“The film-making style of Aki Kaurismaki – gentle, charming, quirky and utterly unique – could hardly be seen to better effect than in this deadpan comedy.” Peter Bradshaw, Guardian.

A man travelling to Helsinki is assaulted, taken to hospital and pronounced dead. This marks the start of a tale with biblical echoes – of Lazarus, Job and the Good Samaritan – but which is shot through with Kaurismaki’s wry humour and eye for the everyday absurd. Winner of 4 prizes at Cannes, including the Palme Dog, this is widely regarded as one of the Finnish auteur’s finest works.

“[Kaurismäki] perfects his trademark formula of deadpan humor and arctic circle pathos in this brilliantly ironic 2002 comedy.” Barbara Scharres, Chicago Reader.