Drifting Clouds
1996 · Movie · NR · 97 min · ★ 7.6 · 95% critics
A resilient woman and her tram-driver husband lose their jobs and are pushed onto the streets of Helsinki. Facing repeated rejections and exploitation, they struggle to survive while a ray of hope keeps guiding them through the gloom.
Also known as Far Away the Clouds Escape
Where to watch
Streaming on The Criterion Channel.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Original title
- Kauas pilvet karkaavat
- Years
- 1996
- Release date
- 1996-01-26
- Language
- FI
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Critic score
- 95/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.6/10 (205 votes)
About
If you like quiet, deadpan stories about “little people” fighting for dignity, you may enjoy Drifting Clouds like The Man Without a Past or Le Havre; Not for you if you want upbeat realism or fast-moving thrills.
Pros: deadpan humor; hopeful grit; Helsinki hardship | Cons: subtle jokes; dated feel; tidy ending
Themes
- helsinki, finland
- husband wife relationship
- waitress
- restaurant
- unemployment
- laid off
Awards & recognition
- Jussi Award — Best Film · 1997
- International Submission to the Academy Awards · 1997 · nominated
Cast & crew
Kati Outinen
as Ilona
Kari Väänänen
as Lauri
Elina Salo
as Mrs. Sjöholm
Sakari Kuosmanen
as Melartin
Markku Peltola
as Lajunen
Matti Onnismaa
as Forsström
- SF
Shelley Fisher
as Pianist
- MA
Markus Allan
as Orchestra Member
- PG
Pauli Granfelt
as Orchestra Member
- KL
Kari Lindqvist
as Orchestra Member
Directed by Aki Kaurismäki