Der Kreisel

Leningrad Cowboys play Kasakka in Aki Kaurismäki’s Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989).

They sure sound a lot like Detektivbyrån… or is it Detektivbyrån who sound like them?

These Boots (1993), directed by Aki Kaurismäki, cinematography by Timo Salminen.

The song is Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots Are Made for Walkin’, here played by the Leningrad Cowboys, who played at the 2007 European Film Awards if I recall.

These Boots tells “the Finnish history from 1952 to 1969” and begins with the birth of the main character. This combination of a short film and a music video goes through the most important events of the main character’s life: from his school years to marriage, from the daily grind of working life to the routines of farming and his father’s death, ending melancholically in a scene where the main character gives up farming as it no longer provides a living. Members of Leningrad Cowboys play important supporting roles in the scenes that depict these events.

It was either this or Reijo Taipale singing Satumaa and Kati Outinen looking cute at the tango joint, but I still haven’t watched the Proletariat Trilogy. What gives?

A match factory and a girl named Iiris, from Aki Kaurismäki’s The Match Factory Girl (1990).

Do you also find mechanical systems to be strangely soothing or hypnotic?

Yes, this is it for tonight.
Aki Kaurismäki’s Mies vailla menneisyyttä (The Man Without A Past, 2002).

In this beautifully shot scene, the jukebox is playing That Crawlin’ Baby Blues, by Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Heard a baby crying, what do this mama mean
Heard a baby crying, what do this mama mean
He’s crying ‘bout his sweet milk, and she won’t feed him Jersey cream

Well, he crawled from the fireplace, stopped in the middle of the floor
Well, he crawled from the fireplace, stopped in the middle of the floor
Says, “Mama, ain’t that your second daddy standing back there in the door?”

Well she grabbed my baby, spanked him and tried to make her leave him alone
Well she grabbed my baby, spanked him and tried to make her leave him alone
I tried my best to stop her and she said, “The babe ain’t none of mine”

The woman rocks the cradle,
I declare she rules the home
The woman rocks the cradle,
I declare she rules the home
Married man rocks some other man’s babe,
fool thinks he is rockin’ his own

Paha Vaanii by Marko Haavisto & Poutahaukat, from Academy-nominated Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki’s film Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) - The Man Without a Past.
Beautiful scene!

The video is dubbed in English but here are the original Finnish lyrics:

Mua paholainen vaanii joka kulman takana
Missä vain mä kuljen kuiskii kieli katala
Sen silmät mua katsoo olut lasin pohjalla
Sen hymyilevän huomaan vieraan tytön huulilla

Mua paholainen vaanii joka kulman takana
Minne vain mä kuljen on tuo tunne mukana
Kaiken aikaa onneni on vaakalaudalla
Jos se ei käy sisälle se oottaa ovella

Luoja auta pidä kurissa
Kaidalla tiellä poissa kiusauksista
Luoja auta vaikka tukista
Pidä mieli kirkkaana ja paita puhtaana

Tuo varjo aina auringosta osan piilottaa
Kauneimpiinkin uniin siipinensä liihottaa
Tänään kuljen hymyillen vaan tiedä tulevaa
Pelimme kun etenee vain päivä kerrallaan

Mua paholainen vaanii joka kulman takana
Minne vain mä kuljen on tuo tunne mukana
Alttiina oon silloin kun on mieli apea
Rakkaan luokse helpompaa lie pahaa paeta

Luoja auta pidä kurissa
Kaidalla tiellä poissa kiusauksista
Luoja auta vaikka tukista
Pidä mieli kirkkaana ja paita puhtaana