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Markku Peltola, Kati Outinen, Juhani Niemelä, Kaija Pakarinen, Sakari Kuosmanen ... see more see more... , Annikki Tähti , Anneli Sauli , Elina Salo , Outi Mäenpää , Esko Nikkari , Pertti Sveholm , Matti Wuori , Aino Seppo , Janne Hyytiäinen , Antti Reini

Aki Kaurismaki's The Man Without a Past opens with the title character (Markku Peltola) being savagely beaten. At the hospital he is declared dead, but he sits up and walks out on his own power. He is... read more read more... taken in by a mother and her two sons, discovers an old jukebox that inspires local musicians, and discovers he has skills as a welder. When he becomes unwittingly involved in a bank robbery, and the man is unable to give the police his name, the cops send out feelers trying to figure out the man's identity. Soon his wife appears. The Man Without a Past was screened at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival where it was awarded the Grand Prix, the most storied prize after the Palme D'Or. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Flixster Users

89% liked it

6,866 ratings

Critics

98% liked it

92 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Aki Kaurismäki

Release Date: August 30, 2002

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DVD Release Date: October 7, 2003

Stats: 435 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (435)

  • fb1216165431
    September 9, 2011
    fb1216165431
    The Man Without A Past raises a question, "what would make a changed better man?" A rather odd but interesting lovely story that delineates past, present, and future. Vivid, subtle characters blessed with sincere humanity and profound personalities. Hilarious. Brilliant. Compelling.
  • fb634552688
    June 4, 2011
    fb634552688
    Great dialogue, interesting story and all that...but it just felt meh. It's a bit too dry for my tastes
  • bookmunki
    December 14, 2010
    bookmunki
    Jim Jarmusch aptly summarized this film: "it's sad enough to make you laugh, and funny enough to make you cry."
  • SirPant
    September 3, 2010
    SirPant
    The man without a past is essentially an ode to classic film-noir but very much in keeping with Kaurismäki's style and love towards his homeland. It's also very wry, very funny and very beautiful. Part 2 of his Finland trilogy, I didn't like it as much as Drifting Clouds or some ... read moreof his earlier work but that's not saying much really because I think he is one of the top directors working today. I also caught the subtle tribute to Matti Pellonpää, it was quite lovely actually.
  • RossCollinsUK
    June 10, 2007
    RossCollinsUK
    A well told, simple story about a Finnish man suffering from amnesia. The style reminds me of American movies of the 60s, and there's a few nice political jabs aimed at bureaucracy.
  • lesleyanorton
    January 25, 2011
    lesleyanorton
    M turns up in a Finnish town, gets mugged and as a result loses his memory of everything including his name. Now he has to build a life from scratch.
    A strange film, with a lot of charm. The frequently humorous dialog is delivered as flat as a pancake and you can't help but root... read more for the resourceful lead and hope he gets his happy ending.




    From JIMBOTENDER's favourites list
  • jimbotender
    June 12, 2010
    jimbotender
    Gorgeously shot,plenty of irony and numbness whilst our protagonist loiters in a community of weird individuals.Spectacular I say!For Kaurismaki,this is the ultimate view on his philosophy regards to isolation,edging towards a deep melancholy of the heart.The keys of happiness ar... read moree what Kant used to seek and the beloved director from the north charismatically perceives to grab them.
  • skiproads
    January 15, 2012
    skiproads
    Five stars. Great movie - great story, phenomenally acted, superbly filmed. Anyone who sees this will become a great fan of Kaurismaki. Dramatic, funny, memorable.
  • thereverendtholomewplague
    July 14, 2011
    thereverendtholomewplague
    Interesting movie about a man who gets basically all his memory knocked out of him because he got beaten by thugs. Declared dead, but moments after he gets right out of the hospital bed like nothing happened. Definitely an uplifting movie with some pretty cool characters. It's a ... read morenice flick, with a nice, decent storyline. I thought it was quite enjoyable, and it kept my interest, which is always good in a film. Also pretty entertaining with some cool music as well.
  • Chapsky
    May 8, 2011
    Chapsky
    This film is a quiet revolution. Quiet revolts of the characters against the existing system. A simple and modest movie but tailors a powerful message for the audience.

View All The Man Without a Past Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jay Boyar
August 29, 2003
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

Kaurismaki's movies can tickle you with the briefest of statements, the smallest of gestures.

Roger Ebert
June 27, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

At the end of The Man Without a Past, I felt a deep but indefinable contentment. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
June 27, 2003
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

A powerful film made with minimal means, it's a story of poor people on the fringes of society, done without sentimentality or condescension but with wicked humor. Full Review

Richard Nilsen
June 19, 2003
Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic

Deliciously slow-paced film.

Chris Vognar
May 29, 2003
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

Wry, whimsical and sure of tone, dry in all of the right ways and without an ounce of condescension. Full Review

Eric Harrison
May 23, 2003
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

Full of deadpan humor. Full Review

Desson Thomson
May 16, 2003
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

This movie ... may matter to you more than you think.

Ann Hornaday
May 16, 2003
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

A gentle, surprising little movie whose rewards lie in what its characters don't say as much as in what they do. Full Review

Steven Rea
May 16, 2003
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

A dour-faced but sublime comedy.

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
May 15, 2003
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A compassionate and darkly funny shaggy-dog story. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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  • Which actress can "see" the future, look after your kids, get pretty without plastic surgery and relive past lives as a man?  Answer »
  • In the Finnish movie "The Man without a Past" (Mies vailla menneisyyttä - 2002), the protagonist's forgotten occupation is  Answer »
  • the 2002 mystery drama The Man Without A Past is from which country?  Answer »
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