User reviews

I saw the film online as part of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. I believe that the film has the ambition to philosophically address the question of the meaning of life. Very dangerous subject. The meaning should be demonstrated in oblique, suggestive ways and not stated outright. Lines like "the pain of love was horrible" in the mouth of a child seem exaggerated and funny to the audience. Pity. The acting is bad but I guess that the director suggested a "distant" acting so that the fact that we are not on the field of realism is clear. The boy was very lovely. I will wait for another film to know thw finish cinema.

HAH HAH!*

So, what IS this?

Perhaps some sort of fellow (famed) Finn director Kaurismaki-like do nothing longueurs meets D. Lynch in Lanthimos-like ..., er: tosh!

As well, really, Finnish film does it again with its incessantly WEIRD (read, pointless? No, no, can't be) cinematic offerings in a remarkable (admirable) debut, director AND the writer of (such tosh) M. Myllylahti seems to have used typical Finn deadpan delivery so can (could be?) highly amusing; with the right approach to 'appreciate' and if you like that sort o thing (see below cribs & inspirations), so as watch, you can perhaps be aware / know, right: so, just 'whom is fooling whom'*?

Beginning with a fabulous vista - (= appreciative nod to cinematographer Arsen Sarkistants) - to introduce the 'mystery' in already, why there, who are they? Conundrums - (and which may already put in mind of Lynch's intro lever puller in 'Eraserhead' ...) then onto ..... er, well: no, why bother to try and surmise this?

Except to note, thereafter, well, for me the best bit (so look out for if gonna watch) was - (ONLY!) - the organist (check her hands): how director Myllylahti got her, indeed, the WHOLE cast, to maintain their Buster Keaton stoic non expressive stares is a directorship / performance feat in itself: BUT, so, overall, is it interesting, worth watching? Hmmm.... With having tolerated sitting (keeping awake) through this, please let me SHOUT OUT (very!) LOUD to one and all: NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Still, if you insist to do so, like such (apparently?) meaningless meanderings presented herein, of the many (all!) admittedly fun odd non-sequitur bits that Myllylahti throws out at you to consider (fathom), will surely pique: so, it would be completely unfairly plot spoiling to set them out; but besides what seemed to me as animal like cribs (inspirations? Reminders?) from e.g. Von Trier's 'Antichrist', virtually all of Lanthimos' earlier oeuvre stylings (note the dance routine: shades of 'Dogtooth'**), and, and, well ...: as for, so, 'Hey: where did the boy go'? That's surely a Lynchian pinch from 'Twin Peaks, isn't it (Mikko)?

(The setting is a lumber yard, too, so, ah hah, I claim my nods recognition kudos now ...)

Complete and utter balderdash; but boy, like the ubiquitous thick snow throughout this and like the 'mystery' guy who opens this did, it was - I suppose - fun trudging through all its, um, "sludge"***; er, nonsense!

Oh; on which - to trudge through it - at least you will get a great soundtrack (nice one, Jonas Struck), too (that's how I got through it: so, yup, nice - if only to listen in to!)

So; yes: rubbish - or genius = entirely your call!

* as a good April 1st watch? (As I did!) ** Impartiality warning: I hated that, too!

*** chosen coz a line in the English translation of one of the characters .. twice over! Was it a metaphor for this?

This movie is, of course, not for anyone. It is a very unconventional film that conveys the futilities of life with lots of visual language and metaphors. Some of which might not be understood or apprecited for those looking for more traditional storytelling. Which is fine, of course.

Me for one, I think this was truly a masterpiece. The director was already acclaimed, but this might be his best work yet. The performances, cinematography and effects are amazing - it's amazing how you can make something so simple look so great.

The script is, as stated above, very cleverly written and takes a lot of risks, and it surely pays off.

Overall, a great film for those looking for a very artistic experience about a melancholy reality.

Greeting from Estonia!

To be honest I am really surprised that the overall rating for this movie is so low. I think it was beautiful, sad, melancholic. I loved the Finnish nature scenes and the sound of snow.

Some unnatural scenes reminded me of Twin Peaks actually. But above all I loved the meaning behind the movie. Probably because it is natural thing for humans to search for something more meaningful in life than everyday routine and I correlated with that.

I don't know maybe it's just that I like the Finns quirkiness when it comes to their acting and movie plots, but I guess you have to be in the right mood to like the movie. For me it really worked.