LA VIE DE BOHEME

Finland, 1992, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Matti Pellonpaa, Evelyne Didi.
Directed by Aki Kaurismaki.

La Vie De Boheme was written and directed by Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki, reminiscent of his other, offbeat films including Ariel and Leningrad Cowboys go America. He brings his deadpan and ironic humorous style to this re-working of the La Boheme story, familiar from the opera. It is updated to Paris in the present which gives the opportunity to show contemporary artists trying to live out their romantic 19th century counterparts' lives and frustrations. There is a playwright, a painter, a musician - and Mimi working at the local bar. The film parallels the course of the plot but gives the opportunity for eccentric characterizations as well as deadpan humour as extraordinary coincidences happen to the characters and they speak literal deadpan dialogue.

1. The work of Kaurismaki - humour, eccentric, deadpan comedy, eccentric characters and situations?

2. is Finnish background and perspective? Working in France? The background of the novel, audience familiarity with the opera and the characters? The operatic style of the plot, romanticized, tragic, coincidences? The parody of these?

3. The black and white photography, Paris? The seasons? The musical score?

4. The establishing of the comic tone - and the audience willing to accept this kind of parody?

5. The focus on Marcel: his writing his play, not accepted for publication, his angers, the drinking, the apartment and his slovenly lifestyle? Being ousted by the landlord? His devices to get out of paying the rent, his note? The various ploys he urged to get meals? Meeting Rodolpho in the cafe, sharing the trout, talking all day? Meeting the musician occupying his room? The discussions about art, their growing friendship? The Bohemian way of life - enamoured of the arts, no-money, eating and drinking beyond their means? The women? The plans for the publication of the magazine, getting the money (a cameo by American director Samuel Fuller)? The work, the articles? His friendship and relationship with Musette? The work, the style? Rodolpho and his paintings? The musician and his eccentric style, shabby? His musical compositions? The response to Mimi, the picnics? Musette falling out of love with him? The publisher and his anger because of the serialisation of the play? The build-up to Mimi's illness, her death? His support of his friends?

6. Rodolpho the artist, the Albanian background, meeting Marcel, sharing, talking? His painting and its style - and his love for his dog, portrait of the dog, his town portrait? The French financier and his portrait being painted? His paying - and later returning bringing the windfall-for the collection of paintings? His life style, cafes, money? The friendship with Mimi, in love with her? The bonds between Mimi and himself? His taking her to the meal, His money being stolen, jail, the interrogations, the phone call? Deported? His return, finding Mimi with another man - and her immediately walking off with him? The relationship, her feeling stifled, wanting to leave him? Her illness, his selling everything for her? Her illness - going out to pick the flowers, her death?

7. The musician, his furniture and piano? His eccentric compositions? The money schemes, shabby? His friendship with Rodolpho and Marcel? Helping them? His final composition and their reaction?

8. Muscet and Mimi? At work on the magazine, Muscet going back to the country and the rich husband, leaving Marcel? Mimi, her work, her deadpan style, age and appearance for the heroine of such a tragedy? The bonds with Marcel, with Rodolpho? The meal, his arrest, deportation? Her grief, taking up with the other man? Rudolpho's return - and her immediately leaving the other man? The relationship her feelings stifled? Her illness, Rudolpho's support, sending him for the flowers and her death? In the operatic style?

9. The publisher and his anger? The police and their interrogations? The people in the cafes and restaurants? The financier and his lack of taste, his portrait, buying up his collection - and being a great commercial success?

10. The spoof of the romantic French 19th century Bohemian artists?