The Man Without a Past (2002) poster2

Finland10 Essential Finnish FilmsStop 2 of 10

The Man Without a Past

Mies vailla menneisyyttä

2002

Beaten and left for dead on arrival in Helsinki, a man wakes with no memory of who he is and must build a new life from nothing among the city's kind-hearted down-and-outs. Aki Kaurismäki's deadpan, tender comedy-drama.

Why it’s here

Arriving in Helsinki, a nameless man is beaten within an inch of his life by thugs, miraculously recovering only to find that he has completely lost his memory. Back on the streets, he attempts to begin again from zero, befriending a moody dog and becoming besotted with a Salvation Army volunteer.

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Part of 10 Essential Finnish Films

This film is stop 2 of 10 in the hand-ranked native-cinema route through Finland. See the complete ranking or read the selection methodology.

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