IMDb RATING
7.5/10
12K
YOUR RATING
A woman's terribly dull life is upended by a one-night stand pregnancy, causing her to seek retribution.A woman's terribly dull life is upended by a one-night stand pregnancy, causing her to seek retribution.A woman's terribly dull life is upended by a one-night stand pregnancy, causing her to seek retribution.
- Awards
- 6 wins & 5 nominations
Helka Viljanen
- Office employee
- (as Helga Viljanen)
Unknown Tank Man
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe third installment of Aki Kaurismäki's Proletariat Trilogy, after Shadows in Paradise (1986) (Shadows in Paradise) and Ariel (1988). Over 30 years later, Fallen Leaves (2023) (Fallen Leaves) became the fourth one in the "trilogy."
- ConnectionsFeatured in Century of Cinema: Scandinavie, Stig Björkman (1995)
Featured review
This is a downbeat story of a young woman, Iris, who works on an assembly line in a match stick factory in Finland. Iris' life would give testament to the truth of Thoreau's quote, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." She comes home from her tedious job to a dismal apartment that she shares with her mother and stepfather--both major losers. They take what little money Iris earns and berate her if she spends on herself.
While Iris is not unattractive, she presents such a sullen and drab appearance that she is ignored at community dances, until she buys a new red dress when she finally attracts the attention of a man. But don't plan on a happy ending to that one. Years of suppressed resentment can provoke dramatic acts of revenge.
At a little over an hour this movie could have played as an episode on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." Except it has better production values and acting that most shows on that program. I thought the humorous twist in the final scene was particularly in the style of Hitchcock.
I enjoyed the establishing shots in the match factory. I have never given much thought about the process of creating match sticks and found the presentation of that interesting. So much complexity and machinery involved in producing such a simple product.
While Iris is not unattractive, she presents such a sullen and drab appearance that she is ignored at community dances, until she buys a new red dress when she finally attracts the attention of a man. But don't plan on a happy ending to that one. Years of suppressed resentment can provoke dramatic acts of revenge.
At a little over an hour this movie could have played as an episode on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." Except it has better production values and acting that most shows on that program. I thought the humorous twist in the final scene was particularly in the style of Hitchcock.
I enjoyed the establishing shots in the match factory. I have never given much thought about the process of creating match sticks and found the presentation of that interesting. So much complexity and machinery involved in producing such a simple product.
Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $701
- Runtime1 hour 9 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was The Match Factory Girl (1990) officially released in India in English?
Answer