  Drifting Clouds |
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Film/Video DRIFTING CLOUDS (KAUAS PILVET KARKAAVAT) DIRECTED BY AKI KAURISMÄKI FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2004, 7 PM $7 ($5 WALKER MEMBERS) AUDITORIUM 
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One of Kaurismäki's masterpieces, this film shows the fight against humiliation in the face of adversity. Kati Outinen, frequent lead in his films, stars as a maître d' who is unceremoniously fired, as is her husband, a bus driver. Their search for survival and struggle for hope becomes a universal quest for dignity. Outinen delivers a stunning performance; she can emote more in one stare than most actresses can in a fit of hysterics. 1996, Finland, color, in Finnish with English subtitles, 96 minutes.
WITH
 Calamari Union |
CALAMARI
UNION, 8:45 PM
A personal favorite of Kaurismäki, this film features 18 droll boozehounds,
all but one named Frank. Donning sunglasses at night, the group hits the
Helsinki subway on a mysterious journey during which some Franks face
death, some are forced into drudgery, and others flee to Estonia. "These
brave men walk through a wild and merciless city full of angry old women
with their sharp tiny elbows, spoons, hammers, typewriters, and dogs the
size of cars," says Kaurismäki. 1984, Finland, color, 35mm, in Finnish
with English subtitles, 80 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