Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Aki Kaurismäki

Writer:

Aki Kaurismäki (written by)

Release Date:

23 August 2002 (Norway)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Music | Romance | Thriller

Plot:

The second part of Aki Kaurismäki's "Finland" trilogy, the film follows a man who arrives in Helsinki...

Plot Keywords:

Amnesia | Music Manager | Blood | Boyfriend Girlfriend Relationship | Franklin D. Roosevelt

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 20 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Markku Peltola	...	M
Kati Outinen	...	Irma
Juhani Niemelä	...	Nieminen
Kaija Pakarinen	...	Kaisa Nieminen
Sakari Kuosmanen	...	Anttila
Annikki Tähti	...	Manager of Flea Market
Anneli Sauli	...	Bar Owner
Elina Salo	...	Dock Clerk
Outi Mäenpää	...	Bank Clerk
Esko Nikkari	...	Bank Robber
Pertti Sveholm	...	Police Detective
Matti Wuori	...	Layer
Aino Seppo	...	Ex-wife
Janne Hyytiäinen	...	Ovaskainen
Antti Reini	...	Electrician
Tähti	...	Hannibal (also as Tähti-Koira)
Marko Haavisto	...	Salvation Army Band Member
Jukka Teerisaari	...	Salvation Army Band Member
Jyrki Telilä	...	Salvation Army Band Member
Jouni Saario	...	Salvation Army Band Member
Risto Korhonen	...	Mugger
Panu Vauhkonen	...	Mugger
Tom Wahlroos	...	Mugger
Vesa Mäkelä	...	Railwaystation Guard
Aarre Karén	...	Doctor (as Aarre Karen)
Eeva-Liisa Haimelin	...	Nurse
Kalevi Heinämaa	...	Boot-stealer
Anton Peltola	...	Nieminen's Son
Joona Karastie	...	Nieminen's Son
Jouni Marjaranta	...	Accordion Player
Tuire Tuomisto	...	Salvation Army Girl
Vappu Lysti	...	Salvation Army Choir Memeber
Ritva Harteva	...	Salvation Army Choir Member
Raija Lähteinen	...	Salvation Army Choir Member
Eeva Penttinen	...	Salvation Army Choir Member
Peter von Bagh	...	Salvation Army Officer
Matti Oinonen	...	Salvation Army Officer
Aarno Kuussalo	...	Salvation Army Officer
Aarre Ritola	...	Salvation Army Officer
Eira Ritvanen	...	Vendor in Bar
Anja Angel	...	Homeless in Doorway
Pentti Kirstilä	...	Homeless in Doorway
Olli Varja	...	Drunk
Keijo Nyrhinen	...	Man in Waste-tank
Liisa Kuoppamäki	...	Unemployment Office Clerk
Sulevi Peltola	...	Unemployment Office Manager
Erkki Lahti	...	Lindström
Markku Pätilä	...	Jokinen
Helka Viljanen	...	Cook at Bar
Eero Nykänen	...	Dock Foreman
Erkki Puskala	...	Dock Foreman
Henry Astikainen	...	Welder at Dock
Silu Seppälä	...	Ruffian
Juha Springare	...	Police Officer
Jukka Salmi	...	Police Officer
Aki Hirvensalo	...	Police Officer
Pasi Kokkoniemi	...	Police Officer
Mika Roiha	...	Police Officer
Andrei Chernyshov	...	Mechanic (as Andrei Tchernousov)
Matti Nylund	...	Mechanic
Jouni Kortesato	...	Man at Restaurant
Timo Linnasalo	...	Man at Restaurant
Heikki Mattila	...	Man at Restaurant
Hanna Jokinen	...	Cook
Toni Salminen	...	Train Stewart
Pentti Auer	...	Chief Bureaucrat
Olavi Tuomi	...	Chief Bureaucrat
Inkeri Ahola	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Ahola Inkeri)
Annamari Ajo	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Ajo Annamari)
Esko Aksela	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Aksela Esko)
Christian Aniche	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Aniche Christian)
Obidra Aniche	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Aniche Obidra)
Leiff Berg	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Berg Leiff)
Atte Blom	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Blom Atte)
Eino Bollström	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Bollström Eino)
Erkki Greus	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Greus Erkki)
Pia Gustafsson	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Gustafsson Pia)
Reino Halonen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Halonen Reino)
Seppo Harjunpää	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Harjunpää Seppo)
Erno Haukkala	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Haukkala Erno)
Rauno Heikkilä	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Heikkilä Rauno)
Pertti Heikkonen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Heikkonen Pertti)
Reima Heiskanen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Heiskanen Reima)
Kauko Hietanen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Hietanen Kauko)
Erkki Hiltunen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Hiltunen Erkki)
Marjatta Hiltunen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Hiltunen Marjatta)
Ismo Hirvonen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Hirvonen Ismo)
Tauno Holmström	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Holmström Tauno)
Jyri Hämäläinen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Hämäläinen Jyri)
Teuvo Härkönen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Härkönen Teuvo)
Jussi Jalkanen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Jalkanen Jussi)
Jari Jolkkonen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Jolkkonen Jari)
Seppo Juusonen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Juusonen Seppo)
Tommi Kaarna	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Kaarna Tommi)
Mika Kainulainen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Kainulainen Mika)
Esko Kauppinen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Kauppinen Esko)
Leena Kaurismäki	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Kaurismäki Leena)
Arto Keränen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Keränen Arto)
Meeri Kiukas	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Kiukas Meeri)
