Lovely and humane film, but it is Kaurismaki's idiosyncratic framing and structure that make it hilarious at the same time.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Apr 14, 2021

This latest by Finland's leading filmmaker Aki Kaurismaki is his best in years, a potentially precious little fable whose inner warmth is well-cloaked in a healthy dose of his characteristic deadpan humor.

| Oct 19, 2020

Different people in desperate situations get together in unexpected, and sometimes marvelous ways [Full Review in Spanish]

| Sep 19, 2020

Aki Kaurismaki takes on the Syrian refugee crisis in an affecting, optimistic film.

| Jul 17, 2020

The Finnish director, who reiterated at the Berlin International Film Festival that this will be his last film, has infected us with a critical fable that at no time ceases to be honest. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 27, 2020

Can be likened to the bleak but worthy resume of Jim Jarmusch.

| Jun 3, 2020

The filmmaker asks his audience to not only laugh (as he always does) but to contemplate, to put themselves in the shoes of a person they will likely never be or know.

| May 27, 2020

With a very contrasted photography with the use of hard lights, the director delves us into a story without good or bad... transferring a very particular atmosphere to the film. [Full Review in Spanish]

| Aug 15, 2019

Syrian refugee Kahled turns himself into police and seeks asylum after covertly boarding a cargo ship and ending up in Finland.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 7, 2019

Despite its heavy subject matter, The Other Side of Hope is a gently comic tale of disparate souls united by a common humanity.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 4, 2019

The dour comedic tone and discarded protagonists feel very familiar, and the film comes off as a forgettable chapter in a long book.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | May 8, 2019

This is a timely film addressing a critical global issue.

| Mar 19, 2019

The director relies on an overwhelming sense of absurdity, graceful wit, and sharp socio-political observations.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 1, 2019

The humor in The Other side of Hope doesn't necessarily emerge from jokes - sometimes it's just a well-placed shot of a dog - but it shows how human kindness rarely takes the form of grandiose Hallmark-ready overtures.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 10, 2019

Accessible and droll-- and with his signature retro look and sensibility-- THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE is a good introduction to Aki Kaurismki's work.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Dec 4, 2018

If one were to make a comedy about the Syrian refugee crisis, one might need to have a suitably dark and droll sense of humor.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 24, 2018

It's ridiculous and sympathetic at the same time - compelling filmmaking.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 3, 2018

This bond forged by shared ambitions is vitally important, because through it the film refuses to demonize or stigmatize Khaled or his liminal position.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 5, 2018

The director's seamless politics and rock 'n' roll style have been evolved in the past decade, and The Other Side of Hope feels like a crystallization of sorts. It finds the perfect harmony between off-kilter strangeness and essential acts of humanity.

| Aug 20, 2018

deals in deadpan, but sympathetic and humanist terms with the thorny issue of immigration

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 4, 2018