Aki Kaurismaki returns with this beautiful minimalist comedy-drama, the second instalment of his port cities trilogy that began with his 2011 film Le Havre. The Other Side of Hope narrates the encounter of two men who want to start a new life: a shirt salesman determined to open his own restaurant and a young refugee who arrives from Syria on a ship in search of his sister.   

Kaurismaki remains loyal to his trademark style, characterized by a sort of absurd humour and the interpretative sobriety of his actors. In this work he seems to be more interested than usual in showing present day events, shining a light on them with optimism.

“In this film I have made a conscious effort to break the European vision of refugees as pathetic victims or arrogant emigrants who invade our countries to take our job, our wife, our house and our car”, explained the director.

Winner of the Silver Bear for Best Director in the Berlin International Film Festival in 2017, The Other Side of Hope achieves the goal that Kaurismaki sets for all of his films: that the viewers leave the cinema happier than when they came in.

The Finnish director has announced this will be his last movie. So let’s enjoy The Other Side of Hope, hoping that he will change his mind, because the world really needs work like Kaurismaki´s!  

2017

- Festival de Berlim:  

Urso de Prata Melhor Realizador

- Festival de Munique:

Melhor Realizador Internacional

- Festival de San Sebastián:

FIPRESCI Filme do Ano

- Luxembourg City Film Festival:

Grande Prémio

- Prémios do Cinema Europeu:

Nomeado Melhor Filme e Melhor Realizador