The Man Without a Past

The thought of yet another movie based on the old amnesia scenario may fill you with dread, but Finnish writer-director Aki Kaurismaki's take on the hoary premise proves a deadpan delight. An unnamed man (dour, sad-faced Markku Peltola) is beaten and robbed shortly after arriving in Helsinki, and though pronounced dead at a local hospital he abruptly awakens and wanders off to live among the city's down-and-outers, who receive him into their midst with surprising generosity and warmth. He also enters a halting romance with Irma (Kati Outinen), a stoic soldier in the Salvation Army who lands him a job in the charity's offices, but publicity eventually reveals his identity and threatens their relationship. Kaurismaki stages this story in a wonderfully off-kilter way that avoids condescension, allowing for hilarious digressions while also treating the supposed losers with bemused respect. The result is a wry, acutely observed film that employs the loss-of-memory plot merely as a springboard for an affectionate, whimsical portrait of those on the fringes of society. Granted, the self-conscious refusal to hurry things along and penchant for droll understatement may put some viewers off, but those with patience and an appreciation for subtlety will be amply rewarded. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek)