The Worthless breathed new life into Finnish cinema, broke the mould and shattered perceptions that had become ossified into realism. Anssi Tikanmäki’s electronic adaptation of Sibelius’ Finlandia leads us into an augmented magical world that transforms characters into myth, speech into poetry, light into radiance, grey into colour, and a street immersed in petrol fumes into a boulevard, where an eccentric regular sips calvados and reads Le Monde in a vibrant bar. People encounter each other as individuals, friends and peers, so when the old prosaic Finland rears its ugly head it’s Auf Wienerschnitzel: Paris awaits. Drawing as much from Donald Duck as from literary and cinematic classics, this existentialist road movie is a rich prototype of Kaurismäkian fiction, and the best possible outcome from braiding the brothers’ divergent ideas into a consummate work of art.
The cast and crew are impressive, with the iconic Matti Pellonpää in his first feature film as Manne, making a living as a dishwasher embroiled in crime. He’s a convincing character, setting the scene for what ensues. The Worthless conveys a love of the genre and the filmmakers’ desire to showcase their skills, without holding back on ideas or endeavour. Had this remained the only ever feature film from the Kaurismäkis, it would be a national treasure. Now its cult status is assured, and the dialogue is imprinted on our souls.
Mia Öhman