Laitakaupungin valot (2006)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Aki Kaurismäki

Writer:

Aki Kaurismäki (writer)

Release Date:

3 helmikuu 2006 (Finland)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

In Helsinki, a lonely night watchman is caught up in a series of misadventures with a femme fatale and a crooked businessman.

Plot Keywords:

Night Watchman | Femme Fatale | Jewels | Burglary | Big City

Awards:

3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Janne Hyytiäinen	...	Koistinen
Maria Järvenhelmi	...	Mirja
Maria Heiskanen	...	Aila
Ilkka Koivula	...	Lindholm
Sergei Doudko	...	Russian
Andrei Gennadiev	...	Russian
Arturas Pozdniakovas	...	Russian
Matti Onnismaa	...	Shift Manager
Sulevi Peltola	...	Foreman
Antti Reini	...	Security Guard
Neka Haapanen	...	Security Guard
Santtu Karvonen	...	Security Guard
Sesa Lehto	...	Security Guard
Jukka Rautiainen	...	Security Guard
Jukka Salmi	...	Security Guard
Heikki Heimo	...	Bartender
Erkki Lahti	...	Man at Bar
Pihla Penttinen	...	Girl at Bar
Helena Vierikko	...	Girl at Table
Jari Elsilä	...	Gorilla
Vesa Häkli	...	Gorilla
Jouni Kosenius	...	Gorilla
Marko Helmi	...	Porter
Janne Ajanti	...	Waiter
Tommi Korpela	...	Lecturer
Clas-Ove Bruun	...	Coffee Vendor (as Claes-Ove Bruun)
Joonas Tapola	...	Boy
Paju	...	Dog
Nauri Nykänen	...	Bartender
Panu Vauhkonen	...	Dog Owner
Jukka Ropponen	...	Big Fellow
Jukka Uhlgren	...	Big Fellow (as Jukka Uhlgrén)
Katri Korander	...	Waiter
Tokela	...	Band Member
Jarmo Haapanen	...	Band Member
Bobby Nieminen	...	Band Member
Roger Nieminen	...	Band Member
Mitja Tuurala	...	Band Member
Teemu Väisänen	...	Discoman
Svante Korkiakoski	...	Bank Manager
Roy Rosenblad	...	Caretaker
Silu Seppälä	...	Vandal
Pertti Sveholm	...	Police Detective
Juhani Niemelä	...	Police Detective
Juha Springare	...	Police Officer
Tommi Hytti	...	Police Officer
Pasi Kokkoniemi	...	Police Officer
Mika Roiha	...	Police Officer
Kati Outinen	...	Cash Keeper in Supermarket
Anna-Maria Klintrup	...	Judge
Jarmo Hemilä	...	Member of Jury
Matti Oinonen	...	Member of Jury
Arto Reinikainen	...	Member of Jury
Pertti Wilska	...	Prosecutor
Kari Lehto	...	Defence Council
Lassi Halme	...	Prison Guard
Risto Jeronen	...	Prison Guard
Esa Nenonen	...	Prison Guard
Ismo Ahola	...	Convict
Arto Korkeakoski	...	Convict
Jarkko Käpynen	...	Convict
Ari Levomäki	...	Convict
Kari Lindström	...	Convict (as Kari-Pekka Lindström)
Mika Lindström	...	Convict
Heikki Metsämäki	...	Convict
Tapio von Müller	...	Convict
Sami Ruuskanen	...	Convict
Markku Tirronen	...	Convict
Pertti Lahtinen	...	Bar Vendor
Aarre Karén	...	Dormitory Keeper
Ari Härkönen	...	Man in Dormitory
Juri Inno	...	Man in Dormitory
Alpo Seppälä	...	Man in Dormitory
Marco Taskinen	...	Man in Dormitory
Mika Tuuhea	...	Man in Dormitory
Marja Packalén	...	Chef (as Marja Packalen)
Kari Pulkkinen	...	Cook
Maj-Lis Doktar	...	Maid
Outi Mäkelä	...	Waiter
Päivi Paldan	...	Waiter
Risto Haimelin	...	Doorman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Panu Tuomikko	...	Convict (uncredited)

