Fallen Leaves

In contemporary Helsinki, two people leading quiet, solitary lives cross paths one night at a karaoke bar. Ansa works on a zero-hours contract at a supermarket and sorts recyclable plastic; Holappa is a construction worker whose drinking costs him his job and his place in the barracks where he lives. They are drawn to each other, but lost phone numbers, a mistaken address, Holappa's alcoholism and a stray dog repeatedly get in the way of the relationship they try to build.

Fallen Leaves is a 2023 comedy, drama and romance directed and written by Aki Kaurismäki, who also produced it. It is his eleventh feature in the chronological list of his directing work, arriving after The Other Side of Hope in 2017. Alma Pöysti plays Ansa and Jussi Vatanen plays Holappa, with Janne Hyytiäinen, Nuppu Koivu, Mia Snellman and Mikko Mykkänen among the 43 credited cast members. The film runs 81 minutes.

Made for about 1 million US dollars, it earned roughly 12 million worldwide. On IMDb it holds 7.3 out of 10 from around 36,000 votes, while on TMDB it has 7.1 out of 10 from about 771 votes. A film critics' rating of 8.3 out of 10 from 169 reviews places it above both audience scores.