Ariel (1988)

Director:

Aki Kaurismäki

Writer:

Aki Kaurismäki (writer)

Release Date:

October 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Crime | Romance

Plot:

The movie tells the story of Taisto Kasurinen, a finnish coal miner whose father has just committed...

Plot Keywords:

Unemployment | Black Suit Clad Killer | Sequel

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Turo Pajala	...	Taisto Kasurinen
Susanna Haavisto	...	Irmeli Pihlaja
Matti Pellonpää	...	Mikkonen
Eetu Hilkamo	...	Riku
Erkki Pajala	...	Kaivosmies
Matti Jaaranen	...	Pahoinpitelijä
Hannu Viholainen	...	Apuri
Jorma Markkula	...	Prikkamies
Tarja Keinänen	...	Nainen Satamassa
Eino Kuusela	...	Mies rannalla
Kauko Laalo	...	Asuntolanhoitaja
Jyrki Olsonen	...	Mies Asuntolassa
Esko Nikkari	...	Autokauppias
Marja Packalén	...	Tuomari (as Marja Packalen)
Mikko Remes	...	Vankilalääkäri
Tomi Salmela	...	Vartija
Reijo Marin	...	Vartija
Heikki Salomaa	...	Vartija
Veikko Uusimäki	...	Pormestari
Esko Salminen	...	Roisto
Hannu Kivisalo	...	Portieeri
Pekka Wilen	...	Laivuri
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sakari Kuosmanen	...	Vartija (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Aki Kaurismäki

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Aki Kaurismäki		writer

Produced by
Aki Kaurismäki	....	producer

Cinematography by
Timo Salminen

Film Editing by
Raija Talvio

Production Design by
Risto Karhula

Costume Design by
Tuula Hilkamo

Production Management
Erkki Lume	....	unit manager
Jaakko Talaskivi	....	production manager
Heikki Ukkonen	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pauli Pentti	....	assistant director

Art Department
Simo Sulva	....	property master

Sound Department
Veikko Aaltonen	....	sound assistant
Jouko Lumme	....	sound
Kjell Westman	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Marja-Leena Helin	....	still photographer
Juuso Hirvikangas	....	gaffer
Timo Markko	....	assistant camera
Mikko Mattila	....	gaffer
Heikki Ortamo	....	assistant camera
Olli Varja	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sirkka Rautiainen	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Outi Hyytinen	....	assistant editor
Pirjo Laivuori	....	color grader
Timo Nousiainen	....	color grader
Leena Palmu	....	negative cutter

Other crew
Haije Alanoja	....	production secretary
Erkki Astala	....	publicist
Marja-Leena Helin	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Finnish Film Foundation
• Villealfa Filmproduction Oy

Distributors

• Filmcoopi Zürich (19??) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Al!ve AG (2007) (Germany) (DVD) (as Aki Kaurismäki Collection I)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Eclipse from the Criterion Collection (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Finnkino
• Kino International (1990) (USA) (subtitled)
• Stadtkino Verleih (Austria)

Other Companies

• Filmmixarna AB  sound mixing

Also Known As:

Ariel (USA)
Ariel (West Germany) [de]
Ariel (Greece) [el]
Ariel (Argentina) [es]
Ariel - Abgebrannt in Helsinki (West Germany) [de]

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-11 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-12 (original rating) | Iceland:L | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:Not Rated

Company:

Finnish Film Foundation

Trivia:

Aki Kaurismäki wrote the script over a weekend.

Quotes:

Irmeli Katariina Pihlaja: [Taisto and Irmeli have just been on their first date] What shall we do now?
Taisto Olavi Kasurinen: Let's get married and have a child.
Irmeli Katariina Pihlaja: I already have a child.
Taisto Olavi Kasurinen: That's good. We'll spare some time.
Irmeli Katariina Pihlaja: Are you always so self-confident?
Taisto Olavi Kasurinen: This is the first time.

Movie Connections:

Features High Sierra (1941)

Soundtrack:

Odotin pitkän illan

You Won't Be Harshed

Something of a small masterpiece, Ariel is reminiscent of Robert Bresson's L'Argent and Werner Herzog's Stroszek in its restraint and progressively doleful turn of events. But cheer up! This is not your ordinary mellow harshing Euro fare. Yes, there is unemployment, yes there is suicide, yes there is great injustice and inhumanity. It would be dull to only speak of a film's pleasing, peaceful moments, and they are to be found here too. You get the whole symphony here, handled with a light touch and delivered in a neutral, understated fashion.

This film won't assault your senses, but subtly it will begin to work its charm. This arises through the minimal dialogue, expression, and simplicity of the mis en scene. As with most minimalism, small details and moments accumulate at story's end, which creates a very rewarding effect. Kaurismaki understands the power of evenhandedness and understatement. I hope he charms you as he has charmed me.