Leningrad Cowboys Go America ( 1989 )

Leningrad Cowboys Go America ( 1989 ) (DVD) (*)

$20.99

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
Danish ( Subtitles )
English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
English ( Subtitles )
Finnish ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
Finnish ( Subtitles )
Norwegian ( Subtitles )
Swedish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Finland ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
76 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1989 and produced in:
Finland ( Scandinavia, Iceland )
Sweden ( Scandinavia, Iceland )

Directed By:
Aki Kaurismaki

Written By:
Sakke Järvenpää
Aki Kaurismaki

Actors:
Matti Pellonpää ..... Vladimir (Manager)
Kari Väänänen ..... Igor (Village Idiot)
Sakke Järvenpää ..... The Leningrad Cowboys
Heikki Keskinen ..... The Leningrad Cowboys
Pimme Korhonen ..... The Leningrad Cowboys
Sakari Kuosmanen ..... The Leningrad Cowboys
Puka Oinonen ..... The Leningrad Cowboys
Silu Seppälä ..... The Leningrad Cowboys
Mauri Sumén ..... The Leningrad Cowboys
Mato Valtonen ..... The Leningrad Cowboys
Pekka Virtanen ..... The Leningrad Cowboys
Nicky Tesco ..... Lost Cousin
Olli Tuominen ..... Siberian Svengali
Kari Laine ..... Siberian Chauffeur
Jatimatic Ohlstrom ..... Father of the Cowboys

Synopsis:

Leningrad Cowboys Go America is a 1989 road movie by Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki about the adventures of a fictional Russian rock band (the Leningrad Cowboys, consisting of members from the Finnish rock band the Sleepy Sleepers, augmented with additional musicians) that travels to the United States to become famous. The title came from the Marx Brothers film Go West (1940). After the film was released, the fictional band transformed into a real band, complete with ludicrous hairstyles and typical Finnish humor.

The Leningrad Cowboys, a band with foot-long quiff hairstyles and long Winklepicker shoes to match, are seeking success in Siberia, but nobody seems to like their music. Thwarted by a lack of local commercial potential, they are encouraged to move to America, for people will 'buy anything' there. They depart for New York, bringing with them a band member who had frozen the previous night while practicing outside. They arrive at the CBGB bar in Manhattan. An agent offers them a gig at a wedding in Mexico and recommends that they change their musical style to rock and roll. They buy a used Cadillac, strap the coffin carrying their frozen band member onto the roof and set off to earn their way through the Deep South, adapting their musical style to suit local tastes at each new location. All the while they are being driven on and exploited by their money and food hoarding manager Vladimir (Matti Pellonpää), who has a seemingly unlimited supply of beer in the ice-filled coffin. Unknown to them, they are being pursued by the mute village idiot, Igor (Kari Väänänen), who idolizes the band and has followed them from Siberia. During the trip, the band spends time in jail, has their car engine stolen, causes a nightclub to close after playing an unsuccessful show, and reunites with a long-lost cousin (Nicky Tesco). They eventually make it to Mexico and perform their wedding gig, where the thawing bass guitarist is revived with a shot of tequila and joins the group on stage, as does Igor. The manager watches them play then wanders off, but the band finally finds success in Mexico, making the top ten.

The Leningrad Cowboys, a fictional Russian rock band, and their manager, travel to America seeking fame and fortune. As they cross the country, trying to get to a wedding in Mexico, they are followed by the village idiot, who wishes to join the band.

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 19 July, 2016.

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