Directed by
Aki Kaurismäki

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Aki Kaurismäki		writer

Produced by
Aki Kaurismäki	....	producer

Original Music by
Melrose

Cinematography by
Timo Salminen

Film Editing by
Aki Kaurismäki

Production Design by
Markku Pätilä

Costume Design by
Outi Harjupatana

Makeup Department
Nadja Delcos	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Ilkka Mertsola	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nadja Delcos	....	assistant director

Art Department
Robert Lindqvist	....	carpenter
Anna Niskanen	....	assistant set designer
Markku Pätilä	....	set designer
Sami Silvennoinen	....	carpenter
Jani Sinisalo	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Micki Joanni	....	synchron editor
Pietu Korhonen	....	sound assistant
Jouko Lumme	....	sound
Tero Malmberg	....	sound
Olli Pärnänen	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Mika Ailasmäki	....	assistant camera
Henri Heino	....	lighting
Marja-Leena Hukkanen	....	still photographer
Jari Lehtiniemi	....	gaffer
Kalle Penttilä	....	grip
Nea Salminen	....	second assistant camera
Ville Väänänen	....	lighting
Elsa Varja	....	lighting
Olli Varja	....	lighting

Editorial Department
Tuija Kotamäki	....	negative cutter
Kari Manns	....	color grader

Other crew
Eevi Kareinen	....	production assistant
Jan-Eric Nyström	....	title designer
Olavi Tuomi	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Sputnik

Distributors

• Albatros Film (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Filmfreak Distributie (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Pyramide Distribution (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2006) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Strand Releasing (2007) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Al!ve AG (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Filmfreak Distributie (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2006) (worldwide) (all media)

Other Companies

• Finnlab  film lab
• Meguru Film Sound  sound mixing

Also Known As:

Lights in the Dusk (Canada: English title) (festival title) (International: English title) (USA) (festival title)
Les lumières du faubourg (France)
Lichter der Vorstadt (Germany)
Ljus i skymningen (Finland: Swedish title)
Yövartija (Finland) (working title)

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

Finland | Germany | France

Language:

Finnish | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-7 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:6 | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

Helsinki, Finland

Company:

Sputnik

Trivia:

Suomen Filmikamari, which selects the Finnish candidate for Academy Awards Best Foreign-Language Picture, had already chosen Laitakaupungin valot in September 2006, but in October 2006 Aki Kaurismäki informed them that he did not want his film considered for that competition. This also meant that there was no Finnish entry in the Academy Awards pre-selection.

Quotes:

Shift Manager: And what was your name?
Koistinen: Koistinen. Just like before.

Movie Connections:

References Varjoja paratiisissa (1986)

Soundtrack:

Rich Little Bitch

Kaurismäki's sympathies lie with the common people

I saw this film at the Toronto International Film Festival. This is the third film in Kaurismäki's "Helsinki Trilogy" (the others are Drifting Clouds (1996) and The Man Without a Past (2002)) While I haven't seen the first, this film shares many thematic and formal elements with the second film, and I enjoyed it just as much.

Koistinen is a lonely security guard who is ignored by his co-workers; that is, when he's not being teased by them. His life is soon turned upside down by a femme fatale, with heartbreaking results. Despite the grim-sounding plot, the film is full of the director's trademark deadpan humour. And I'm in awe of how he can make the film just radiate love despite the mannered acting and awkward staging. Perhaps it has to do with the warmth of the lighting and the colour palette, as well as the use of nostalgic music and art direction. Whatever it is, from the first frame, you know the director loves this sad sack and wants us to love him too.

The films of the Helsinki Trilogy all deal with people on the margins, and it's clear that Kaurismäki's sympathies lie with the common people and not with those whose success or power has dehumanized them. He is a true humanist, and his "heroes" all bear their sufferings stoically; in fact, they quite literally personify a "never-say-die" attitude, and that makes them admirable. Their hangdog expressions may make us pity them, but it's their core of inner strength that makes us love them.