Review of The Man Without a Past (2002) by Luke M — 24 Jun 2007
Imagine if Jim Jarmusch and Wes Anderson had some sort of love child. Now take this child and place him in Finland. Make him love deadpan humor and pauses. Does this sound like a good idea? Unsurprisingly, it does; case in point: The Man Without a Past, the second film in Aki Kaurismaki?s ?Finland? trilogy.
The film has a heavy atmosphere, a quirky mix of the aforementioned humor and pauses, but these are driven by a deep melancholy and loneliness. The film concerns itself with the life of a man recently arrived in Helsinki who is promptly set upon by street toughs, left for dead, and soon revealed to be suffering from amnesia.
However, despite all this, there is a driving force of sympathy and warmth, and a fascination with human being?s capacity for kindness. The film dwells among the outcasts and pariahs of society, but it details a unique way of life and a definite community.
None of this is overt however, there are no maudlin outpourings or hammering aways at social commentary; instead the movie relaxes into a loose and ambling pace that never breaks its stoic demeanor. And the quirky moments make the ride all the more enjoyable.
The soundtrack adds a counterpoint, providing here mopey music and then rollicking rock and roll; the editing too, is disjointed, yet quite effective and key to the pacing and tone. All these elements come together to produce an excellent movie about the warmth of the human spirit cloaked in a veil of pointed idiosyncrasies and quiet mirth.
This review of The Man Without a Past (2002) was written by Luke M on 24 Jun 2007.
The Man Without a Past has generally received very positive reviews.
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