Juha

Lame peasant Juha and his younger wife, Marja, live a modest but contented rural life. One day, Shemeikka shows up, asking for help with his broken-down sports car. Marja follows him to the big city and ends up trapped in a brothel. This odd drama of love, betrayal, jealousy, and revenge was shot as a silent film with music to suit every emotional mood. Aki Kaurismäki, the maestro of laconic minimalism, pays homage to his great role model, Charlie Chaplin – and with him, to Kati Outinen. The actor once again proves that she doesn’t need big words or gestures to captivate the audience. Marja’s innocent laughter early on tells the story of the idyllic togetherness of the couple’s simple life. Her look turns sheepish when a seductive Shemeikka looks her over from head to toe, and dark when he tries to force her to work as a bar girl. But like other Kati Outinen heroines, Marja faces up to her destiny and unflinchingly gazes into the camera.