Magic master - and Jussi&Alma fit perfectly for the roles of this film. Every picture is an artpiece of colors and settings including the details. You need no words to make a great movie (Chaplin is one of his inspiration source). And those selected do nail the issue. Faces are important and the whole world of his. Liken also the rough rope for the dog ; )
A Finnish person here. I saw Kaurismäki's Drifting Clouds in Ireland, I think I was the only one in the audience who laughed. After the movie, I was asked if Finns really are like the ones in the movie :) Since then, I've been hoping that Kaurismäki would bring something new to the table besides the socially awkward Finns. Kind of old joke I think.
The "cultural" element made us non Finns sometimes be hesitant if we should laugh or cry... the lack of emotions shown externally living in a Mediterranean country... but the film was beautiful. Loved it.