Shadows in Paradise

Aki Kaurismaki
1986

Kaurismaki kicks off the first part of his proletarian trilogy with a socialist-grey Finland made of expansive landfills, alienating supermarkets, and existential confinement. It's also a romantic comedy. Laconic garbageman Nikander realizes he's no spring chicken when his longtime partner croaks in front of him on their trash route. In loneliness he reaches out to grocery-store cashier Ilona, who proves to be something of an expert at playing "hard to get." Theirs is a rocky romance beset by false starts and complicated by their respectively fierce individualism. It's no surprise that contemporary director Jim Jarmusch and Kaurismaki are buds as their stylistic sensibilities are nearly identical. Nikander's slicked-back chain-smoking cool and violent machismo are saved from cliche and made endearing by his diminutive size and pathetic situation. Ilona's about as warm as a glacier and friendly as a hornet's nest, but her unique looks (think heroin-chic with a boatload of freckles), difficult personality, and perennial hard luck make her an alluring male fantasy. The couple makes their grand getaway on a Soviet cruise-liner(?), but garbage water still smells once it's dried and rent is always due on the first. This is an ephemeral escape that raises more doubts and uncertainties than happily-ever-afters.