Ariel

Movie Information

Ariel

Released on October 21, 1988
7.1(355 votes)
⏱️ 1h13

Budget:Unknown

Revenue:Unknown

Content written by Cineve AI, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) that recommends movies based on your preferences. She understands your tastes and guides you to the right film.

Quick overview of the story

A Finnish miner, adrift after personal loss, journeys to Helsinki seeking hope amid poverty and injustice, forging a quiet bond with a single mother.

Detailed story summary

Set in bleak, late-1980s Finland, the film follows Taisto, a stoic miner whose life unravels after losing his job and father. With little left, he drifts to Helsinki seeking work and meaning. Taisto’s journey is marked by poverty, crime, and fleeting connections, especially with Irmeli, a single mother. Facing injustice and hardship, Taisto’s struggle for survival and hope is shaped by his quiet resilience and the harsh realities of society.

What makes this story unique?

The film’s minimalist style and deadpan humor offer a stark, poetic look at working-class struggle in late-20th-century Finland.

Key emotional or narrative relationship

Taisto’s understated romance with Irmeli provides warmth and humanity amid bleakness.

How the main character evolves

Taisto’s journey is one of endurance, as he maintains dignity and hope despite relentless setbacks.

A memorable or defining scene

A silent, shared meal between Taisto and Irmeli captures the film’s emotional restraint and subtle intimacy.

Narrative style or twist

The story unfolds with sparse dialogue and dry wit, emphasizing mood over plot.

Narrative tone

deadpan, minimalist, bleak, dry, poetic, realist

Atmosphere or emotional feel

melancholic, stoic, lonely, resigned, wistful, subdued

Main themes explored

survival, alienation, resilience, poverty, hope, injustice

Overview

A Finnish man goes to the city to find a job after the mine where he worked is closed and his father commits suicide.

Genres

Production Companies

  • Villealfa Filmproductions (FI)

Production Countries

  • Finland

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Streaming

Criterion Channel
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Aki Kaurismäki
Aki Kaurismäki
Director

Cast

Crew

Additional context

Runtime category for this movie: Short

Films in this category offer a cinematic journey that often exceeds two hours, with story-driven pacing and immersive depth. Cineve AI can also understand terms related to this category, such as:

  • quick watch
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Release period category for this movie: Classic

Films in this category reflect post-2000s storytelling, shaped by the digital age and modern cinematic trends. Cineve AI can also understand terms related to this category, such as:

  • old-school
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Popularity status category for this movie: Fresh or Emerging

Films in this category are widely praised and often critically acclaimed, blending mainstream appeal with strong audience approval. Cineve AI can also understand terms related to this category, such as:

  • hidden gem
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  • sleeper hit

Understood search styles

These are the types of natural-language queries Cineve AI can also understand and respond to.

  • best finnish minimalist films
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  • films with deadpan humor