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ComedyDramaRomance

Shadows in Paradise

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Nikander, a rubbish collector and would-be entrepreneur, finds his plans for success dashed when his business associate dies. One evening, he meets Ilona, a down-on-her-luck cashier, in a local supermarket. Falteringly, a bond begins to develop between them.

Release Date : 1986-10-17

Language :FinnishEnglishSwedish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Villealfa Filmproductions

Production Country : Finland

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Matti Pellonpää

Character Name : Nikander

Original Name : Matti Pellonpää

Gender : Male

Kati Outinen

Character Name : Ilona

Original Name : Kati Outinen

Gender : Female

Sakari Kuosmanen

Character Name : Melartin

Original Name : Sakari Kuosmanen

Gender : Male

Esko Nikkari

Character Name : Nikander's Co-Worker

Original Name : Esko Nikkari

Gender : Male

Kylli Köngäs

Character Name : Ilona's Friend

Original Name : Kylli Köngäs

Gender : Female

Pekka Laiho

Character Name : Store Manager

Original Name : Pekka Laiho

Gender : Male

Jukka-Pekka Palo

Character Name : Third Man

Original Name : Jukka-Pekka Palo

Gender : Male

Svante Korkiakoski

Character Name : Police Officer

Original Name : Svante Korkiakoski

Gender : Male

Mari Rantasila

Character Name : Nikander's Sister

Original Name : Mari Rantasila

Gender : Female

Safka Pekkonen

Character Name : Pianist

Original Name : Safka Pekkonen

Gender : Male

Antti Ortamo

Character Name : 2nd Pianist

Original Name : Antti Ortamo

Gender : Male

Mato Valtonen

Character Name : Pelle

Original Name : Mato Valtonen

Gender : Male

Sakke Järvenpää

Character Name : Staffan

Original Name : Sakke Järvenpää

Gender : Male

Ulla Kuosmanen

Character Name : Melartin's Wife

Original Name : Ulla Kuosmanen

Gender : Female

Neka Haapanen

Character Name : Cook

Original Name : Neka Haapanen

Gender : Male

Pentti Koski

Character Name : Singer

Original Name : Pentti Koski

Gender : Male

Ari Korhonen

Character Name : Man in Restaurant

Original Name : Ari Korhonen

Gender : Male

Teuvo Rissanen

Character Name : Police Officer

Original Name : Teuvo Rissanen

Gender : Male

Erkki Rissanen

Character Name : Porter

Original Name : Erkki Rissanen

Gender : Male

Sirkka Silin

Character Name : Woman in Restaurant

Original Name : Sirkka Silin

Gender : Female

Marina Martinoff

Character Name : Hostess

Original Name : Marina Martinoff

Gender : Female

Jussi Tiitinen

Character Name : Garbage Man / Bartender

Original Name : Jussi Tiitinen

Gender : Male

Riikka Kuosmanen

Character Name : Melartin's Daughter

Original Name : Riikka Kuosmanen

Gender : Female

Eskil Mansikka

Character Name : Keyboardist (uncredited)

Original Name : Eskil Mansikka

Gender : Male

Jaakko Talaskivi

Character Name : Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Jaakko Talaskivi

Gender : Male

Haije Alanoja

Character Name : Woman in Restaurant (uncredited)

Original Name : Haije Alanoja

Gender : Female

Bertta Pellonpää

Character Name : Bingo Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Bertta Pellonpää

Gender : Female

Helmeri Pellonpää

Character Name : Bingo Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Helmeri Pellonpää

Gender : Male

Malla Hukkanen

Character Name : Woman in Restaurant (uncredited)

Original Name : Malla Hukkanen

Gender : Female

Aki Kaurismäki

Character Name : Hotel Receptionist (uncredited)

Original Name : Aki Kaurismäki

Gender : Male

Olli Varja

Character Name : Customer (uncredited)

Original Name : Olli Varja

Gender : Male

Tanja Talaskivi

Character Name : Woman in Cinema (uncredited)

Original Name : Tanja Talaskivi

Gender : Female

Jukka Mäkinen

Character Name : Garbage Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Jukka Mäkinen

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CRCulver

@CRCulver

2021-06-23

Released in 1986, Aki Kaurismaki's Varjoja paratiisissa (Shadows in Paradise) is one of the Finnish filmmaker's earliest efforts, and it stands as one of the most idiosyncratic romantic comedies of all time. The painfully shy Nikander (Matti Pellonpää), a garbage man, means the moody Ilona, a supermarket checkout girl. The film tracks their bumbling attempt to establish a lasting relationship: dates that end as soon as they've begun, a romantic getaway where they each retreat to separate hotel rooms, and rare conversations which employ the absolute bare minimum of words. Nikander's best and only friend Melartin (Sakari Kuosmanen), whom the garbage man only recently met through a spell in jail, gives some needed encouragement. The film's soundtrack is rooted in early rock-and-roll, though unlike later Kaurismaki films where the characters seem to be living in a 1950s bubble, all the action takes place in contemporary Helsinki. I've criticized Kaurismaki's vision of Finland in other films, but Varjoja paratiisissa does, in my opinion, accurately depict the collection of gloomy, taciturn binge drinkers that are the Finns. Varjoja paratiisissa is an early work and doesn't show the confidence of later efforts, but it's still quite entertaining, its leads and their struggles extremely charming, and I would recommend the film. Certainly the performances of Pellonpää (in a typical Pellonpää role) and Outinen (who seemingly reinvents herself in every film) will prove quite memorable.