The Man Without a Past
User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17

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  1. TimoSiNikka
    Apr 17, 2003
    10
    Nice !
  2. EricP.
    Mar 26, 2007
    10
    A real jewel, unpretentious, no special effects but only deep human feelings from poor people on the margins who never complain of their fate. A tribute to humble people. Superb filming and acting. Moving.
  3. MarkN.
    Jun 24, 2003
    10
    So beautiful you laugh when crying.
  4. BillJ.
    Oct 24, 2003
    9
    I found it poignant, sparse and very interesting. The action is in the characters. The write ups allude to it being "funny" or "humorous". IMO, it wasn't particularly funny but you might find humor in it if viewed as a satire.
  5. SteveG.
    May 31, 2003
    9
    Great movie from finish? director Aki Kaurismaki !
  6. JaniK.
    Jan 12, 2005
    9
    This isn't Kaurismäki's best film but still very good. This is maybe the most mainstream of his works. Go see it if you liked the Big Lebowski, although this is much more melancholy and minimalistic.
  7. ChadS.
    Jun 14, 2003
    8
    What does a minimalist bank robbery look like? Go see "The Man Without a Past" and find out. Comedy is so broad these days, watching the three principal actors underplay an incident that's normally charged with danger is a pleasure. Ennui can be hysterical. If you liked(got) "The Royal Tennenbaums" & "Rushmore", Aki Kaurismaki is for you.
  8. JoshR.
    Feb 28, 2004
    4
    strange movie. doesn't leave you indifferent. rather - with a bitter taste. the story is OK. nothing particulary new here - a man loses his memory, but finds new love, new friends, new and better self...blah blah blah. but the acting is awful. it looks as if the actors are amatures. or maybe its some sort of artistic style.. i dunno. my 3 years old acts better...

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    75
    The Man Without a Past is a modern fairy tale. It certainly is divorced from reality. Despite this -– or perhaps because of it -– it's a satisfying motion picture.
    Read full review
  2. Slate
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    90
    The revered Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki has hit on a way to give you grim social realism and movie-ish sentimentality in one fell swoop.
    Read full review
  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    70
    This may not be Kaurismäki's masterpiece, but it is a movie of sustained stylistic integrity -- and it has the power to make you laugh.
    Read full review
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