Review of Lights in the Dusk

Introduction

`Lights in the Dusk` is the last in Aki Kaurismäki`s `Loser` trilogy, following `Drifting Clouds` and `The Man Without a Past` and tells the story of Koistinen (Janne Hyytiäinen), a security guard whose only friend appears to be a woman who works in the `Grilli` burger van. One night in a deserted café, a blonde woman (Maria Järvenhelmi) sits down opposite him, engages him in conversation and soon they begin an awkward relationship. Koistinen doesn`t realise that he`s being set up by Mirja, who accompanies him on his rounds, learning entry-codes and camera locations to enable her gangster boss to rob a jeweller`s store, leaving Koistinen as the prime suspect.

Suomen Filmikamari, which is responsible for choosing the Finnish film to be entered at the Oscars in the Best Foreign-Language Picture category, chose this film but Kaurismäki refused permission for his film to be entered, as a protest against the on-going war in Iraq. Were it not for this protest, `Lights in The Dusk` would be marketed with an Academy Award nomination tag and be more well known.

Video

A very clear anamorphic 1.78:1 transfer, which uses generally muted colours and desolate, industrial landscapes to good effect - I doubt Helsinki has ever looked so bleak and unappealing!

Audio

A low-key soundtrack, presented in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo, with high-quality optional English subtitles. The surrounds are rarely troubled, but the 5.1 just has the edge over the stereo in terms of clarity.

Features

The 17 minute interview with Aki Kaurismäki is difficult to watch, as he is so hard to understand and is hardly an effusive speaker, terminating the interview himself by saying `Ciao` and standing up! The disc contains a comprehensive filmography, listing all his films, even the shorts.

The interview with Maria Järvenhelmi - the polar opposite of Kaurismäki, bright, talkative and informative - runs at 24 minutes during which she talks about the film, Finland and working with Aki Kaurismäki and Janne Hyytiäinen.

Also included are an image gallery and the theatrical trailer.

Conclusion

Aki Kaurismäki is arguably Finland`s leading director, although this is hardly a competitive field, working as he does in a country without a huge film industry and whose populace are apparently indifferent to cinema - Maria Järvenhelmi says, half-jokingly, that most Finns would rather watch Finland lose an ice hockey game to Sweden.

I haven`t seen `Drifting Clouds` or `The Man Without a Past` so don`t know how this fits into the `Loser` trilogy, but the tag is extremely appropriate for the character of Koistinen in `Lights in the Dusk`. Everything he does goes wrong, no matter how good the intentions were, and meeting Mirja turned out very badly indeed. The premise doesn`t seem to lend itself to anything else but a depressing drama, but Janne Hyytiäinen`s deadpan performance and Aki Kaurismäki`s writing and direction insert a surprising amount of humour.

Although very brief at 75 minutes, the film is long enough to tell its simple tale and develop Koistinen into someone you care about. Despite not being a great film, I`m interested enough to look for the other parts of the trilogy and Kaurismäki`s other work.