Nikander, a rubbish collector and would-be entrepreneur, finds his plans for success dashed when his business associate dies. One evening, he meets Ilona, a down-on-her-luck cashier, in a local supermarket. Falteringly, a bond begins to develop between them.
- 7.3
- 1986
- Released
- 1h 14m
Matti Pellonpää
Nikander
Kati Outinen
Ilona
Sakari Kuosmanen
Melartin
Esko Nikkari
Nikander's Co-Worker
Kylli Köngäs
Ilona's Friend
Pekka Laiho
Store Manager
Jukka-Pekka Palo
Third Man
Svante Korkiakoski
Police Officer
Mari Rantasila
Nikander's SisterSafka Pekkonen
Pianist
Mato Valtonen
Pelle
Sakke Järvenpää
StaffanUlla Kuosmanen
Melartin's WifeNeka Haapanen
CookPentti Koski
SingerAri Korhonen
Man in RestaurantTeuvo Rissanen
Police OfficerErkki Rissanen
PorterSirkka Silin
Woman in RestaurantMarina Martinoff
HostessJussi Tiitinen
Garbage Man / BartenderRiikka Kuosmanen
Melartin's DaughterEskil Mansikka
Keyboardist (uncredited)Jaakko Talaskivi
Guard (uncredited)Bertta Pellonpää
Bingo Player (uncredited)Helmeri Pellonpää
Bingo Player (uncredited)Tanja Talaskivi
Woman in Cinema (uncredited)![Harri Marstio - Älä Kiiruhda [HQ]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bOYvq-Sj4Ls/hqdefault.jpg)
Released
fi
- #helsinki, finland
- #salesclerk
- #garbage
Reviews
Released in 1986, Aki Kaurismaki's <i>Varjoja paratiisissa</i> (Shadows in Paradise) is one of the Finnish filmmaker's earliest efforts, and it stands as one of the most idiosyncratic romantic comedies of all time. The painfully shy Nikander (Matti Pellonpää), a garbage man, means the moody Ilona, a supermarket checkout girl. The film tracks their bumbling attempt to establish a lasting relationsh