I can imagine it's disturbing to you fans of Kaurismaki bleakness that he should be making a Christmas movie, but after all Bob Dylan and Kiki and Herb have played on the same bandstand. Still, be warned, his characters here are respectable, and not three alcoholics as a plot summary may suggest. They have reasons for being out on the town on Christmas Eve, when it seems absolutely everybody in Helsinki is somewhere watching or singing hymns and carols. You may sigh with relief there's none of that in the karaoke bar they bribe to stay open, and lean back to relish well acted improvisations as the guys gradually spill out complex dilemmas in the face of seasonal expectations.
Review of Kolme viisasta miestä
