Ariel
 Finland / 1988
Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Screenplay: Aki Kaurismäki
Cinematography: Timo Salminen
Editor: Raija Talvio
Set design: Risto Karhula
Costume design: Tuula Hilkamo
Sound: Jouko Lumme
Assistant director: Pauli Pentti
Production manager: Jaakko Talaskivi
Music: Olavi Virta, Rauli ”Badding” Somerjoki, Melrose, Casey Bill Weldon, Esko Rahkonen, Taisto Tammi, Dmitri Šostakovitš, Pjotr Tšaikovski
Cast: Turo Pajala, Susanna Haavisto, Matti Pellonpää, Eetu Hilkamo, Erkki Pajala, Matti Jaaranen, Hannu Viholainen, Jorma Markkula, Tarja Keinänen, Aino Kuusela, Kauko Laalo, Jyrki Olsonen, Esko Nikkari, Marja Packalén, Mikko Remes, Tomi Salmela, Reijo Marin, Heikki Salomaa, Veikko Uusimäki, Esko Salminen, Hannu Kivisalo, Pekka Wilen, Juuso Hirvikangas, Heikki Anttila, Merja Pulkkinen, Jaakko Talaskivi, Jouko Lumme, Sirkka Rautiainen, Markku Rantala, Mikko Lyytikäinen, Timo Toikka, Timo Harakka, Hanna Jokinen, Sami Lanki, Timo Markko, Olli Varja, Sakari Kuosmanen, Pentti Auer
Producer: Aki Kaurismäki
Produced by: Villealfa Filmproductions Oy
Duration: 73 min.
Somewhere in the north a mine is closed down, and Taisto Kasurinen (Turo Pajala), who has just become unemployed, meets his father (Erkki Pajala), who has also recently lost his job, in a bar. The father gives a legacy to his son: keys to his Cadillac, laconically says goodbye to his offspring, and shoots himself in the toilet. Hoping for a new and better future, Taisto heads for south.
Life in Helsinki starts in the worst possible way, and Taisto is robbed. Soon after things turn for the better, and he meets Irmeli (Susanna Haavisto), a single mother, and a romance develops between the two. Happiness is short-lived, and Taisto ends up in prison due to unintended errors. He becomes friends with Mikkonen (Matti Pellonpää), his cell mate, and the men escape by using a piece of a metal saw blade that Irmeli has sent to them. The runaways, chased by the police, start planning an escape abroad, and end up collaborating with the Helsinki underworld to get the money to finance the trip. They manage to rob a bank but become victims of a swindle when trying to obtain forged passports. Mikkonen is killed, and Taisto shoots the murderers of his friend. As the night falls, Taisto, Irmeli and her son Riku (Eetu Hilkamo) board Ariel, a boat headed for Mexico. “Sateenkaaren tuolla puolen” (“Over the Rainbow”), sung by Olavi Virta, is playing in the last scenes of the film.
|
