Ombres au paradis

(1986) Shadows in Paradise/ Varjoja paratiisissa (In Finnish with English subtitles) DRAMA

Written and directed by Aki Kaurismäki the first of three movies of the ""Proletariat Trilogy", that introduces the odd relationship between a garbage man, Nikander (Matti Pellonpää) pursuing cashier, Ilona (Kati Outinen) at a supermarket after his friend and co-worker unexpectedly dies. As we know more about both Nikander and Ilona's daily life routines as well and the glimpse look at the customs of Finnish life, that may resort to complicated situations. Aki's purposeful stoic personalities is on purpose and it works.

A simpleminded garbage man and a misanthropic supermarket checkout girl find the road to romance paved with ennui in yet another of Aki Kaurismäki's patented minimal mini-dramas. The prolific Finnish director pares down the love story to its most basic components: a man, a woman, and a mood of urban alienation shaded in tones of European gray. The film is entirely negligible, but that's (presumably) all part of its charm, and what passes for a plot is merely an excuse for Kaurismäki's deadpan comic ironies. It's easy to watch and even easier to ignore, looking like a rough sketch for a minor work by a filmmaker poised for bigger things.

Released in 1986, Aki Kaurismaki's VARJOJA PARATIISISSA (Shadows in Paradise) is one of the Finnish filmmaker's earliest efforts, and it stands as one of the most idiosyncratic romantic comedies of all time. The painfully shy Nikander (Matti Pellonpää), a garbage man, means the moody Ilona, a supermarket checkout girl. The film tracks their bumbling attempt to establish a lasting relationship: dates that end as soon as they've begun, a romantic getaway where they each retreat to separate hotel rooms, and rare conversations which employ the absolute bare minimum of words. Nikander's best and only friend Melartin (Sakari Kuosmanen), whom the garbage man only recently met through a spell in jail, gives some needed encouragement.

The film's soundtrack is rooted in early rock-and-roll, though unlike later Kaurismaki films where the characters seem to be living in a 1950s bubble, all the action takes place in contemporary Helsinki. I've criticized Kaurismaki's vision of Finland in other films, but VARJOJA PARATIISISSA does, in my opinion, accurately depict the collection of gloomy, taciturn binge drinkers that are the Finns.

VARJOJA PARATIISISSA is an early work and doesn't show the confidence of later efforts, but it's still quite entertaining, its leads and their struggles extremely charming, and I would recommend the film. Certainly the performances of Pellonpää (in a typical Pellonpää role) and Outinen (who seemingly reinvents herself in every film) will prove quite memorable.

Various visuals in "Shadows in Paradise" manage to speak more than thousands of words. In the spirit of "L'Atalante" and "Marty", "Shadows in Paradise" is a poignant love story that chronicles two likable characters' miraculous, romantic, and conflict-infested relationship. It combines the hilarious with the melancholic in a way that director Aki Kaurismäki had proved to master time and time again. His juggling of emotions is bathed in stark realism that lies within the film's colorful visuals.

The lead characters are not played by glamorous Hollywood stars, these characters are not the stereotypical fools usually present in romantic comedies. They are real, but still quite interesting, human beings. In the spirit of writers like James Joyce and filmmakers such as Charles Burnett, Kaurismaki finds beauty in everyday moments and people. While there are moments of fierce conflict in this film that can, in no way, be called "mundane", a vast majority of what occurs in "Shadows in Paradise" is highly normal and borderline bland. However, through these slight details, Kaurismaki is able to explore the depths of the human experience, as well as the hidden beauty within the everyman. This sweet, gentle, and darkly comic love story will impress both romantics and film critics.

This is a minimalistic film showing the daily struggles of ordinary people. Since the theme is quite universal, it is no wonder then, that the film has aged so well. The issues discussed are still relevant. Two lonely people, Nikander & Ilona, who have a very hard life, try to make a go for it. Unfortunately, things don't go very well since they seem to have nothing in common. Money is always a concern & they have to borrow from friends if they feel like having a good time. But the good thing is that the said friends always come up with the money even if they have to steal from their child's piggy bank! Their hard life has left very little space for appreciating the finer things in life. Once when these ill-matched people try to enjoy themselves in a nice restaurant, the class-conscious maitre d' sends them on their way! The film very beautifully points out that there are some sections of the society who do not have much choice. And yet, the resilience of the human spirit is commendable!

The film has a few flaws too. The relationship between the protagonists goes on again off again so many times that after a point, I started to wonder if it's just a matter of convenience for the both of them or is it real love! Also, I felt that Ilona was a bit too selfish & antisocial.