Leningrad Cowboys: These Boots (1993 Music Video) User Reviews

Cowboy boots

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 27 August 2016]

These 4.5 minutes we have here are the music video for the song "These Boots" by the Finnish band "Leningrand Cowboys". It is from 1993 and briefly after their work "Those Were the Days". The director on both is Finnish filmmaking legend Aki Kaurismäki. I myself prefer their previous music video which is one of the best of the year, especially because of the great song. As for this one here, the (very famous and) frequently covered song also is the aspect that shines the most. The video itself scores through weirdness and absurdity as usual with the Cowboys and at this runtime, it is still somewhat working I guess. I do recommend the watch, but not as euphorically as with the other song and video I just mentioned. Maybe see this one two years from now when it will have its 25th anniversary.

another hilarious "music-video" cover

[hofnarr · 8/10 · 29 November 2003]

One of the more recent short "music video" films by Kaurismaki and the first, I believe, in color (ROCKY VI - 1986; THRU THE WIRE - 1987; THOSE WERE THE DAYS - 1992 were all b&w) THESE BOOTS continues in the same wacky vein. The piece begins with the title "History of Finland 1952-1960" and cuts to a shot of a baby (with a full size male head and the requisite Leningrad Cowboy hairstyle and curled tip boots) and the lyrics "You keep saying you got something for me" start off the song. The parents have the same hairstyle - although the man is balding, so it's his beard that stretches in front of his face for a foot and a half. The child is thrown out of school for drinking vodka. When he gets married he and his bride are riding on a tractor. At the funeral of his parents, their curled boot tips are sticking out of the coffins.

If you're into the Kaurismaki sense of humor, you'll probably find this hilarious. Otherwise you might see it as just strange and dumb.