Mika Kaurismäki’s most recent film in many ways marks a return to his roots. After completing his film studies in Germany, Kaurismäki made his first feature length film, The Saimaa Gesture (1981) — a now legendary music documentary following three rock bands on a riverboat tour around lake Saimaa. Now he comes full circle with Every Note You Play, a documentary about a German music festival with a riverboat as its stage.
In the summer of 2024 a group of artists travel to the Monheim Triennale, a contemporary music festival centered around musical improvisation. With their roots all around the globe, each of the musicians contributes their own cultural and stylistic flavor. Ultimately, the wordless language of music acts as a medium for global communication, only deepening as the days pass. The impact of the event is so fundamental it even inspires the city’s mayor to see the power of culture and art as meaningful food for the soul. What’s more, improvisation provides meaningful life lessons: it teaches living in the moment, active listening, and open-mindedness.
Known for his genre experimentation, a common thread has emerged in Kaurismäki’s filmography: the road movie — an umbrella under which river movies also fall. The slow gliding movement of the riverboat provides a fitting metaphor for the time-bound art form of music — as well as lifelong adventure.
Otto Kylmälä