Shadows in Paradise

Nikander, a rubbish collector and would-be entrepreneur, finds his plans for success dashed when his business associate dies. One evening, he meets Ilona, a down-on-her-luck cashier, in a local supermarket. Falteringly, a bond begins to develop between them.

Cast

Matti Pellonpää

as Nikander

Kati Outinen

as Ilona

Sakari Kuosmanen

as Melartin

Esko Nikkari

as Nikander's Co-Worker

Kylli Köngäs

as Ilona's Friend

Pekka Laiho

as Store Manager

Jukka-Pekka Palo

as Third Man

Svante Korkiakoski

as Police Officer

Mari Rantasila

as Nikander's Sister

Safka Pekkonen

as Pianist

Reviews

CRCulver

Released in 1986, Aki Kaurismaki's <i>Varjoja paratiisissa</i> (Shadows in Paradise) is one of the Finnish filmmaker's earliest efforts, and it stands as one of the most idiosyncratic romantic comedies of all time. The painfully shy Nikander (Matti Pellonpää), a garbage man, means the moody Ilona, a...

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