Les instables

I saw this on DVD with English subtitles (my Finnish is very limited).

Levottomat (The Restless) explores what happens when a wild card is introduced into a circle of friends, follow the mirth and merriment as Ari, a young medical doctor, weaves a path of emotional destruction amongst a group of six student friends in Turku.

The period covers a few months in Ari's life: his mother is terminally ill, he is unwilling or unable to make any emotional ties with any of his one night stands, then he meets Tiina... and her friends.

There are many aspects of Finnish life which are seen in this film, the drinking, Juhannus (midsummer), summer cottages, sauna culture etc., young people lacking experience in relationships... all of which are peculiar to the Nordic countries. You also see people in their mid-20s gallivanting around like freshers... Finland is not only a land of the midnight Sun, but also the land of the eternal student.

Be warned, there is a large amount of nudity and sex in this film, which to most people would seem pornographic, really it's not, well not all of it... Finns have a rather unique outlook on the naked body, perhaps due to their Sauna culture.

Well worth watching.

The subject of this film is "ambivalence" to the core - exquisitely photographed by Mac Ahlberg, excellent ensemble acting led by Mikko Nousiainen as Ari, well written, witty, and deceptively clever on multiple levels, sexy, but not exploitive, featuring a kind of existential numbness to the beauty and meaning of the world spinning around Ari, who, while extremely attractive and intelligent, just doesn't have a clue about any sense of values or distinguishing importance about the people in his life, professionally or personally, whose lives are nearly destroyed by his self-centered, personally indulgent, yet unsatisfied life style, which freely allows him to pick up and screw other friend's girl friends without regard for the disastrous consequences, who lives in a perpetual state of lovelessness, sex for the sake of sex, so to speak, knowing virtually nothing about his partners, the less the better, such is the state of his emotional uninvolvement. The film links his sexual exploration with his quest for spiritual redemption, which, personally, I found a bit premature, as a guy like Ari will always be a wandering soul, an existential nomad, especially when his needs are strangled by so-called mainstream relationships. This is kind of a MAD MAX with sex rather than cars, as Ari is wandering through the same wastelands... I loved the music, and if anyone can turn me on to a soundtrack CD, I found none available in the states.

Robert

After having seen this film three times, I am still wondering... is this all there is? The film depicts Finland in a way that is quite unknown to most foreigners. Yes, Finland is full of depressed, melancholic, pathetic individuals, and this film doesn't actually prove anyone wrong. Still, 'Levottomat' is full of sunshine and wonderful, positive portrayals of southern Finland... put as positively as possible, with all the academic and non-academic screw-ups who - in all their restlessness and despite the sunshine - are just looking for the same things as everyone else. Slightly unrealistic like all films but also very truthful in its depiction of the lives of the 20-something people from Finland. Sad really. And in case you were wondering... yes. Even gorgeous lead-actresses have cellulite. At least in Finland.

This film didn't give easy answers, didn't perform unnecessary underlining and is very voyeuristic in depicting nudity. Levottomat (Restless) is quite an existential film, meaning it in the tradition of Sartre and Camus, and has definitely been influenced by Camus' L'Etranger's main character who is unable to really feel. He has lost passion for life, but still feels sexually immensely excited, and ready to satisfy his carnal desires with any girl who indulges in 'no strings attached' sex. The main character Ari, an emergency physician played by Mikko Nousiainen, has no answers. He seems to live in a nihilistic void and struggles with what is ethical - rights and wrongs relating to human relationships. Because of his infinite craving for sex he sacrifices cozy friendships and messes up the lives of a 'sixsome' of 3 couples.

The film has a lot of sex, and I loved the way the actors plunge into their roles. This film is about 'the meaning of life' or what fuels the life if and when there is no meaning to it. The demarcation between 'meaningless sex' that is only the issue of the people directly involved and sex which is encroaching on some third parties' existence was very interesting. When is it ok to cheat and when is it absolutely unacceptable. Ari only refused from sex once, in the case of his desperate, boozing ambulance driver friend wonderfully portrayed by Samuli Edelman being under threat of being left and his wife implying her willingness to sleep with Ari.

The film was written well by Aleksi Bardy, who is obviously knowledgeable of the lives of 20+ Finnish yuppies in a cross-fire of traditional cultural pressures against individualistic happiness and endless search for pleasure. Irina Bjorklund represents a moralist who's notions of right and wrong come from the scriptures. She battles against the nihilism of modern life with her faith and deals with the 'bigger',philosophical questions of existence. Eventually the priest is the one Ari finds most interesting of his numerous women.

I just saw the film "Levottomat" and I think it's marvellous! I recommend it to everyone, although it may be better if you understand Finnish. Mikko Nousiainen is good-looking, yes, but also a great actor. The other actors and actresses are very good too, but Mikko is the BEST! His character Ari is so smart and seems so peaceful out, but inside so restless! The movie was very beautiful, both indoor and outdoor shots were filmed very beautifully. You should all go and watch this movie!!!