This German-Finnish drama and romance comes from director Aki Kaurismäki and is part of his Proletariat series, which initially envisioned as a trilogy alongside *Shadows in Paradise* (1986), *Ariel* (1988), and *The Match Factory Girl* (1990). The film unfolds through straightforward narratives set in a stylized Helsinki that feels deliberately frozen in the late 1980s—though contemporary references to the Russia-Ukraine War appear on the radio, and a 2024 calendar is visible. It portrays a love story with understated sadness, focusing on two workers: a man from a construction site and a woman who has worked in supermarkets and factories. The film evokes something akin to a Finnish Wes Anderson. The plot’s simplicity mirrors its concept—a couple experiences various misunderstandings before their eventual meeting. However, this straightforwardness, combined with a gentle slowness and the underlying sadness of both the characters' lives and the city itself, ultimately gives the movie its distinctive character. Subtle shifts in each character throughout the film add to this feeling. The premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival saw it selected for the Palme d’Or competition, where it received a Jury Prize and will be submitted for the 96th Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Considering what I knew going in, I rated it 7.6 out of 10, which translates to a B+ grade, as I generally prefer more intricate plots.

Source on TMDB