Underplayed Gems

Shadows in Paradise (1986)

Shadows in Paradise poster
Original title
Varjoja paratiisissa
Directed by
Aki Kaurismäki
Genre
drama film, comedy film, art film
Country
Finland
Runtime
1h 14m
Rated
NR
Rating
7.3 of 10 from 442 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalogue in 3D

The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

More films like this

How it feels

A garbage collector meets a supermarket cashier. They start a quiet romance in Helsinki.

deadpanmelancholicquirkyslow-burnunderstatedbleakwrysparse

What happens

Shadows in Paradise (Finnish: Varjoja paratiisissa) is a 1986 Finnish comedy-drama art film written and directed by Aki Kaurismäki. Starring Matti Pellonpää and Kati Outinen, the film tells the story of a romance between a lonely garbage collector and a supermarket cashier. This is the first installment in Kaurismäki's "Proletariat Trilogy," followed by Ariel (1988), and The Match Factory Girl (1990). The film is widely regarded as establishing the director's signature style: a blend of social realism, deadpan humor, and minimalist aesthetics. It won the Best Film award at the 1987 Jussi Awards. The film was also screened in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, bringing Kaurismäki international recognition. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

More like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems. Not quite it? You can browse by genre, country and year, or take this one into the 3D catalogue and ask the Catbot for something closer.