The actors are all amateurs (mostly musicians) and the plot isn't very complicated but Mika Kaurismäki has still succeeded in making a great movie about a sad figure, bassist called Zombie, who has problems with adapting to the world around him and therefore starts to drink too much alcohol.
The main character, Zombie, is played by bassist Silu Seppälä whose acting is very convincing - maybe because the character has been inspired by Silu himself as well as another Finnish bassist, Pulu (who has played in the legendary Finnish band Sleepy Sleepers).
One of the best things of this movie is the mystical side of it. First of all, quite a big part of the movie has been shot in Istabul where the atmosphere is very enigmatic. Another very mystical thing is The Ghost Train, a band which appears only in few scenes (in the title also!) and stays as a mystery to the viewer, but still plays an important role in the movie. Somehow it feels Silu and this mystical band are connected, although Kaurismäki doesn't show us a clear link.
I recommend Zombie and The Ghost Train especially to the fans of Kaurismäki brothers' films and also to everybody who digs music-related movies.
The main character, Zombie, is played by bassist Silu Seppälä whose acting is very convincing - maybe because the character has been inspired by Silu himself as well as another Finnish bassist, Pulu (who has played in the legendary Finnish band Sleepy Sleepers).
One of the best things of this movie is the mystical side of it. First of all, quite a big part of the movie has been shot in Istabul where the atmosphere is very enigmatic. Another very mystical thing is The Ghost Train, a band which appears only in few scenes (in the title also!) and stays as a mystery to the viewer, but still plays an important role in the movie. Somehow it feels Silu and this mystical band are connected, although Kaurismäki doesn't show us a clear link.
I recommend Zombie and The Ghost Train especially to the fans of Kaurismäki brothers' films and also to everybody who digs music-related movies.