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In Kaurismäki’s drolly existential crime drama, a coal miner named Taisto (Turo Pajala) attempts to leave behind a provincial life of inertia and economic despair, only to get into ever deeper trouble. Yet a minor-key romance with a hilariously dispassionate meter maid (Susanna Haavisto) might provide a light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Ariel, which boasts a terrific soundtrack of Finnish tango and Baltic pop music and lovely cinematography by Kaurismäki’s longtime cameraman Timo Salmimen, put its director on the international map.
Original Release
10/21/1988
US Release
08/10/1989
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Cast
Name | Character |
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Turo Pajala | Taisto Olavi Kasurinen / Taisto Kasurinen |
Susanna Haavisto | Irmeli Katariina Pihlaja / Irmeli |
Matti Pellonpää | Mikkonen |
Eetu Hilkamo | Riku |
Erkki Pajala | Kaivosmies / Miner |
Matti Jaaranen | Pahoinpitelijä / Mugger |
Hannu Viholainen | Apuri / Accomplice |
Jorma Markkula | Prikkamies / Tallyman |
Tarja Keinänen | Nainen satamassa / Woman in the Harbour |
Eino Kuusela | Mies rannalla / Man on the Beach |
Directors
Writers
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Turo Pajala | Taisto Olavi Kasurinen / Taisto Kasurinen |
Susanna Haavisto | Irmeli Katariina Pihlaja / Irmeli |
Matti Pellonpää | Mikkonen |
Eetu Hilkamo | Riku |
Erkki Pajala | Kaivosmies / Miner |
Matti Jaaranen | Pahoinpitelijä / Mugger |
Hannu Viholainen | Apuri / Accomplice |
Jorma Markkula | Prikkamies / Tallyman |
Tarja Keinänen | Nainen satamassa / Woman in the Harbour |
Eino Kuusela | Mies rannalla / Man on the Beach |
Kauko Laalo | Asuntolanhoitaja / Night Hostel Warden |
Jyrki Olsonen | Mies Asuntolassa / Man in the Night Hostel |
Esko Nikkari | Autokauppias / Car Dealer |
Marja Packalén | Tuomari / Judge |
Mikko Remes | Vankilalääkäri / Prison Doctor |
Tomi Salmela | Vartija / Guard |
Reijo Marin | Vartija / Guard |
Heikki Salomaa | Vartija / Guard |
Veikko Uusimäki | Pormestari / Mayor |
Esko Salminen | Roisto / Crook |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Aki Kaurismaki | Producer |