From Finland, with love, Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen bring ‘Fallen Leaves’ to Hollywood

LOS ANGELES — There are two types of cinephiles in the world: Aki Kaurismäki fans and future Aki Kaurismäki fans. Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen, the Finnish stars of his latest, the tragicomic romance “Fallen Leaves,” are getting to meet both during their whirlwind tour of America at the height of Hollywood’s awards season. They are running out of superlatives to describe the experience, Vatanen said in a joint interview with Pöysti earlier this week, but both can agree it’s been “overwhelming.” The film is about two lonely people in working-class Helsinki, Ansa and Holappa, who meet at a karaoke bar and attempt to embark on a romance despite missed connections, lost phone numbers, general awkwardness, middle-age solitude and other such obstacles to true love. “There was no chance you could beat Aki in film knowledge.” Pöysti added that the filmmakers debated the poster choices “passionately.” They’ve been on the road with “Fallen Leaves” on and off for almost a year, since it debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, on through the New York Film Festival and its theatrical debuts around the world. Saying your name might be a very, very vulnerable thing to.” And they’ve enjoyed hearing everyone’s reactions to “Fallen Leaves” at screenings around the world and knowing that people leave the film feeling hopeful.