Hamlet goes Business
Hamlet Liikemaailmassa
Aki Kaurismäki
Ever since the death of Hamlet's father and the marriage of his widow Gertrude with Klaus, the family business has gone to pieces. Prey to his profound torment, Hamlet fakes madness and courts the young Ofelia. But when Klaus announces his intention to devote himself to the production of plastic ducks, Hamlet makes his move...
With : Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, Esko Salminen, Kati Outinen, Elina Salo, Esko Nikkari, Kari Väänänen, Hannu Valtonen, Mari Rantasila, Turo Pajala, Aake Kalliala, Pentti Auer, Matti Pellonpää
Screenplay : Aki Kaurismäki d'après "La tragédie d'Hamlet, prince de Danemark" de William Shakespeare
Image : Timo Salminen
Sound : Jouko Lumme, Veikko Aaltonen
Editing : Raija Talvio
Screenplay : Aki Kaurismäki d'après "La tragédie d'Hamlet, prince de Danemark" de William Shakespeare
Image : Timo Salminen
Sound : Jouko Lumme, Veikko Aaltonen
Editing : Raija Talvio
Production : Villealfa Film Productions
Distribution: Pyramide
Distribution: Pyramide
"Starting with identifiable characters, the filmmaker created a modern fiction that owes everything to its spirit and nothing to its detail. As regards the form, Kaurismäki uses a stark and luminous black and white, and a combination of dialogue and silent-film intertitles, giving the film a tone balanced skilfully between dark thriller and deadpan comedy, all within a décor straight from the 1950's. If certain experts will recognise an exploration of the pre- and post-war Finnish police film tradition, the real references are Brecht and Lang. Brecht in giving his clichéd characters an understanding of the world's economic and social organisation. Lang for the absolute dryness of tone that eliminates any pathos and cuts straight to the heart of the matter." (J. Roy)