Aki Kaurismäki tells an immigrant tale with his own brand of deadpan humor
Typically Criterion reaches into the cinematic past to burnish a revered classic for release. On occasion, a more recent release gets the Criterion treatment, an acknowledgement of a film’s immediate impact or timeliness. The Other Side of Hope certainly meets those criteria, tackling, with a wry comedic streak, the problems of immigration and the refugee crisis on a very intimate level. It’s an affecting and entertaining work from writer/director Aki Kaurismäki (The Man without a Past, Leningrad Cowboys Go America, Crime & Punishment) that explores a divisive issue.
Synopsis:
This wry, melancholic comedy from Aki Kaurismäki, a response to the ongoing global refugee crisis, follows two people searching for a place to call home. Khaled (Sherwan Haji), a displaced Syrian, lands in Helsinki as a stowaway; meanwhile, middle-aged Finnish salesman Wikström (Sakari Kuosmanen) leaves his wife and his job and buys a conspicuously unprofitable restaurant. Khaled is denied asylum but decides not to return to Aleppo — and the paths of the two men cross fortuitously. As deadpan as the best of the director’s work, and with a deep well of empathy for its down-but-not-out characters (many of them played by members of Kaurismäki’s loyal stock company), The Other Side of Hope is a bittersweet celebration of pockets of human kindness in an unwelcoming world.
The film follows the path of two men, each going through change, each losing something of themselves, and each on a course to entwine their lives with the other. Wikstrom (Sakari Kuosmanen) is a Finnish businessman, recently split from his wife, who has found himself in financial straits due to a gambling habit. He decides to liquidate his business and throw the proceeds into a high stakes poker game which he surprisingly wins. He plows his nest egg into a failing restaurant, determined to turn it around and build something successful from his failures. Khaled (Sherwan Haji) is a Syrian immigrant hoping to find asylum in Finland, as well as seek out his sister who went missing in the region. His petition for residency is rejected, however, and in desperation he escapes the authorities. After their paths cross, Wikstrom becomes a good Samaritan, taking in Khaled to give him a home and a chance to find his sister; however, the locals aren’t as open to the idea of this outsider settling in their midst.
The film smartly tackles immigration by reducing it down to a personal level and simplifying much of the hardships and challenges they face and equating them to something you or I could experience at any time in our lives. This pair of men are leaving oppressive or failed lives behind and facing the daunting challenge of beginning a new one. It fosters a bond between them, as well as a sympathetic one with the audience. Writer/director Aki Kaurismäki imparts a very distinct droll comedic tone to proceedings, pulling plenty from little character moments as well as the interplay between the central duo. It’s not all played for laughs, it frames the problems of those in Aleppo, as well as the domino effect across Europe this mass migration and strain on resources is having, as well as the response of communities. He conveys many of the hardships, physical and emotional, endured by migrants, matched by an appropriate dourness that infuses the film’s aesthetic. The bleakness is kept at bay by these characters and the mildly farcical edge to the tale. It’s a deft blend of observational humor with a underlying social and political message. One that is free of cynicism, with a sweetness running through it championing the idea of kindness, tolerance, and hope. It reminds us that any debates about refuges are more than a political issue; it’s about people.
The Package
This Criterion release features a new 2K scan from the original 35mm, approved by the director himself. Overall, the quality is very good: overall levels of detail impress, colors are bold and natural. There is some variance in the depth of the blacks at times though, lacking in some darker/night scenes. Special features are a little disappointing, an audio commentary being the most notable absence (language barrier?), but they include:
- New interview with actor Sherwan Haji: The actor shares how he came to work on the film, the casting process, how the plot mirrors some aspects of his personal life, as well as his relationship with Kaurismaki.
- Footage from the press conference for the film’s premiere at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival, featuring Kaurismäki, Haji, and actor Sakari Kuosmanen: Running close to 30 minutes, some interesting bits of information but nothing truly of substance.
- Aki and Peter, a new video essay by filmmaker Daniel Raim, based on a 1997 essay by critic Peter von Bagh, to whom The Other Side of Hope is dedicated: A nice exploration of the work of Kaurismaki framed by the words of his friend von Bagh.
- Music videos: Four videos for a number of songs used in the film: Kaipunni Tango, Midnight Man, Skulaa Tai Felaa, and Tama Maa.
- Trailer
- PLUS: An essay by critic Girish Shambu: In the traditional Criterion booklet, which also includes details on the film’s transfer, along with a number of images/stills.
The Bottom Line
The Other Side of Hope treads that fine line between drama and droll comedy to offer a rather touching look at issues of immigration. It’s a reminder of some of the baser levels of humanity, good and bad, while reinforcing how acts of kindness make a difference, whatever kind of outsider you are. A timely and solid release from Criterion.
The Other Side of Hope is available via Criterion from May 14th 2018.