Good but not great, Kaurismaki does ‘60s period drama with his brand of droll comedy as two Finnish men on a test drive encounter two female ‘comrades’ (a Russian and an Estonian) in need of a ride to the harbour. 

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Made in the midst of his early ‘90s ‘Leningrad Cowboys’ phase, Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatiana, is probably the shortest narrative feature Aki Kaurismaki has produced, running at only about an hour long. 

While most if not all films by the Finnish master feel similar in style and tone, there is something ingenious about Kaurismaki’s ‘consistent’ approach to different subject matter, whether exploring working-class stories like the superb Ariel (1988), literary adaptations such as his debut feature Crime and Punishment (1983), or even attempting throwbacks to another era like his underwhelming silent film nod, Juha (1999). 

In Tatiana, he does ‘60s period drama as two Finnish men go on a test drive (one’s an alcoholic mechanic, the other his coffee-obsessed client), and inadvertently encounter two female ‘comrades’, a Russian and an Estonian who are in need of a ride to the harbour.  So, to a large extent, the film operates as a road movie, moving from stop to stop, a motel here, a bar there. 

“See those two dumb Finns there?”

Kaurismaki’s brand of droll comedy is on display, though it relies mostly on the two ladies’ disdain for Finnish men, both of whom seem incapable of even showing interest in them (language barrier’s not an excuse!). 

Of course, one can read these ‘cold’ interactions as part of the larger Cold War context, as the Soviets unsuccessfully sought to exert ideological influence in Finland, failing to annexe the country as part of their empire. 

Good but not great, Tatiana’s conclusion does provide some food for thought in relation to human relationships amid geopolitical posturings.  Unless you are a Kaurismaki completist, this is not absolutely essential to see. 

Grade: B

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