The Man Without a Past
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The Man Without a Past
2002
Romance
Comedy
1h 37m
The second installation of Aki Kaurismäki's "Finland Trilogy," this touching and amusing film portrays a man who must start his life anew when he is brutally mugged and loses his memory. (Sony Pictures Classics)
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The Man Without a Past
2002
Romance
Comedy
1h 37m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 66.47% from 1096 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
(1102)
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Rated 20 May 2008
85
73rd
An unusual film. It's very cold and detached and yet it ends up feeling very sweet. There's no question that amnesia as a plot device is fairly played out by now, but Kaurismäki puts an interesting spin on it in that the main character takes his memory loss in his stride to a surprising extent.
Rated 20 May 2008
Rated 17 Mar 2012
53
39th
Essentially, it's neither an artistic achievement -- a tale of dignity or the importance of care and kindness, some might say --, nor a deadpan comedy, some sort of european Wes Anderson with an european cool soundtrack. The thing is: Kaurismaki's still camera seems to be picturing not just a touching story of a nameless man trying to get back on track, but a dull sense of epic greatness or filmmaking poetry. I found that very pretentious.
Rated 17 Mar 2012
Rated 07 Feb 2007
86
87th
Amnesia is a hackneyed device, but it's refreshing to see a movie where the victim isn't laser-focused on recovering his memory. Instead, the amnesia (besides being a bureaucratic headache) serves as a springboard to a new personality. Ultimately, the film raises questions about the nature of identity. It takes a while to generate interest, the laughs are kinda far apart, and there's not enough Kati Outinen in it. But it's a sweet story with likeable characters and a tender romance.
Rated 07 Feb 2007
Rated 20 Feb 2011
91
92nd
A subtle but hilarious comedy drama about a man who loses his memory and everything he has, to create new friendships and a new life. Although it is so subdued, there's a lot of emotion here.
Rated 20 Feb 2011
Rated 20 Jan 2017
10
98th
Facing a bleak and chaotic existence with irreverence, stoicism and compassion. Cure for all ills.
Rated 20 Jan 2017
Rated 12 Mar 2013
85
80th
Very detached and unsentimental, and yet also really sweet. It has some wonderful dry humour to it, and manages to take the story in more interesting directions than you'd expect. The only thing holding it back is that it can at times feel like a collection of scenes that don't totally coalesce, but considering how much I enjoyed it this is a minor complaint.
Rated 12 Mar 2013
Rated 03 Nov 2010
80
83rd
A lovely film about human kindness and the inhumanity of institutions, completely unsentimental and laced with bone-dry Finnish humour. A treat.
Rated 03 Nov 2010
Rated 27 Jun 2010
88
96th
In the second installation of the Finland AKA Loser trilogy, Kaurismäki utilizes a premise as old as Random Harvest (1942) - man loses identity due to amnesia - but with magnificent results. Characteristically, it is a kind film about a harsh reality, with Kati Outinen exploding with talent in her supporting role. One of the director's brightest, most amusing and riveting works.
Rated 27 Jun 2010
Rated 17 Jul 2008
94
97th
A man walks off a train and is mugged. Left for dead multiple times, he survives but has amnesia. Without a past, he builds from scratch. But when he finishes assembling a life he's not sure he'd choose to the old one, even if he could figure it out. A compelling movie. Very humanistic and believable. Highly recommended.
Rated 17 Jul 2008
Rated 18 May 2021
6
86th
"if you see me face down in the gutter, turn me onto my back"
Rated 18 May 2021
Rated 04 Mar 2022
62
22nd
More a rough assemblage of incidents than a firmly plotted drama, which might have worked better if Peltola’s performance wasn’t so inscrutable – with an empty void as the lead, this makes the rest of the characters difficult to relate to, or ultimately to find compelling; there comes a point where the arch and pretentious presentation drives a wedge between the film and the audience. An interesting idea to present a memory-loss story where the memory-loss becomes an almost redundant MacGuffin.
Rated 04 Mar 2022
Rated 01 Dec 2023
63
83rd
A man finds closure and starts over, changing the lives of those he meets along the way, who also change his life through their kindness. It's a tad drab at points, but it doesn't take away from its charms as a non-conventional comedy. Hannibal deserves the world.
Rated 01 Dec 2023
Rated 05 Jan 2023
80
85th
I have really grown to enjoy Kaurismäki's style of deadpan humor. The way the characters talk and think and act, it's very wry and comes out completely unnatural like it's a stage play. It brings a lot to the story and it makes the scenes way funny a lot of the time. It's difficult to explain, but it just works. The story is compelling, showing us someone trying to climb from the very bottom to reach for life again.
Rated 05 Jan 2023
Rated 08 Jul 2022
75
54th
O Homem Sem Passado estreava há 20 anos no Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Eu gostava mais da primeira metade da carreira do Kaurismaki (anos 80 e 90), os filmes dele dos últimos 20 anos perderam alguma coisa que não sei exatamente o quê, mas que faz uma falta danada. BlurayRip no MakingOff.
