this evening could not be here due to a scheduling conflict.

LENINGRAD COWBOYS GO AMERICA, 7:45 PM
This cult hit is fueled by stretch Cadillacs, rock and roll, lofty pompadours, spiky shoes, and alcohol. With seemingly impossible dreams of making it big in the U.S., the Finnish rock group Leningrad Cowboys takes its unlikely mix of Finnish folk tunes and rockabilly on the road. 1989, Finland/Sweden, color, 35mm, in Finnish with English subtitles, 78 minutes.

PRECEDED BY

Rocky VI Thru The Wire These Boots Those Were The Days

ROCKY VI
A Siberian boxer takes on his American opponent. 1986, Finland, color, 35mm, in Finnish with English subtitles, 9 minutes.

THRU THE WIRE
A man escapes from Alabama to Utah accompanied by the music of the Leningrad Cowboys. 1987, Finland, color, 35mm, in Finnish with English subtitles, 6 minutes.

THESE BOOTS
The Leningrad Cowboys' view of Finnish history from 1952 through 1969. 1992, Finland, color, 35mm, in Finnish with English subtitles, 5 minutes.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS
A lonely cowboy wanders with his donkey along the sidewalks of a postcard-perfect Paris, searching for a corner to set up his camping kitchen and ease his tortured heart. 1992, Finland, color, 35mm in Finnish with English subtitles, 6 minutes.



THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FINNISH FILM FOUNDATION WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO JAANA PUSKALA, ARETTA VÄHÄLÄ, MARI PELTONEN, AKI KAURISMÄKI, HAIJE TULOKAS, ILKKA MERTSOLA (SPUTNIK OY), THORSTEN SCHAUMANN (BAVARIA FILM), GARY PALMUCCI (KINO INTERNATIONAL), AND BAM CINÉMATEK FOR ORGANIZING THE TRAVELING RETROSPECTIVE. PETER VON BAGH AND ROGER CONNAH APPEAR COURTESY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF FINLAND/DAVID AND NANCY SPEER PROFESSORSHIP IN FINNISH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

PHOTOS COURTESY THE FINISH FILM FOUNDATION