Aki Kaurismäki

Personal Info

Known For Director

Gender Male

Birthday 1957-04-04 (67 years old)

Place of Birth Orimattila, Finland

Also Known As Aki Olavi Kaurismäki, 아키 카우리스마키, Аки Каурисмяки, А́ки Ола́ви Ка́урисмяки, 아키 카우리스매키

Aki Kaurismäki

Biography

Aki Olavi Kaurismäki (Finnish: [ˈɑki ˈkɑu̯rismæki]; born 4 April 1957; Orimattila) is a Finnish film director, screenwriter, producer, editor and actor. He is best known for the award-winning Drifting Clouds (1996), The Man Without a Past (2002), Le Havre (2011), The Other Side of Hope (2017) and Fallen Leaves (2023), as well as for the mockumentary Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989). He is described as Finland's best-known film director. His is an older brother to Mika Kaurismäki. After graduating in media studies from the University of Tampere, Kaurismäki worked as a bricklayer, postman, and dish-washer, long before pursuing his interest in cinema, first as a critic, and later as a screenwriter & director. He started his career as a co-screenwriter and actor in films made by his older brother, Mika Kaurismäki. He played the main role in Mika's film The Liar (1981). Together they founded the production company Villealfa Filmproductions and later the Midnight Sun Film Festival. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment (1983), an adaptation of Dostoyevsky's novel set in modern Helsinki. He gained worldwide attention with Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989). Kaurismäki's film Ariel (1988) was entered into the 16th Moscow International Film Festival where it won the Prix FIPRESCI. Kaurismäki's most acclaimed film has been The Man Without a Past, which won the Grand Prix and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category in 2003. However, Kaurismäki refused to attend the Oscar ceremony, asserting that he did not feel like partying in a country that was in a state of war. Kaurismäki's next film Lights in the Dusk was also chosen to be Finland's nominee for best foreign-language film, but Kaurismäki again boycotted the awards and refused the nomination, as a protest against U.S. President George W. Bush's foreign policy. In 2002 Kaurismäki also boycotted the 40th New York Film Festival in a show of solidarity with the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, who was not given a US visa in time for the festival. Kaurismäki's 2017 film The Other Side of Hope won the Silver Bear for Best Director award at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. At the same festival he also announced that it would be his last film as a director, although the retirement was short-lived as he began filming another film, Fallen Leaves, in 2022, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.

Known For

Director

2023
Fallen Leaves

as Director

2017
2012
Historic Centre

as Director

2012
Tavern Man

as Director

2011
Le Havre

as Director

2007
2006
Lights in the Dusk

as Director

2004
Visions of Europe

as Director

2004
Bico

as Director

2002
1999
Juha

as Director

1996
Drifting Clouds

as Director

1995
Iron Horsemen

as Assistant Director

1994
1992
La Vie de Bohème

as Director

1990
1989
Dirty Hands

as Director

1988
Ariel

as Director

1987
1986
1986
Rocky VI

as Director

1985
Calamari Union

as Director

1984
The Clan: Tale of the Frogs

as Assistant Director

1983
1982
Jackpot 2

as Assistant Director

1982
The Worthless

as Assistant Director

1981
The Saimaa Gesture

as Director

Producer

2023
Fallen Leaves

as Producer

2017
2012
Historic Centre

as Producer

2012
Tavern Man

as Producer

2011
Barzakh

as Producer

2011
Le Havre

as Producer

2010
Bad Family

as Producer

2009
Jeanne d'Arc

as Producer

2007
2006
Lights in the Dusk

as Producer

2004
Visions of Europe

as Producer

2002
2001
The Classic

as Producer

2000
1999
1999
Juha

as Producer

1997
Vaiennut kylä

as Producer

1996
Drifting Clouds

as Producer

1995
Iron Horsemen

as Producer

1994
1993
1993
1993
Our Father…

as Producer

1992
Shit Happens

as Producer

1992
La Vie de Bohème

as Producer

1992
The Prodigal Son

as Producer

1990
1988
Ariel

as Producer

1987
1987
Macbeth

as Producer

1987
Tilinteko

as Producer

1986
Rocky VI

as Producer

1985
Calamari Union

as Producer

1981
The Saimaa Gesture

as Producer

Writer

2023
Fallen Leaves

as Writer

2012
Historic Centre

as Screenplay

2012
Tavern Man

as Writer

2011
Le Havre

as Writer

2008
Calamari Union

as Writer

2006
2004
1999
Juha

as Screenplay

1996
Drifting Clouds

as Writer

1994
1992
1990
1989
Dirty Hands

as Writer

1988
Ariel

as Writer

1987
Hamlet Goes Business

as Screenplay

1987
Tilinteko

as Writer

1986
Rocky VI

as Writer

1986
1985
Calamari Union

as Writer

1985
Rosso

as Dialogue

1984
1983
Crime and Punishment

as Screenplay

1982
Jackpot 2

as Writer

1982
The Worthless

as Dialogue

1982
The Worthless

as Screenplay

1981
The Liar

as Writer

1981

Actor

2023
2021
The Dinosaur

as Self

2018
Aki and Peter

as Himself

2017
Plankton Salesmen

as Self (archive footage)

2016
2015
2012
2011
2008
Crítico

as Self

2004
Aaltra

as Le patron Aaltra

1995
1995
Iron Horsemen

as Cadillac Man

1994
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses

as Factory Worker Imitating Chaplin (uncredited)

1993
1990
I Hired a Contract Killer

as Sunglasses Seller (uncredited)

1986
Shadows in Paradise

as Hotel Receptionist (uncredited)

1986
Rocky VI

as Magazine Photographer

1985
Ylösnousemus

as Taksikuski

1985
Calamari Union

as Hearse Driver (uncredited)

1982
The Worthless

as Ville Alfa

1981
The Liar

as Ville Alfa

Editor

2012
Historic Centre

as Editor

2012
Tavern Man

as Editor

2006
2004
1999
Juha

as Editor

1996
Drifting Clouds

as Editor

1992
The Parrot Man

as Editor

1986
Rocky VI

as Editor

1985
Calamari Union

as Editor

Crew

2016
John From

as Thanks

2008
2004
Whisky

as Thanks

Art

1982
Jackpot 2

as Production Design

1982
The Worthless

as Production Design

Costume & Make-Up

1982
Jackpot 2

as Costume Design

Visual Effects

1982
Jackpot 2

as Smoke Artist

Camera

1985
Rosso

as Key Grip