The Man Without a Past

Convinced that there is no hope left in the world, Aki Kaurismäki makes a hopeful film without too much pessimism. His love for the working class had already expressed itself in his Proletarian Trilogy (Shadows in Paradise, Ariel and The Match Factory Girl). The Man Without a Past also expresses a humorous, absurd, but also respectful homage to ordinary people in strange situations.After a violent robbery, M, a middle aged man, wakes up with amnesia in a hospital in Helsinki where he has just been declared dead. He tears off his bandage, straightens his broken nose and strolls outside. A poor family living in a container takes care of him. Later, M falls in love with Irma, Salvation Army soldier (resident Kaurismäki actress Kati Outinen), who tries to help him put his life back together.This love story is told in a classic mixture of melodrama and realism. Cameraman Salminen’s wonderful shots are reminiscent of old Technicolor films. The music, from melancholy bandoneon tunes to Finnish rock music, plays a significant role too. This optimistic tragedy won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes festival.