Toivo Koivisto	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Koivisto Toivo)
Kari Koukkari	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Koukkari Kari)
Marketta Kujamäki	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Kujamäki Marketta)
Maire Kuussalo	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Kuussalo Maire)
Jouni Laakkonen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Laakkonen Jouni)
Ritva Laaksovirta	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Laaksovirta Ritva)
Henri Lagerroos	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Lagerroos Henri)
Kirsti Lamminen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Lamminen Kirsti)
Liisa Lehikoinen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Lehikoinen Liisa)
Juha Lehtonen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Lehtonen Juha)
Anne Leino	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Leino Anne)
Jorma Leino	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Leino Jorma)
Kari Lindström	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Lindström Kari)
Lars Lindström	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Lindström Lars)
Lauri Linna	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Linna Lauri)
Ismo Liukkonen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Liukkonen Ismo)
Jarmo Luoma	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Luoma Jarmo)
Antti Lähteinen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Lähteinen Antti)
Roosa Lähteinen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Lähteinen Roosa)
Seppo Majasto	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Majasto Seppo)
Pentti Makkonen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Makkonen Pentti)
Pekka Malmi	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Malmi Pekka)
Harri Nieminen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Nieminen Harri)
Miira Niska	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Niska Miira)
Juha Nivala	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Nivala Juha)
Antti Nuojankoski	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Nuojankoski Antti)
Juha Nurmi	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Nurmi Juha)
Mika Nurminen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Nurminen Mika)
Seppo Nykänen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Nykänen Seppo)
Richard Nyman	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Nyman Richard)
Kirsi Pasanen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Pasanen Kirsi)
Timo Patjas	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Patjas Timo)
Saini Penttilä	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Penttilä Saini)
Juha Pesonen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Pesonen Juha)
Anna Puupponen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Puupponen Anna)
Maiju Puupponen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Puupponen Maiju)
Minna Rahikka	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Rahikka Minna)
Jukka Rautiainen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Rautiainen Jukka)
Reino Riihitupa	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Riihitupa Reino)
Antti Ruishalme	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Ruishalme Antti)
Anja Saastamoinen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Saastamoinen Anja)
Juha Salmen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Salmén Juha)
Juuso Salmen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Salmén Juuso)
Pertti Salmenjoki	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Salmenjoki Pertti)
Sanni Salo	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Salo Sanni)
Juha Savolainen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Savolainen Juha)
Alpo Seppälä	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Seppälä Alpo)
Julle Siika	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Siika Julle)
Tauno Sorsa	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Sorsa Tauno)
Eero Taipale	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Taipale Eero)
Marja-Leena Taipale	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Taipale Marja-Leena)
Maarit Tirkkonen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Tirkkonen Maarit)
Veijo Tissari	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Tissari Veijo)
Martta Tuomaala	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Tuomaala Martta)
Mika Tuuhea	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Tuuhea Mika)
Tuula Törmälä	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Törmälä Tuula)
Sinikka Usvamaa	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Usvamaa Sinikka)
Petri Uusranta	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Uusranta Petri)
Kai Valkeala	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Valkeala Kai)
Samuli Vauramo	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Vauramo Samuli)
Ritva Vepsä	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Vepsä Ritva)
Pentti Viljakainen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Viljakainen Pentti)
Raimo Virrantuomi	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Virrantuomi Raimo)
Kai Vuorinen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Vuorinen Kai)
Konsta Väänänen	...	Avustaja (extra) (as Väänänen Konsta)

Directed by
Aki Kaurismäki

Writing credits
Aki Kaurismäki		(written by)

