Calamari Union

Calamari Union is a 1985 Finnish surreal^[1] comedy film, the second full-length film by the director Aki Kaurismäki. The film's cast includes well-known Finnish actors and rock musicians.

Calamari Union
Film poster
Directed by	Aki Kaurismäki
Written by	Aki Kaurismäki
Produced by	Aki Kaurismäki
Starring	Timo Eränkö Kari Heiskanen Asmo Hurula Sakke Järvenpää Sakari Kuosmanen Dave Lindholm Mikko Mattila Pate Mustajärvi Tuomari Nurmio Pirkka-Pekka Petelius Matti Pellonpää Pertti Sveholm Martti Syrjä Pantse Syrjä Markku Toikka Mato Valtonen Puntti Valtonen Kari Väänänen
Cinematography	Timo Salminen
Edited by	Aki Kaurismäki Raija Talvio
Music by	Aki Kaurismäki Mikko Mattila Jone Takamäki Casablanca Vox
Production company	Villealfa Filmproductions
Distributed by	Finnkino
Release date	8 February 1985 (1985-02-08)
Running time	81 minutes
Country	Finland
Language	Finnish

Plot

Fifteen desperate men named Frank band together to escape from the repressive Kallio district of Helsinki. An English-speaking man named Pekka joins the bar room conspirators, whose avoidance of last names helps them outsmart obstructing forces as they sneak through dark alleys and the tunnels of the Helsinki metro. Taking advantage of the night, their goal is to reach the magical seaside district of Eira.

Cast

• Timo Eränkö (Lapinlahden Linnut)
• Kari Heiskanen
• Asmo Hurula
• Sakke Järvenpää (Sleepy Sleepers, Leningrad Cowboys)
• Sakari Kuosmanen (Juice Leskinen Grand Slam)
• Dave Lindholm
• Mikko Mattila
• Pate Mustajärvi (Popeda)
• Tuomari Nurmio
• Pirkka-Pekka Petelius
• Matti Pellonpää
• Pertti Sveholm
• Martti Syrjä (Eppu Normaali)
• Pantse Syrjä (Eppu Normaali)
• Markku Toikka
• Mato Valtonen (Sleepy Sleepers, Leningrad Cowboys)
• Puntti Valtonen (Juice Leskinen Grand Slam)
• Kari Väänänen

Reception

An absurdist comedy,^[2] the film is considered to be a satirical cult classic.^[3] Caryn James of The New York Times described the film as "gleefully absurdist", adding that Kaurismäki "takes over the American gangster film and flavors it with his improbable humor".^[4] Others have drawn connections between The Saimaa Gesture and Calamari Union and the Finnish punk movement.^[5]