Highest rated as cast or director
Biography
Aki Olavi Kaurismäki (Finnish: [ˈɑki ˈkɑu̯rismæki]; born April 4,1957; Orimattila) is a Finnish film director, screenwriter, producer, editor and actor. He is best known for the award-winning Drifting Clouds (1996), The Man Without a Past (2002), Le Havre (2011), The Other Side of Hope (2017) and Fallen Leaves (2023), as well as for the mockumentary Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989). He is described as Finland's best-known film director. He is the younger brother of director and screenwriter Mika Kaurismäki. After graduating in media studies from the University of Tampere, Kaurismäki worked as a bricklayer, postman, and dish-washer, long before pursuing his interest in cinema, first as a critic, and later as a screenwriter & director. He started his career as a co-screenwriter and actor in films made by his older brother, Mika Kaurismäki. He played the main role in Mika's film The Liar (1981). Together they founded the production company Villealfa Filmproductions and later the Midnight Sun Film Festival. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment (1983), an adaptation of Dostoyevsky's novel set in modern Helsinki. He gained worldwide attention with Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989). Kaurismäki's film Ariel (1988) was entered into the 16th Moscow International Film Festival where it won the Prix FIPRESCI. Kaurismäki's most acclaimed film has been The Man Without a Past, which won the Grand Prix and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category in 2003. However, Kaurismäki refused to attend the Oscar ceremony, asserting that he did not feel like partying in a country that was in a state of war. Kaurismäki's next film, Lights in the Dusk, was also chosen to be Finland's nominee for best foreign-language film, but Kaurismäki again boycotted the awards and refused the nomination, as a protest against U.S. President George W. Bush's foreign policy. In 2002 Kaurismäki also boycotted the 40th New York Film Festival in a show of solidarity with the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, who was not given a US visa in time for the festival. Kaurismäki's 2017 film The Other Side of Hope won the Silver Bear for Best Director award at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. At the same festival he also announced that it would be his last film, although the retirement was short-lived as he began filming Fallen Leaves in 2022, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.
Directed 36
2020s
- 2023
2010s
- 2017
- 2015
Dirty Hands
Director
- 2013
Bluesia Pieksämäen asemalla
Director
- 2012
Historic Centre
Director
- 2011
2000s
- 2007
The Foundry
Director
- 2006
- 2004
Visions of Europe
Director
- 2002
Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet
Director
Dogs Have No Hell
Director
1990s
- 1999
Juha
Director
- 1996
Drifting Clouds
Director
- 1995
Iron Horsemen
Assistant Director
- 1994
Total Balalaika Show
Director
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Director
Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana
Director
- 1992
La Vie de Bohème
Director
- 1991
Leningrad Cowboys: Those Were the Days
Director
- 1990
I Hired a Contract Killer
Director
1980s
- 1989
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Director
- 1988
- 1987
Hamlet Goes Business
Director
- 1986
Rocky VI
Director
- 1985
- 1984
The Clan: Tale of the Frogs
Assistant Director
- 1983
Crime and Punishment
Director
- 1982
The Worthless
Assistant Director
Jackpot 2
Assistant Director
- 1981
The Saimaa Gesture
Director
Produced 40
2020s
- 2023
2010s
- 2017
- 2013
Bluesia Pieksämäen asemalla
Producer
- 2012
Historic Centre
Producer
- 2011
Barzakh
Producer
- 2010
Bad Family
Producer
2000s
- 2009
Jeanne d'Arc
Producer
- 2007
- 2006
- 2004
Visions of Europe
Producer
- 2002
Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet
Producer
Dogs Have No Hell
Producer
- 2001
The Classic
Producer
- 2000
1990s
- 1999
Juha
Producer
- 1997
Vaiennut kylä
Producer
- 1996
Drifting Clouds
Producer
- 1995
Iron Horsemen
Producer
- 1994
Total Balalaika Show
Producer
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Producer
Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana
Producer
- 1993
Our Father…
Producer
Ripa Hits the Skids
Producer
- 1992
The Prodigal Son
Producer
La Vie de Bohème
Producer
- 1990
I Hired a Contract Killer
Producer
1980s
- 1989
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Producer
- 1988
- 1987
Hamlet Goes Business
Producer
Tilinteko
Producer
Macbeth
Producer
- 1986
Rocky VI
Producer
- 1985
- 1981
The Saimaa Gesture
Producer
Wrote 39
2020s
- 2023
2010s
- 2017
- 2015
Dirty Hands
Writer
- 2013
Bluesia Pieksämäen asemalla
Writer
- 2012
Historic Centre
Screenplay
- 2011
2000s
- 2008
Calamari Union
Writer
- 2007
The Foundry
Writer
- 2006
- 2004
Visions of Europe
Writer
- 2002
Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet
Writer
Dogs Have No Hell
Writer
1990s
- 1999
Juha
Screenplay
- 1996
Drifting Clouds
Writer
- 1994
Total Balalaika Show
Writer
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Screenplay, Story
Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana
Writer
- 1992
La Vie de Bohème
Screenplay
- 1991
Leningrad Cowboys: Those Were the Days
Writer
- 1990
I Hired a Contract Killer
Screenplay, Story
1980s
- 1989
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Screenplay, Story
- 1988
- 1987
Hamlet Goes Business
Screenplay
Tilinteko
Writer
- 1986
Rocky VI
Writer
- 1985
- 1984
The Clan: Tale of the Frogs
Screenplay
- 1983
Crime and Punishment
Screenplay
- 1982
The Worthless
Dialogue, Writer
Jackpot 2
Writer
- 1981
The Saimaa Gesture
Writer
The Liar
Writer
Edited 17
2010s
- 2012
Historic Centre
Editor
2000s
- 2007
The Foundry
Editor
- 2006
- 2004
Visions of Europe
Editor
- 2002
Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet
Editor
Dogs Have No Hell
Editor
1990s
- 1999
Juha
Editor
- 1996
Drifting Clouds
Editor
- 1994
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Editor
Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana
Editor
- 1992
- 1991
Leningrad Cowboys: Those Were the Days
Editor
- 1990
I Hired a Contract Killer
Editor
1980s
- 1986
Rocky VI
Editor
- 1985
Acted in 15
2000s
- 2004
- 2000
1990s
- 1995
Iron Horsemen
Cadillac Man
- 1994
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Factory Worker Imitating Chaplin (uncredited)
- 1992
- 1990
I Hired a Contract Killer
Sunglasses Seller (uncredited)
1980s
- 1986
Rocky VI
Magazine Photographer
- 1985
Ylösnousemus
Taksikuski
Viimeiset rotannahat
Movie
- 1983
Huhtikuu on kuukausista julmin
Ville Alfa
- 1982
The Worthless
Ville Alfa
Jackpot 2
Movie
- 1981
The Liar
Ville Alfa
Art department 2
1980s
- 1982
The Worthless
Production Design
Jackpot 2
Production Design
Lighting 2
1980s
- 1986
Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan
Gaffer
- 1985
Costume and makeup 1
1980s
- 1982
Jackpot 2
Costume Design
Visual effects 1
1980s
- 1982
Jackpot 2
Smoke Artist
Sound 1
1980s
- 1986
Appearances17
2020s
- 2023
- 2021
The Dinosaur
Self
2010s
- 2018
Aki and Peter
Himself
- 2017
- 2015
Valokeilassa Atte Blom
Self
- 2014
Il était une fois... Le Havre
himself
- 2012
A Special Day
Self
- 2011
Bohemian Eyes
Self
2000s
- 2008
Critic
Self
- 2001
Léaud l'unique
Self - filmmaker
Aki Kaurismäki
Self
1990s
- 1995
I Am Curious, Film
Self
- 1993
Talking with Ozu
Self
- 1992
Where Is Musette?
Self
- 1991
Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only: Aki Kaurismäki
Self
1980s
- 1981
The Saimaa Gesture
Self - Interviewer (uncredited)
Thanked in the credits4
2020s
- 2024
Jean-Pierre Léaud: The Child of Cinema
Thanks
2010s
- 2016
John From
Thanks
2000s
- 2008
- 2004
Whisky
Thanks