Produced by
Aki Kaurismäki	....	producer
Eila Werning	....	co-producer: YLE TV1

Cinematography by
Timo Salminen

Film Editing by
Timo Linnasalo

Costume Design by
Outi Harjupatana

Makeup Department
Nadja Delcos	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Ilkka Mertsola	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nadja Delcos	....	assistant director

Art Department
Jouni Kortesato	....	property master
Markku Pätilä	....	set designer
Jukka Rautiainen	....	set dresser
Pertti Salmenjoki	....	set dresser
Jukka Salmi	....	set designer

Sound Department
Jouko Lumme	....	sound
Tero Malmberg	....	sound
Olli Pärnänen	....	sound mixer

Visual Effects by
Risto Jankkila	....	digital restoration: TV master
Robert Lang	....	digital film colorist

Camera and Electrical Department
Henri Heino	....	lighting technician
Marja-Leena Hukkanen	....	still photographer
Kalle Penttilä	....	gaffer
Antti Reini	....	lighting trainee
Rauno Ronkainen	....	assistant camera
Antti Ruusuvuori	....	lighting technician
Nea Salminen	....	second assistant camera
Toni Salminen	....	lighting technician
Jukka Talikka	....	Steadicam operator
Elsa Varja	....	lighting trainee
Olli Varja	....	gaffer

Editorial Department
Tuija Kotamäki	....	negative cutter
Timo Nousiainen	....	color grader

Music Department
Olli Kykkänen	....	music mixer
Olli Kykkänen	....	music recordist
Ken Yokoyama	....	composer: song "Hawaii no yoru"

Other crew
Haije Alanoja	....	production secretary
Haije Alanoja	....	script supervisor
Erkki Astala	....	production support: Suomen Elokuvasäätiö
Mimmo Hilden	....	caterer
Marja-Leena Hukkanen	....	continuity
Eevi Kareinen	....	production assistant
Tatu Masilkin	....	technical assistant
Heikki Mattila	....	technical assistant
Laurent Nègre	....	caterer (as Laurent Negre)
Jan-Eric Nyström	....	title designer
Paula Oinonen	....	assistant to director
Paula Oinonen	....	dog trainer: Hannibal
Olavi Tuomi	....	location manager
Sinikka Usvamaa	....	accountant (as Sinikka)

Thanks
Pepe Ahlqvist	....	thanks (as Ahlqvist Pepe)
Aimo Asikainen	....	thanks (as Asikainen Aimo)
Henry Bollström	....	thanks (as Bollström Henry)
Robert Bollström	....	thanks (as Bollström Robert)
Clas-Ove Bruun	....	thanks (as Bruun Clas-Ove)
Pekka Gronow	....	thanks (as Gronow Pekka)
Tomi Heino	....	thanks (as Heino Tomi)
Kari Heiskanen	....	thanks (as Heiskanen Kari)
Teemu Ikonen	....	thanks (as Ikonen Teemu)
Mikki Jaatinen	....	thanks (as Jaatinen Mikki)
Sonja Jatuli	....	thanks (as Jatuli Sonja)
Teemu Juntunen	....	thanks (as Juntunen Teemu)
Aarne Kähkönen	....	thanks (as Kähkönen Aarne)
Juha Kannisto	....	thanks (as Kannisto Juha)
Jaakko Karilainen	....	thanks (as Karilainen Jaakko)
Niko Korhonen	....	thanks (as Korhonen Niko)
Pirkko Kyckling	....	thanks (as Kyckling Pirkko)
Teemu Laitinen	....	thanks (as Laitinen Teemu)
Robert Lindqvist	....	thanks (as Lindqvist Robert)
Carl Lydholm	....	thanks (as Lydholm Carl)
Pirjo Neva	....	thanks (as Neva Pirjo)
Janne Nieminen	....	thanks (as Nieminen Janne)
Kari Norovirta	....	thanks (as Norovirta Kari)
Raili Nurminen	....	thanks (as Nurminen Raili)
Tapio Oksanen	....	thanks (as Oksanen Tapio)
Kaisa Paju	....	thanks (as Paju Kaisa)
Pekka Palonen	....	thanks (as Palonen Pekka)
Marja Penttinen	....	thanks (as Penttinen Marja)
Vesa Perhoniemi	....	thanks (as Perhoniemi Vesa)
Antero Puotinen	....	thanks (as Puotinen Antero)
Jaakko Rahkonen	....	thanks (as Rahkonen Jaakko)
Tuula Saastamoinen	....	thanks (as Saastamoinen Tuula)
Kaj Silander	....	thanks (as Silander Kaj)
Nils Smeds	....	thanks (as Smeds Nils)
Tarja-Tuulikki Tarsala	....	thanks (as Tarsala Tarja-Tuulikki)
Pekka Usenius	....	thanks (as Usenius Pekka)

