The Finnish town of Karkkila is surrounded by breathtaking nature, but has become increasingly deserted over the last few decades. Only the metal industry remains active here. Aki Kaurismäki, Finland's most famous film director, together with his poet friend Mika Lätti, decide to set up a cinema in an old foundry. It is called Cinema Laika, after Kaurismäki's two dogs, and the artists are helped by the inhabitants of Karkkila, who fill the new cinema with the sounds of rock'n'roll music and motorcycles as well as vintage Cadillacs. The film combines dry Finnish humour with Kaurismäki's own subtle style. Jim Jarmusch himself makes an unexpected appearance.
About the film
Details
- Running time
- 1 hr. 12 min.
- Country, year
- France, Finland, 2023
- Genre
- Documentary
- Language
- English, Finnish, French
- Subtitles
- Lithuanian, English
- Age rating
- Pegi 13
Credits
- Director
- Veljko Vidak
- Screenplay
- Veljko Vidak, Emmanuelle Felce
- Producers
- Emmanuelle Felce, Sylvie Pialat, Benoît Quainon, Veljko Vidak
- Music
- Emmanuelle Felce, Tomi Leino
- Cast
- Aki Kaurismäki, Jim Jarmusch, Amy Taubin
- More information
- www.imdb.com
Festivals and awards
Director
Veljko Vidak
Croatian director and artist. He studied painting in Zagreb and received a scholarship to the prestigious Paris artist residency Cité Internationale. During his stay at the French Cinematheque, he became interested in cinema and started making video works on the themes of history and the subconscious. Cinema Laika is Vidak's first documentary film.