Fallen Leaves (Kuolleet lehdet - 2023)

Yes, it's slow, it's in Finnish with subtitles, and my Finnish friend Maija didn't like it, but I enjoyed the cringey dry humor in this story of two lonely people, one a woman diligently working hand to mouth and the other a blue collar worker who repeatedly gets fired because of his drinking. Not for everyone, but the movie has eight wins, including the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes, and fifty other nominations.

Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatenen play the introverted leads who don't talk to each other much, but each has a confidante so we know what they're thinking. Aki Kaurismäki directs from his original script.

No composer is credited. The songs range from karaoke (they meet at a karaoke bar) to classical to pop to traditional and more. In one scene they go to a theatre and watch the zombie comedy The Dead Don’t Die.

Cinematographer Timo Salminen provides the photography ranging from drab to lush.

Kaurismäki was last blogged for Le Havre and the others are new to me.

Rotten Tomatoes' critics are falling for this (as I did) with a 97% average, but its audiences (like Maija) are not, at 58. I rented it on Apple TV/iTunes on February 16.