Drifting Clouds: drift they may, but how dark they are while present. Aki Kaurismäki’s dramedy tells the story of a middle-aged couple who lose their jobs at the same time, due to the whims of capitalism, and need to adjust to continue with their lives. The tone is dry, and the overt emotionalism is kept to a minimum, yet the film still manages to be a very touching and rousing experience. Kati Outinen, an old hand with Kaurismäki’s style and a master of minimalist performances, is excellent; one scene where she quietly cries is particularly touching for those who know the whole context of the shot. Kari Väänänen, as her husband, is also quite good. They may be down, but they are not out. The rest of the cast is also very effective. Production designers Markku Pätilä and Jukka Salmi create a colourful world, even if a bit dilapidated, for the characters to live in, and that opposition is interesting. All of it is captured by the elegant camerawork of Timo Salminen. Kaurismäki himself edited, and the film has a very fine pace.