The Man without a Past
A film by Aki Kaurismäki
French release November 6 2002
Synopsis
"The Man Without A Past" delivers a new edge to the story that stirred viewers all around the world in "Drifting Clouds". Without side-stepping bitter issues, one could paint an image of a small country in the North in a touching, amusing, and liberating way. At the beginning of this new film, a man has travelled to Helsinki in search of work, gets mugged, loses his memory, and has to start completely anew, from scratch. He discovers love, and is forced to discover values with which man will not be ashamed to live. A small story about people who still know how to be gentle, an enormous cinematic experience...
Cast
M: Markku Peltola
Irma: Kati Outinen
Nieminen: Juhani Niemelä
Kaisa Nieminen: Kaija Pakarinen
Hannibal: Tähti
Anttila: Sakari Kuosmanen
Salvation Army manager: Annikki Tähti
Bar owner: Anneli Sauli
Dock clerk: Elina Salo
Bank clerk: Outi Mäenpää
Bank robber: Esko Nikkari
Police detective: Pertti Sveholm
Lawyer: Matti Wuori
Ex-Wife: Aino Seppo
Ovaskainen: Janne Hyytiäinen
Electrician: Antti Reini
Salvation Army Band: Marko Haavisto, Jouni Saario, Jukka Teerisaari, Jyrki Telilä
Muggers: Risto Korhonen, Panu Vauhkonen, Tom Wahlroos
Toilets guard: Vesa Mäkelä
Doctor: Aarre Karén
Nurse: Eeva-Liisa Haimelin
Boot-stealer: Kalevi Heinämaa
Niemninen’s children: Joona Karastiee, Anton Peltola
Accordion player: Jouni Marjaranta
Salvation Army Girl: Tuire Tuomisto
Salvation Army Choir: Vappu Lysti, Ritva Harteva, Raija Lahteinen, Eeva Penttinen
Salvation Army Officers: Peter von Bagh, Matti Oinonen, Aarno Kuussalo, Aare Ritola
Vendor in bar: Eira Ritvanen
Homeless: Anja Angel, Pentti Kirstilä
Drunk: Olli Varja
Man in waste-tank: Keijo Nyrhinen
Unemployment office clerk: Liisa Kuoppamäki
Unemployment office manager: Sulevi Peltola
Lindström: Erkki Lahti
Jokinen: Markku Pätilä
Cook at bar: Helka Viljanen
Dock foremen: Eero Nykänen, Erkki Puskala
Welder at dock: Henry Astikainen
Ruffian: Silo Seppälä
Policemen: Juha Springare, Jukka Salmi, Aki Hirvensalo, Pasi Kokkoniemi, Mika Roiha
Mechanics: Andrei Tchernousov, Matti Nylund
Men at restaurant: Jouni Kortesato, Timo Linnasalo, Heikki Mattila
Cook: Hanna Jokinen
Train steward: Toni Salminen
Chief bureaucrat: Pentti Auer, Olavi Tuomi
Crew
Written, directed and produced by: Aki Kaurismäki
Dir of photography: Timo Salminen
Sound engineers: Jouko Lumme, Tero Malmberg
Editing: Timo Linnasalo
Sets: Markku Pätilä, Jukka Salmi
Costumes: Outi Harjupatana
Make-up: Nadja Delcos
Gaffers: Olli Varja, Kalle Penttilä
Lighting: Antti Ruusuvuori, Henri Heino, Toni Salminen
Lighting trainee: Antti Reini, Elsa Varja
Location manager: Olavi Tuomi
1st assistant camera: Rauno Ronkainen
2nd assistant camera: Nea Salminen
Still photographer, continuity: Marja-Leena Hukkanen
Script supervisor: Haije Alanoja
Steadicam operator: Jukka Talikka
Set dressers: Jukka Rautiainen, Pertti Salmenjoki
Production manager: Ilkka Mertsola
Assistant director: Nadja Delcos
Props master: Jouni Kortesato
Production secretary: Haije Alanoja
Production assistant: Eevi Kareinen
Catering: Laurent Nègre, Mimmo Hildén
Technical assistans: Heikka Mattila, Tatu Masilkin
Accountants: Sinikka / Stebecat Oy
Music recording and mixing: Soundtrack Studio / Olli Kykkänen, DF Sound / Petri Lopina
Mixing: SES Film Sound / olli Pärnänen Lab: Finnlab Oy
Colour grading: Timo Nousiainen
Negative cutter: Tuija Kotamäki
Title designer: Jan-Eric Nyström
Insurances: Sampson & Allen, Yruttäjäin Fennia
Camera: Arriflex BL II
Film: Eastman Kodak vision
Nagra: Nagra IVS
Editing equipment: Steenbeck, Dr Leo Catozzo
Production information
Production: Sputnik Oy
Co-producers: YLE TV-1 / Eila Werning
Co-production: Pandora Film,
in coproduction with ZDF / ARTE and Network Movie ; Pyramide Productions,
in coproduction with Arte France Cinéma,
with the participation of Canal + and the Centre National de la Cinématographie
With the support of the Finnish Film Foundation and Nordisk Film and TV Fund
Distribution: Pyramide
Sales: Bavaria Film International
Technical information
Finland - Germany - France
Year of production : 2001
Length : 97mn
Festivals and awards
Official Selection Cannes Film Festival 2002 - Competition: Grand Prix, Best Actress (Kati Outinen), OEcumenical Jury Prize, Palm Dog Award (Tâhti as 'Hannibal')