The Man Without A PastThis is a Finnish film of 2002, about a man who is brutally mugged and so forgets everything about his past, who he is, everything, and then tries to make do amidst the down and out of Helsinki.
I placed this film in my top 100 last year partly because of the characterization and partly because of the personal connections to those struggling to make due in an urban context. For some reason, there were two things I forgot. First of all, it’s in color. I don’t know why I thought it was in black and white, but there you have it. Secondly, it is hilarious. The humor is sly and quiet, and I’m sure much of the humor I didn’t get the first time around. All this to say, I enjoyed this film even more this second viewing.
Technical—4/5—It’s fine. Nothing special, no tricks, no fuss. Just basic filmmaking. Nothing more than necessary.
Interest—5/5—I really enjoyed it this time. I was hesitating seeing it again because I thought it would be too dull for me to watch only about a year or so since I last watched it. Oh, I was wrong. It was great, every scene. It was good to know the end this time as well because it helped me to recognize where it was all heading. And this time, I could see the quiet joy in almost every scene. Wonderful.
Tension—3/5—Not much tension, this time around, except when the muggers show up.
Emotional—3/5—There is some emotion, but it’s hard to feel when the acting is so dry and flat. It is flat on purpose, and it helps one appreciate even more the obvious happiness that is there. But we have to put that in, the actors won’t help us a whit. On the other hand, see what I say under “personal”.
Characters—4/5—Excellent. Sure the acting is flat, but since everyone does it, it looks like Helsinki is just that way. I suspect that they are playing it as a Finnish stereotype, but it just adds to the humor and the local color. The characters themselves are wonderful and funny and clever. I wish more had been done for Kati Oetenin, because she just seemed sad.
Theme—3/5—It’s not a strong thematic film. I’d guess the theme might be, “It will all work out” or “There is a place for everyone” or some other generally uplifting cliché.
Ethics—5/5—I love films that show communities that work well, even in difficult circumstances. The way they took him in and how he was instantly accepted, and the community helped him in quiet, small ways but that brought him life was wonderful to behold.
Personal—5/5—I live and work amidst a community much like this. Yes, there are struggles and not many resources, but there can also be joy and strength. This personal connection is probably what really makes me emotional about this film. Not even so much because of these people, but because of the people I know on the streets of Portland and their joys and strengths. It makes me happy.
1. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
2. In America
3. Rear Window
4. Amelie
5. The Red Shoes
6. Edward Scissorhands
7. Princess Mononoke
8. The Dark Knight
9. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
10. Tideland
11. The Brothers Bloom
12. I [Heart] Huckabees
13. I’m Not There
14. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
15. The Man Without A Past16. Dog Day Afternoon
17. Brick
18. District 9
19. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
20. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
21. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
22. 50 First Dates
23. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
24. Rachel Getting Married
25. The Godfather
26. The Son (2003)
27. Raising Arizona
28. How To Train A Dragon
29. Do The Right Thing
30. Adaptation
31. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs
32. Scizopolis
33. Buckaroo Bonzai Across the Eighth Dimension
34. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
35. *ucking Amal/Show Me Love
36. Three Kings
37. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
38. The Science of Sleep
39. Grizzly Man
40. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
41. Scarecrow
42. Fitzcaraldo
43. Zelig
44. Harold and Maude
45. Repulsion
46. Mister Roberts