Kauas pilvet karkaavat (Drifting Clouds) (Far Away the Clouds Escape) (1996)

100% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
88% of users liked it
(2,868 ratings)

A married couple struggles with the repercussions of unexpected unemployment in this wry comedy drama from Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismaki. Ilona, the wife, works as restaurant hostess and her husband Lauri drives a tram. Though the couple has recently lost a child, they both seem at peace and… More A married couple struggles with the repercussions of unexpected unemployment in this wry comedy drama from Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismaki. Ilona, the wife, works as restaurant hostess and her husband Lauri drives a tram. Though the couple has recently lost a child, they both seem at peace and happy. One night Ilona comes home and finds that Lauri has purchased a beautiful television on credit. Shortly thereafter disaster strikes when Ilona's workplace closes and Lauri gets caught in a maelstrom of downsizing. Neither is able to find suitable work right away and as time crawls by, they become humiliated and testy with each other. Eventually Ilona gets a job cooking and bartending in a nameless sleazy dive while her husband, after having to sell their television and car, turns to booze. Things look bad for the marriage when suddenly Ilona decides to open a restaurant. With the backing of her former boss and using her coworkers, she and Lauri open the successful Worker's Rest café and find renewed hope. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Aki Kaurismäki
Written By: Aki Kaurismäki
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: May 30, 1996 Wide

Critic Reviews

Mark Jenkins, Washington Post
In addition to achieving a paradoxical balance of mirth and melancholy, Drifting Clouds is a dark, mostly interior movie with a color scheme as big as all outdoors.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
True to his temperament, Kaurismaki has made another funny-sad movie about the tenuousness of life, in all its ambiguity and nonsensical symmetry.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Kaurismaki has enormous love for these characters. He embraces their comic pathos, and rejoices that they do not surrender.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
What can be said about Drifting Clouds can be said about hangdog Finnish humor in general: it's making the best of a depressing situation.
Elias Savada, Nitrate Online
Nokia, Finlandia Vodka, and Aki Kaurismäki. Three exceptional Finnish exports of particular interest. ?Drifting Clouds blossoms.
Ed Scheid, Boxoffice Magazine
The film builds to a happier mood than many of the director's previous works; offbeat, droll twists and details add to its appeal.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
A film touched by the absurd and the hopeful.
Jason Anderson, eye WEEKLY
One of the funniest and most humane movies of recent note.

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Although Drifting Clouds might seem like a depressing and droll look at desperation, poverty and financial struggle, they are just the catalyst for what is essentially, a subtle and refreshing look at hope, perseverance and adversity. I would say it was one of Aki Kaurismäki's… More
Although Drifting Clouds might seem like a depressing and droll look at desperation, poverty and financial struggle, they are just the catalyst for what is essentially, a subtle and refreshing look at hope, perseverance and adversity. I would say it was one of Aki Kaurismäki's more assessable films and certainly one of his most accomplished.
Lesley N

Finnish film by Aki Kaurismäki, and the first in a loose trilogy with THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST and LIGHTS IN THE DUSK. Filmed in a strangely timeless manner and funny in a very underplayed way, this is about a couple trying to make the best of a bad job when they both lose theirs.… More
Finnish film by Aki Kaurismäki, and the first in a loose trilogy with THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST and LIGHTS IN THE DUSK. Filmed in a strangely timeless manner and funny in a very underplayed way, this is about a couple trying to make the best of a bad job when they both lose theirs. Glum.

Cast

            Sakari Kuosmanen as Melartin

            Outi Mäenpää as Lauri's sister

            Vesa Makela as tax official

            Esko Nikkari as restaurant manager

            Kati Outinen as Ilona Koponen

            Matti Pellonpää as Child on photography

            Elina Salo as Mrs. Sjoholm

            Silu Seppälä as carpenter

            Kari Väänänen as Lauri

            Klaus Heydemann as real-estate broker

            Matti Onnismaa as Forrstrom

            Mato Valtonen as car dealer

            Peter von Bagh as first customers

            Antti Reini as ugly man

            Sulevi Peltola as man at Nelia

            Markku Peltola as Lajunen

            Tero Jartti as tax official

            Kaija Pakarinen as woman in dressing gown

            Matti Oekkboää as child in the photo

            Pietari as Pietari the dog

            Shelley Fisher as pianist

            Markus Allan as orchestra member

            Pauli Granfelt as orchestra member

            Kari Lindquist as orchestra member

            Pentti Mutikainen as orchestra member

            Tommi Parkkonen as orchestra member

            Taisto Wesslin as orchestra member

            Tuire Liiti as waistress

            Kaarina Väyrynen as waitress

            Elli Lindstedt as old couple

            Vilhelm Linstedt as old couple

            Tuire Tuomisto as kitchen maid

            Mustafa Altin as Amir

            Pentti Auer as buyer of Dubronvnik

            Lisak Lusua as buyer of Dubrovnik

            Solmu Mäkelä as foreman

            Tarja Laiho as labour officical

            Ves Häklo as ugly man

            Yrj Järvinen as nab at Iktnoua

            Ona Kamy as cleaning woman

            Eero Försti as repossession man

            Kari Nenonen as repossession men

            Aarre Kaéen as bank manager

            Rose-Marie Precht as gairdresser

            Clas-Ove Bruun as carpenter

            Jorma Pulla as gilder

            Atte Blom as first customers

            Gröbqvustm Hygi as garbage men

            Kari Järvinen as garbage men
See full cast

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

Discover movies your friends are watching
Keep track of what you want to see
Add your reviews to your Timeline

Get Started

Kauas pilvet karkaavat (Drifting Clouds) (Far Away the Clouds Escape) (1996)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Lesley N

Cast

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!