"Zombie and the Ghost train" starts off as a comedy, but as usual for the older Kaursmaki's sensibilities, it takes on a darker aspect pretty quickly. Annti purposefully gets himself thrown out of the army, then starts wandering around aimlessly, searching for something. Wonderful stuff, though there's not too much happening; there's the inevitable terseness of conversation and heavy drinking. Funny and sad in equal measures, it's a study in fatalistic decline and powerlessness and the ending is rather heartbreaking.
4 Reviews
Movie with a sad story, but a great atmosphere
tatsii1 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The actors are all amateurs (mostly musicians) and the plot isn't very complicated but Mika Kaurismäki has still succeeded in making a great movie about a sad figure, bassist called Zombie, who has problems with adapting to the world around him and therefore starts to drink too much alcohol.
The main character, Zombie, is played by bassist Silu Seppälä whose acting is very convincing - maybe because the character has been inspired by Silu himself as well as another Finnish bassist, Pulu (who has played in the legendary Finnish band Sleepy Sleepers).
One of the best things of this movie is the mystical side of it. First of all, quite a big part of the movie has been shot in Istabul where the atmosphere is very enigmatic. Another very mystical thing is The Ghost Train, a band which appears only in few scenes (in the title also!) and stays as a mystery to the viewer, but still plays an important role in the movie. Somehow it feels Silu and this mystical band are connected, although Kaurismäki doesn't show us a clear link.
I recommend Zombie and The Ghost Train especially to the fans of Kaurismäki brothers' films and also to everybody who digs music-related movies.
The main character, Zombie, is played by bassist Silu Seppälä whose acting is very convincing - maybe because the character has been inspired by Silu himself as well as another Finnish bassist, Pulu (who has played in the legendary Finnish band Sleepy Sleepers).
One of the best things of this movie is the mystical side of it. First of all, quite a big part of the movie has been shot in Istabul where the atmosphere is very enigmatic. Another very mystical thing is The Ghost Train, a band which appears only in few scenes (in the title also!) and stays as a mystery to the viewer, but still plays an important role in the movie. Somehow it feels Silu and this mystical band are connected, although Kaurismäki doesn't show us a clear link.
I recommend Zombie and The Ghost Train especially to the fans of Kaurismäki brothers' films and also to everybody who digs music-related movies.
dismal life
lee_eisenberg14 June 2013
Mika Kaurismäki's "Zombie ja Kummitusjuna" ("Zombie and the Ghost Train" in English) is the first movie that I've seen by either of the Kaurismäki brothers. I understand that the brothers make a lot of movies about people whose lives suck. If so, then this movie is familiar territory. The main character is a guy who's really into music, but has no ambition otherwise. He spends a lot of time drifting and living on the streets of Istanbul. Maybe the whole point of the movie is to present the antithesis of what Scandinavia (presumably including Finland) is supposed to be: the region is viewed as pristine and having the world's highest quality of life, but the Kaurismäki brothers portray it as a s---hole.
Don't get me wrong. I thought that it was a good movie. Just understand that it's a REAL downer. Still worth seeing, though.
PS: The Kaurismäki brothers are friends of Jim Jarmusch, and so some of the cast members from their movies starred in the Helsinki segment of Jarmusch's "Night on Earth".
Don't get me wrong. I thought that it was a good movie. Just understand that it's a REAL downer. Still worth seeing, though.
PS: The Kaurismäki brothers are friends of Jim Jarmusch, and so some of the cast members from their movies starred in the Helsinki segment of Jarmusch's "Night on Earth".
a little aimless but good - may contain minor "spoiler" but not too bad
leonard-toad2 February 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This is my favourite movie by Kaurismäki.. It always seems to be forgotten but I can't understand why? Maybe because it doesn't follow any formula.. Yes the comedy disappears pretty fast but that isn't necessarily bad. I like it very much and who wouldn't want to play in Harri and the mulefukkers? I would ditch my current band immediately! zombie himself seems more goth rock-oriented although he is a Hendrix-fan. I think it is hard for a young sad person to NOT identify with the main character although middle-aged parents might have a harder time. The Finnish army is known in Scandinavia for being the hardest for the reluctant conscripts. I like the difference of settings; from winter in Finland to sunny Istanbul. - an excellent road-movie..
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