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"To Mikro Psari" aka "Little Fish" (2014) is kind of a Greek take on the Quentin Tarantino formula, mixed with the "stoic, lonely hitman" mythology. It is clearly the work of an auteur: every shot seems to have thought & planning behind it. Atmospheric, with good location work (set mostly in a deserted, decadent Athens), but be warned: it is exceptionally foul-mouthed, and laced with sick black humor. Mourikis is an unforgettable screen "face", for sure. *** out of 4.

Maarita Mäkelä is gorgeous as the title character, in a Finnish bid for the trendy New Wave market. Well-photographed in black & white, but unfortunately borrows one of the Wave's most annoying characteristics: it has no story. Mäkelä is a young teacher who falls in love with a rebellious student...and that's about it. There are indications that the film also wanted to paint a feminist portrait of her, but we never really get inside her mind: she remains mainly a beautiful camera subject. ** out of 4.

"A Time Of Roses" (1969) is a rare Finnish sci-fi film, set somewhere in the 2010 decade. It shows a lot of imagination, and at times does come very close to how the future (from a 1969 perspective) turned out - from the rise of the right-wing ideology in the late 20th century to AI assistants in driving and food selection. But it suffers from muddled storytelling, and the plot goes nowhere. There are perhaps a few too many dancing scenes, too. ** out of 4.