By Travis Johnson

Sydney Film Festival, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), and the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) will present a program of 10 films directed by Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki as part of the 65th Sydney Film Festival (June 6 – 17).

Essential Kaurismäki: Selected by David Stratton will screen at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Dendy Opera Quays. The retrospective will also screen in Melbourne at ACMI (14-30 June) and in Canberra at NFSA’s Arc cinema (29 June – 10 July).  Stratton, a former director of the Sydney Film Festival (1966 to 1983) will also introduce the Sydney screenings.

“Kaurismäki is the complete auteur, producing, directing, scripting and usually editing his films.” Stratton said. “A master of the deadpan, the dialogue in his films is laconic and laced with stoic humour, not including a streak of sentiment, despite the presence of a lovable dog in almost every movie.

“This retrospective is a great showcase of his signature style and will be a revelation to those unfamiliar with the work of an exceptional director.”

The program contains:

Crime and Punishment (1983)

La Vie de Boheme (1992)

Shadows in Paradise (1986)

Drifting Clouds (1996)

Ariel (1988)

The Man Without a Past (2002)

Leningrad Cowboys go America (1989)

Lights in the Dusk (2006)

The Match Factory Girl (1990)

Le Havre (2011)

Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley said, “Kaurismäki is widely recognised as one of Finland’s greatest film directors of all time. His latest film, The Other Side of Hope was one of the highlights of Sydney Film Festival 2017, so we are very excited to present this essential line-up of his 10 most iconic films. We have sourced 35mm prints of all but one of the 10 films. This retrospective is crucial viewing for film fans.”

 

Sydney Film Festival tickets are on sale now for Essential Kaurismäki: Selected by David Stratton screenings for $19.90 (Adult) each or Concession $17.00 + booking fee.

A special discount package of all ten films in the retrospective is available for $130 + booking fee.

For more info, head to the official site.

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