 |
Aku LouhimiesDirector
Country:
 Finland |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Filmmaking Career
- Feature Films
- Comparison with Aki Kaurismäki
- Recent Work
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Aki Kaurismäki was born and raised in Orimattila, Finland. He studied history at the University of Helsinki and later graduated from the University of Art and Design Helsinki with a degree in film.
Filmmaking Career
Short Films and Early WorkKaurismäki began his filmmaking career in the 1980s, directing short films, documentaries, and music videos. He also directed several episodes of the television series "Kotikatu" and "Sydänten akatemia."
Feature Films
Kaurismäki's first feature film, "Levottomat," was released in 2000 and competed in the main competition of the Moscow International Film Festival. He gained wider recognition for his films "Paha maa" (2005) and "Vuosaari" (2012), which both won Jussi Awards for Best Direction. "Paha maa" also won the Jussi for Best Screenplay.
Comparison with Aki Kaurismäki
Kaurismäki has often compared his work to that of fellow Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki, noting that while he admires Kaurismäki's films, he prefers to focus on realism and contemporary life rather than the idealized world depicted in Kaurismäki's movies.
Recent Work
In 2017, Kaurismäki's film "Tuntematon sotilas" (The Unknown Soldier) was released in Finland and became a critical and commercial success, with over 1 million ticket sales. He is also currently working on his first English-language film, titled "Clearance."
Personal Life
Kaurismäki was married to actress Laura Malmivaara from 2003 to 2010. They had two daughters together, Alma (born 2004) and Aino (born 2006). In 2009, Kaurismäki was diagnosed with cancer of the tonsils and underwent treatment.
In 2018, several actresses publicly accused Kaurismäki of abusive behavior on set, sparking a #MeToo investigation. The allegations were eventually dismissed by the Finnish Film Association.
