Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves MUBI Streaming Release Date Revealed

Veteran Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves recently released in UK cinemas, will be heading to MUBI later this month.

This ‘gentle tragicomedy’, awkward romance story which is the fourth part of Aki Kaurismäki’s working-class trilogy (Shadows in Paradise, Ariel, and The Match Factory Girl). He wears his influences on his sleeve proudly with the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Yasujiro Ozo two come to mind. Life isn’t simply and his film highlight that and how much we desire certain things in life.

Fallen Leaves is the story of two lonely people (Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen) who meet each other by chance in the Helsinki night and try to find the first, only, and ultimate love of their lives. Their path towards this honourable goal is clouded by the man’s alcoholism, lost phone numbers, not knowing each other’s names or addresses, and life’s general tendency to place obstacles in the way of those seeking their happiness.

Set in modern day Helsinki, Fallen Leaves tells the story of Ansa (Alma Pöysti) and Holappa (Jussi Vatanen), two lonely souls whose chance meeting at a local karaoke bar is beset by numerous hurdles. From lost phone numbers to mistaken addresses, alcoholism and a charming stray dog, the pair’s path to happiness is as bittersweet as it is ultimately delightful.

Shot through with Kaurismäki’s typically playful, idiosyncratic style and deadpan sense of humor, this tender romantic tragicomedy is both a loving tribute to the filmmaker’s beloved contemporaries and a timely reminder of the potency of movie-going from one of cinema’s living legends. 

The rest of the cast for this one includes Janne Hyytiäinen, Nuppu Koivu, and Matti Onnismaa. Fallen Leaves will be streaming exclusively on MUBI in the UK and Ireland from 19th January.