are there 'prequels'?
Are the movies Drifting Clouds and A Man without a Past essential or helpful for this movie?
shareHmmm... "Yes" and "No" really: there are commonalities of themes/moods, in some cases settings, and in some cases actors - but the previous parts of the trilogy don't directly lead up this film, in terms of plot or character. I'd say that all three films are worth seeing in their own right, but that the relationship between the three is more like the elements of a triptych depicting elements of life among outsiders in Helsinki (amongst other things) than simple "parts 1, 2 and 3" of a series.
shareIt's called the "loser-Trilogy" ending with "Lights in the Dusk". "Drifting Clouds" is the "first" part about unemployment and "The Man Without a Past" is about memory loss and building up a new life.
Though i didn't like "Lights" at all. The other ones i haven't seen.
JBrawata, you really should watch the other two and I also recommend "Ariel"--it's my personal favorite. I love Aki's movies and have collected almost all of them. The main problem being, here in the USA, it's very difficult to find them. If you're used to Hollywood shoot-em-up, spectacular special FX, beautiful movie stars, etc., Aki's movies are a huge contrast, a breath of fresh air and require paying attention, especially to details. I can watch them over and over and see new things each time. His movies are about the common people and their everyday lives, their struggles with day-to-day adversities.
shareThis is my 2nd AK film so I was a little disappointed that it didn't hit the heights of Man w/o a Past - but there were definitely a few similarities. But was surprised at just how downbeat the ending was - I'd expected some kind of comeuppance for the girl and her 'pimp'
"Wait till they get a load of me!"