Rated 08 Jul 2022
Rated 06 Jul 2013
94
75th
Artistically nice movie; a man and his daily struggles to survive
Rated 06 Jul 2013
Rated 01 Oct 2013
100
97th
Kaurismäki jumps up higher in my list of directors I've seen work of with this and Lights in the Dusk (2006), this film both incredibly hilarious and unbelievably touching. In its deadpan nature is nonetheless touches one's heart, thus proving romance doesn't have to be portrayed as maudlin, as much as amnesia as a plot doesn't have to feel unoriginal as it is shown here. Its great art even if the director he's sarcastic and ironic at points.
Rated 01 Oct 2013
Rated 28 Apr 2014
60
57th
If you manage to sit through the first 20 minutes or so it actually becomes quite charming.
Rated 28 Apr 2014
Rated 21 Feb 2016
10
49th
Star Rating: ★★★
Rated 21 Feb 2016
Rated 12 Aug 2021
77
75th
Host ratings: - / 80 / 77. Podcast review link: https://rydeorwrong.podcaster.de/rydeorwrong/folge-061-der-mann-ohne-vergangenheit-2002/
Rated 12 Aug 2021
Rated 15 Nov 2011
79
80th
Probably the best Kaurismäki film I've seen in recent years. A both bleak and warm Prince Mushkin-style story about a man who, after being beaten within an inch of his life, loses his memory and tries to survive as a homeless man in Helsinki.
Rated 15 Nov 2011
Rated 17 Feb 2020
80
74th
A very funny entry in the subgenre of Scandinavian comedies with taciturn and quirky characters. Extremely low-key in terms of plot, but you'll grow to love these characters. Surprisingly heartwarming for a movie that opens with a violent mugging.
Rated 17 Feb 2020
Rated 25 Feb 2020
77
77th
Very funny tale of a man who gets another chance at life after loosing his memory after a violent mugging. Along the way he meets a charming cast of quirky characters in the outskirts of Helsinki's hobo community. The ending is surprisingly wholesome and heartwarming.
Rated 25 Feb 2020
Rated 15 Oct 2020
94
93rd
The best work from finnish director/writer Aki Kaurismäki. With this movie we can enjoy the trip of a man who's memory is totally lost after brutal beating. Even there is some sadness present all the time, this trip is pure bliss to viewers. One of the best movies of 2002.
Rated 15 Oct 2020
Rated 03 Sep 2010
87
87th
Simultaneously light and dark, sweet and harsh, it's a unique experience that's enjoyable even while it distances you.
Rated 03 Sep 2010
Rated 22 Apr 2007
95
96th
A hard movie for non-Finns dialogue-wise. It's most of its - and most of Kaurismäki films - charm.
Rated 22 Apr 2007
Rated 27 Apr 2008
10
97th
Wow, great acting from all, great script.. Kaurismäki is just undescribably good.
Rated 27 Apr 2008
Rated 12 Mar 2009
83
82nd
Existential black comedy contrasts society's emphasis on the importance of identity with the individual and idiosyncratic imprint that makes each of us unique. Fascinating and funny.
Rated 12 Mar 2009
Rated 17 Jul 2009
71
52nd
Mies vailla menneisyyttä: 8 // 7 // 4 // 9 // 9 // 6 // 7
Rated 17 Jul 2009
Rated 13 Oct 2009
65
44th
The acting felt quite detached, and sometimes stiff, which made it hard to relate to a lot of what was happening. It's nice that the memory loss cliché for once didn't lead towards some final life-affirming / shocking reveal. There is a certain charm to this movie about starting anew among the dregs, but it never managed to really draw me in.
Rated 13 Oct 2009
Rated 08 Apr 2010
85
90th
Saw it in 2002 so can't say I remember it all that clearly, but I do remember considering it brilliant at the time.
Rated 08 Apr 2010
Rated 14 Sep 2010
66
88th
#02#, reviews, story
Rated 14 Sep 2010
Rated 07 Apr 2011
25
61st
"Though his engagement of silent idiom recalls Chaplin, his leisurely pacing brings to mind Jarmusch." - Ed Gonzalez
Rated 07 Apr 2011
Rated 29 Jul 2011
77
60th
My first Aki Kaurismäki film ... and it was great!
Rated 29 Jul 2011
Rated 04 Aug 2011
80
81st
...and I always thought this is a sad movie about sad people. I was wrong.
Rated 04 Aug 2011
Rated 03 Nov 2011
83
69th
I was never a big fan of Kaurismaki's, always felt he's a bit pretentious and over the top, but I liked this one. Charming.
Rated 03 Nov 2011
Rated 19 Feb 2012
80
88th
A very touching film by Aki Kaurismäki.
Rated 19 Feb 2012
Rated 13 Aug 2012
75
83rd
Kaurismaki's deadpan brilliance makes for a thoroughly original take on the familiar man-gets-hit-on-head-and-loses-memory plot device.
Rated 13 Aug 2012
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