Fallen Leaves
2023 • 1h 21m • Finland,Germany
Next Nordic Generation
The opening film for New Nordic Films
Fallen Leaves tells the story of two lonely people, Holoppa and Ansa (Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen), who meet each other by chance in the Helsinki night and try to find the first, only and greatest love of their lives. The path to the goal is hindered by the husband's alcoholism, lost phone numbers, lack of personal information and life's general tendency to place obstacles in the path of those who seek happiness. Fallen leaves is a heartwarming and romantic film set in a timeless place, but with a backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The film is funny, honest and unironic. The Finnish veteran Aki Kaurismäki has once again composed a song about true love on Helsinki's shadow side.
The film received the Jury Prize at Cannes.