The Other Side of Hope at Nordic Nights

An award winning Aki Kaurismäki classic revisited.

31.1.2023

7 pm

online

Honorary Consulate of Finland Toronto, Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto, Finnish Studies Programme, University of Toronto

Film ,

The Other Side of Hope netted the grand old man of Finnish cinema Best Director and the FIPRESCI Critics’ Grand Prix award at the 2017 Berlinale.

It was meant to be his last film, second in a trilogy, but to the delight of many, he is currently finalizing his latest production.

The main characters of Other Side of Hope are displaced Syrian refugee Khaled, a stowaway who ends up in Helsinki almost by chance and  middle-aged salesman Wikström.  Both have left their previous life behind them and have become outsiders surviving by their wits and on hope.  Kaurismäki decribes the film as an upright and slightly melancholy story carried along by humor, but in other ways an almost realistic film about certain human destinies here in this world today.

The superb cast includes Sherwan Haji(Link to another website.) as Khaled, who is originally from Syria.  The Other Side of Hope is is his first feature film and he continues as an actor and mentor to young filmmakers in Finland.  Wikström is played by a longtime Kaurismäki regular, Sakari Kuosmanen who is also an accomplished recording artist.  Another longtime regular, Kati Outinen, shines in a supporting role.  

The screening is presented in collaboration with the University of Toronto Finnish Studies programme.  Please join us in conversation with Professor Anu Muhonen immediately after the film.

Free admission but registration(Link to another website.) required.

British Film Institute review(Link to another website.)

Trailer(Link to another website.)