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The Man Without a Past

Play trailer Poster for The Man Without a Past PG-13 2003 1h 37m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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98% Tomatometer 97 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
After a brutal beating in a Helsinki park, a middle-aged welder (Markku Peltola) falls into a coma. When he wakes up, he cannot recollect a single detail about his life. Unable to provide information to the authorities, the man has no legal way to regain his life. He finds a community of homeless people, and creates a home out of a metal container. He eventually meets Irma (Kati Outinen), a Salvation Army worker, and they fall in love while he rebuilds a life with new friends and a new job.
The Man Without a Past

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Critics Consensus

Kaurismäki delivers another droll comedy full of his trademark humor.

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Critics Reviews

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Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel 08/29/2003
4/5
Kaurismaki's movies can tickle you with the briefest of statements, the smallest of gestures. Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 06/27/2003
3.5/4
At the end of The Man Without a Past, I felt a deep but indefinable contentment. Go to Full Review Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune 06/27/2003
4/4
A powerful film made with minimal means, it's a story of poor people on the fringes of society, done without sentimentality or condescension but with wicked humor. Go to Full Review Farah Cheded A Good Movie To Watch 09/02/2023
It’s not often a movie can so persuasively reassure us of people’s inherent goodness, but it’s even rarer still for it to be done with as much deceptive, charming simplicity as here. Go to Full Review Barbara Majsa barbaramajsa.com 02/22/2020
M is a multilayered character. He is both an outcast and an artist, but he could be much more. He is no one and everyone, and Helsinki for him is nothing and everything. Go to Full Review Jeffrey Overstreet Christianity Today 03/16/2019
B+
With its rusty railroads and dingy metal canisters where the downtrodden dwell, [this film] finds color, surprise, and joy in the simplicity of struggling Helsinki outcasts. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 06/21/2025 Funny in 1 hour and 37 minutes!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Some Violence!!!!!!!!!!!! In Finnish and English audio versions with English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $921,500.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Sergio A @Sergio83 06/09/2025 This is definitely what cinema is all about See more Thomas S @RT53929595 03/08/2025 A film of infinite poetry, which improves with each viewing. This kind of humor served with a straight face really hits home. Ari Kaurismäki's soundtracks are such an inspiration that I started learning Finnish to understand them better. See more Brad CKA L @RT22936844 11/26/2024 Wow! Rotten Tomatoes with the deep cut. Also, like, I'm pretty sure this man had a past. Just sayin's all. This movie is somehow so serious it's hilarious. Sort of like Finland in general. Check out my longer review: https://youtu.be/6bGH8Qhm-Q8?si=I5VC5MQnQdUtIvho See more Amit S @RT93250981 11/14/2024 The film talks about a philosophy that life has nothing to do with our memories. Life has life of its own. That being said, the subtle use of Rock n Roll as a metaphor was the masterstroke imho. Must watch and absolutely brilliant. See more Cam H @RT71510397 05/23/2024 This movie should go down as once of the greatest films made. I’m obsessed with this movie See more Read all reviews
The Man Without a Past

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Cast & Crew

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Aki Kaurismäki

Director

Markku Peltola

M

Kati Outinen

Irma

Juhani Niemelä

Nieminen

Kaija Pakarinen

Kaisa

Sakari Kuosmanen

Anttila

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The Man Without a Past

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Movie Info

Synopsis After a brutal beating in a Helsinki park, a middle-aged welder (Markku Peltola) falls into a coma. When he wakes up, he cannot recollect a single detail about his life. Unable to provide information to the authorities, the man has no legal way to regain his life. He finds a community of homeless people, and creates a home out of a metal container. He eventually meets Irma (Kati Outinen), a Salvation Army worker, and they fall in love while he rebuilds a life with new friends and a new job.
Director
Aki Kaurismäki
Producer
Aki Kaurismäki
Screenwriter
Aki Kaurismäki
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Pyramide Productions, Sputnik Oy, Bavaria Film, Yleisradio, Pandora Filmproduktion
Rating
PG-13 (Some Violence)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
Finnish
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 4, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 28, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$921.5K
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)