Shadows in Paradise: Aki Kaurismäki’s sorrowful and dry little drama follows a garbage man who loses his co-worker and best friend, and tries to enter into a relationship with a supermarket cashier. The delivery is unemotional, but that lack of acting artifact raises the emotional impact of watching the two characters who have a rather empty life trying to make a go at it. Matti Pellonpää, as the man who all of a sudden has something to aim for, and Kati Outinen, as the inconstant woman he falls for, are both quite good within that particular framework. Aesthetically, the art direction of Pertti Hilkamo and Heikki Ukkonen opposes the grey exteriors and empty, broken interiors with dashes of vivid colour, creating an interesting and meaningful set of images. Cinematographer Timo Salminen lights it beautifully and the dynamic camera is quite elegant. The use of music, ranging from Finnish rock songs to classic blues, is very effective.