Schuld und Sühne (1983)

Schuld und Sühne: Directed by Aki Kaurismäki. With Markku Toikka, Aino Seppo, Esko Nikkari, Hannu Lauri. An adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s novel, set in modern Helsinki. Slaughterhouse worker Rahikainen murders a man, and is forced to live with the consequences of his actions.

“Normally, a filmmaker doesnu0026#39;t choose to adapt a literary classic for his first feature, as it might prove to be too hard. Aki Kaurismäki, on the other hand, did an excellent job with his directorial debut, a modern-day version of Dostoyevskjiu0026#39;s Crime and Punishment.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAt the beginning, weu0026#39;re guided through a slaughterhouse. This is where the protagonist, Antti Rahikainen (Markku Toikka), works. This particular environment suits the film, as it prepares us for its subsequent tone. Rahikainen takes the rest of the day off and breaks into an apartment. Once there, he kills an old man. Unfortunately, thereu0026#39;s a witness: Eeva Laakso (Aino Seppo), who however refuses to turn in the murderer, thinking he will himself confess the crime eventually.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOf course, that doesnu0026#39;t happen. Police inspector Pennanen (Esko Nikkari) is dead certain of Rahikainenu0026#39;s role in the story, given thereu0026#39;s a motive and all (the victim accidentally killed Rahikainenu0026#39;s fiancée by running her over with a car). But with no evidence and no collaboration from Eeva, there are few chances the killer will be arrested.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eKaurismäki has done a remarkable job on his first film, mostly because he nails the mood: he shows us the murkiest sides of Helsinki, and almost everyone depicted in the movie is cold and unemotional, a factor which adds to the unsettling nature of the story. Thereu0026#39;s little room for humor, with only a few exceptions: Rahikainenu0026#39;s best friend Nikander (Matti Pellonpää), struggling with English lessons, and the straight, serious delivery of some dialogue, most notably the first conversation between Rahikainen and Eeva (u0026quot;Whatu0026#39;s wrong with him?u0026quot; u0026quot;Nothing. Heu0026#39;s dead.u0026quot; u0026quot;How did he die?u0026quot; u0026quot;I killed him.u0026quot;).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAn excellent human drama, and also the beginning of a brilliant career. Those interested in Finnish cinema should give this a look.”