Production Companies

• Bavaria Film
• Pandora Filmproduktion
• Pyramide Productions
• Sputnik
• Yleisradio (YLE)

Distributors

• Filmcoopi Zürich (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Pandora Filmproduktion (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Upstream Pictures (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (video)
• Alfa Films (Argentina)
• BIM Distribuzione
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Euro Space
• EuroVideo (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Pyramide Distribution (France)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2003) (USA) (subtitled)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• With Cinema (Korea)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2004) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Alba Records Oy  thanks
• Autopurkaamo Venetmäki  thanks
• Digital Film Finland Oy  post-production
• Finncontainers Oy  thanks
• Finnish Film Foundation  production support
• Finnsteve Oy  thanks
• Helsingin Kaupunki/Kiinteistövirasto  thanks
• Helsingin Kaupunki/Ympäristökerkus  thanks
• Helsingin Satamalaitos  thanks
• Helsingin Taksiautoilijat Oy  thanks
• Hewlett Packard  thanks
• Hotelli Helka  thanks
• Hotelli Oiva  thanks
• Italkon Oy  thanks
• Kaartin Poliisitalo  thanks
• Kulta-Palmu  thanks
• Kyllin Hyvä  thanks
• Lifa Air Ltd.  thanks
• Lou-Rak Oy  thanks
• Marian Sairaala Osasto K1  thanks
• Marjaniemen VPK  thanks
• P. Mutasen Elokuvakonepaja Oy  thanks
• Pelastusarmeija  thanks
• Pelastusarmeijan Miesten Asuntola/Hki  thanks
• Pelastusarmeijan Palvelukeskuksen Keittiö/Hki  thanks
• Poka Oy  thanks
• SES Film Sound Oy  sound mixing
• Sampson & Allen  insurance
• Satamalaitoksen Pursiseura  thanks
• Siltasaaren Palvelukoti  thanks
• Soundtrack Studio  music recording and mixing
• Stebecat Oy  accounting
• Steenbeck  editing equipment
• VR  thanks
• Yrittäjäin Fennia  insurance

Also Known As:

Der Mann ohne Vergangenheit (Germany)
Irtolainen (Finland) (working title)
L'homme sans passé (France)
The Man Without a Past (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

Finland | Germany | France

Language:

Finnish

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:12 | Hungary:14 | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-7 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Italy:T | Singapore:PG | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Helsinki, Finland

Company:

Bavaria Film

Trivia:

This film won the London Evening Standard's "Palm Dog" award at the Cannes Film Festival for the best animal role. The winning dog's name, aptly, is Tähti ("Star" in Finnish).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The Helsinki railway station's extension roof is clearly visible at the opening scene, but it hadn't been build yet in 1996 (the year can be read from the newspaper).

Quotes:

M: I went to the moon yesterday.
Irma: I see. How was it?
M: Peaceful.
Irma: Meet anyone?
M: Not really; it was a Sunday.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Symphony n°3 in A major op. 55

Simple virtues!

This is the first Aki Kaurismaki film that I have seen and it is the second film in a trilogy. I definitely want to see the first one now and I plan on seeing the third whenever it comes to my neck of the woods. Film is a very simple story of a man (Markku Peltola) who while waiting for a train goes to a park and falls asleep on a park bench. Three thugs come along and beat and rob him. He is so beaten that when he wakes up in a hospital he has amnesia. We never do find out his name! He leaves the hospital and has no where to go. A very poor family living in a metal container take him in and try to help him. He goes to the Salvation Army for free food and an opportunity to work small jobs and its there that he meets Irma (Kati Outinen) and is attracted to her. The film follows this man as he romances Irma and works odd jobs. Its all presented in a very dry and droll comedic fashion. All the characters are very emotionless no matter what the circumstances are and in some ways its reminiscent of the films that Jacques Tati use to make. In one scene in a bank a robber enters and shoots a broken security camera and the teller and our protagonist all act very calm and very polite. At the heart of this film is even though the characters are very quiet they are very helpful of one another and seem to care for each other. I have heard that all of Kaurismaki films are like this and its been nicknamed "Aki's world". Kaurismaki is a very unique filmmaker and the way he presents his characters is in contrast to the bleak area that they live in. Even though the film and the characters are laid back in their attitude, the romance between the man and Irma shouts of passion. Their affection and fondness for one another doesn't need words. It rings loud and clear!