I was thrilled to attend a very special screening of Aki Kaurismäki’s latest film, FALLEN LEAVES, hosted by MUBI at the TIFF Bell Lightbox! Watch a video recap of this very special movie night out on YouTube here!
Back in August, I had noted FALLEN LEAVES when building out my plan for TIFF 2023. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to catch up with it during the festival due to my schedule. So I feel very fortunate that MUBI and Touchwood PR invited me to a special screening of FALLEN LEAVES!
FALLEN LEAVES has quietly been collecting accolade after accolade. To name just a few:
- Won the Jury Prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival (it was also nominated for the Palme d’Or)
- Nominated for two Golden Globes: 1) Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language, and 2) Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Won Best International Feature at the 2023 Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
On the night of the event, I arrived at the TIFF Bell Lightbox early as I wanted to visit their new space, Varda. Replacing what used to be the Bell Blue Room, a space for Members and special events, TIFF introduced Varda, a new cafe-bar, during the 2023 festival. Now open to the public, it’s a resplendent space with a walk-up bar serving coffee, cocktails, and a few appetizers.
The lush atmosphere of Varda is complimented by views of King Street West and the CN Tower.
I ordered their signature cocktail, the Rosalie Royale. It was delicious! Added bonus: it visually matched the space with its luxurious red hue.
My partner, S, joined me not long after and we shared the Dan Dan Tofu Salad Bao. You can see more of Varda on my YouTube page here.
Finally, it was time to head to the event!
We were greeted and welcomed to the reception in the lounge. We grabbed a glass of wine and took in the space. We were treated to some beautiful artwork and physical media, including beautiful postcards by artist Nina Slejko Blom featuring the many dogs of Kaurismäki’s films.
We ran into a friend of S’ who works in the entertainment media world and had a wonderful conversation discussing our favourite films seen at the festival.
Then, it was movie time!
Once the audience was seated for the film, Toronto-based film critic Adam Nayman gave an engaging and insightful introduction to the film, Kaurismäki’s work, and the deliberations that lead to FALLEN LEAVES winning the Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best International Feature. He also spoke of Kaurismäki’s understated sensibilities and recent tendency toward working class characters. It was an eloquent and well rendered introduction, especially for someone like me who is newer to Kaurismäki. Nayman also spoke of Kaurismäki’s love of cinema, Bresson, and dogs. Indeed, the director once famously said “I like dogs, mankind I don’t care for too much.”
As the lights dimmed, a special recorded message from the film’s leading lady, Alma Pöysti, was played. Pöysti spoke fondly about making this film with Finland’s maestro and how she sees her character, Ansa, as a modern woman. She finished off her message by saying she hopes that we enjoyed the film, and that if we don’t it’s only 81 minutes long. 😄
Now for the feature presentation!
FALLEN LEAVES follows two quiet souls as they struggle to get by and search for connection. When Ansa and Holappa meet by chance in a smoky karaoke bar, they begin to unexpectedly cross paths in local haunts. As they start to take a shine to each other, their path to romance is strewn with obstacles.
FALLEN LEAVES is charming and disarmingly funny. It is a romantic comedy reminiscent of classic Hollywood (with some added dry wit).
It is timeless in story and setting. It feels like as if it could have been filmed during the Silent Era of Hollywood. From the production design to the settings to the costumes, to the characters and story – it transcends temporal placement. There are brief moments in the film that remind you that you’re watching a story unfolding in modern times. The radio constantly relays news of the situation in Ukraine. The bashful couple go see Jim Jarmusch’s THE DEAD DON’T DIE (2019). A clip of Adam Driver’s character shooting zombies in a graveyard blasts forth from the screen. Leaving the theatre, we hear film-goers mention how much they loved the film and how it reminded them of Bresson (a cheeky little nod, Kaurismäki is an admirer). The couple bashfully and gently smile at each other and talk under the gaze of cinema posters of yore.
I was pleasantly surprised by how funny the film is. The humour is dry yet jovial. Ansa and Holappa’s colleagues/friends are scene-stealers with their witty quips delivered completely deadpan. There are so many sharp comedic moments that stem from tenuous social circumstances – like the security guard at the grocery store or the shady bar owner who employs Ansa.
I’m (unfortunately) not familiar enough with Kaurismäki’s work or Finnish culture to speak meaningfully about the political undertones of the film. I did notice though that in FALLEN LEAVES there is a love and admiration for community care and support among workers. The film isn’t a lecture or an essay. It’s a classic tale of romance that has elements of a slice-of-life drama.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Chaplin, the canine star of FALLEN LEAVES. During his intro, Nayman had called out to pay attention to the dog’s name. Interestingly, the dog is named Chaplin, and I often felt as if the movie was reminiscent of a classic Charlie Chaplin comedy. I later learned that the dog actor portraying Chaplin is Kaurismäki’s actual pet! (Source: The List)
FALLEN LEAVES is timeless, charming, and funny. The film has a beautiful grainy quality to it. You notice the colours and textures of everything in frame. I felt elated yet peaceful leaving the theatre. For 81 minutes, I felt wholly calm and comfortable in this bittersweet world outside of time.
Thank you to MUBI and Touchwood PR for this fabulous event. I’m now on a mission to watch more Aki Kaurismäki films!
You can watch FALLEN LEAVES on MUBI now.
Check out my video of our FALLEN LEAVES movie night out on YouTube!
If you’ve seen the film or have any thoughts or recommendations on where I should go next in Kaurismäki’s oeuvre, I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a line in the comments. ⬇️
Toronto Film Files 