Aki Kaurismäki's 'Fallen Leaves' Premieres at Cannes 2023

Aki Kaurismäki's new film 'Fallen Leaves' (original title 'Foglie al vento') premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and will be released in Italian theaters on December 21 via Lucky Red. The film is a love story about two lonely individuals, played by Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen, who meet by chance in Helsinki. Their romance is complicated by his alcoholism, lost phone numbers, and life's general obstacles. Kaurismäki describes the film as a departure from his previous violent works, focusing instead on love, solidarity, hope, and respect. The director cites influences from Bresson, Ozu, and Chaplin. The film incorporates contemporary issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war, job insecurity, and emotional precarity. Visually, it evokes the paintings of Edward Hopper. The soundtrack includes a Nordic cover of 'Mambo Italiano', a Finnish version of 'Les Feuilles Mortes' (poem by Prévert, music by Joseph Kosma), and a song by the indie duo Maustetytöt. In the film, the protagonists attend a screening of Jim Jarmusch's 2019 zombie movie 'The Dead Don't Die'.