La chica de la fábrica de cerillas

I see The Match Factory Girl as a straightforward and succinctly presented story about an ugly duckling languishing in impoverished conditions, whose luck changes one gloomy day. This is probably the most depressing film I've had the chance to watch from Aki Kaurismäki so far, yet several blackly humorous situations make you at least smile, and Kati Outinen in the title role is simply unbeatable. (85%) (16.09.2020)

Minimalistic, depressive, and bitter. The plot, as it is typical for Kaurismäki, is simple, his favored actress Kati is precise both in terms of character and acting, and the film precisely conveys what Kaurismäki aims for. However, I appreciate his subsequent films from the 90s more. Most memorable is the portrayal of Finland from the time before Nokia. Overall impression: 60%. (23.08.2020)

The first regular gem in the work of a silent rocker - a synthesis of all the essential elements of his previous work: social themes, refined games with the genre (in this case, the genre of melodrama/harlequin romance), and a main character who speaks little but is at the core impulsive, whilst escaping from his old life. Kati Outinen is absolutely perfect, and the amount of emotions she can articulate without grimaces and words... I don’t get it. Moreover, Kaurismäki works with the motif of Chinese student storms, which create a rather disturbing basis for a story in which humor is completely absent and a hopeless and desperate tone prevails. Timo Salminen's camera is also excellent, which interestingly plucks/contextualizes details and colors the rawness of the narrative. If they were interesting partial motifs up to now, in the case of The Girl, it is finally a perfect whole. (04.10.2011)