DRIFTING CLOUDS

SYNOPSIS:
Deadpan comedy about love and unemployment. No longer in their youth, and living in a house full of buy-now pay-later furniture, Ilona and Lauri (and loyal dog Pietari) face their sudden predicament with an unusual but infectious brand of optimism. Ilona loses her job as head waiter at the Helsinki restaurant, when it is taken over by new owners. At the same time, Lauri is made redundant in his bus-driving job. It’s not easy to find new employment, especially if you are nearly 40.

"Filmed with stylised realism, Drifting Clouds is an unusual film, which uses stilted expressionless acting styles, stark production design with an accent on the use of colour, and a series of scenes which follow each other to tell the story.

There are long pauses and silences; emotions are not portrayed in the script, but by the lyrics of songs which punctuate the action. Bleakly funny in a droll way, the characters are almost mechanical, and it is not until we are used to the film style that we begin to engage and empathise with them.

The unusual relationship between Ilona (Kati Outinen is haunting) and Lauri is quite compelling: they desperately need each other, but theirs is a union where emotions are never shown. The most we get is a stiffly outstretched hand offering a bunch of flowers. Ilona has the strength, perseverance and determination, while Lauri finds the supportive role easier to bear. Drifting Clouds is an interesting and gentle film about life’s disappointments and the journey in looking for the light at the end of the tunnel."
Louise Keller