Lovers And Leavers (Kuutamoula)

Running time: N/A

US Premiere Love is perfect only in movies and books, and perfect love is something Iiris wants to discover. She is a 30-year-old bookstore assistant who just can't find her ideal man. All she is looking for is someone who is intelligent, handsome, kind, funny, and most importantly, loves movies. Just when she is about to give up her quest, she meets Marko, a promising young filmmaker, who can quote dialogue from Taxi Driver as well as she. Iiris believes she has found the kind of love that exists in her favorite films. But as Marko's career starts to take off, Iiris becomes more and more dependent on him for her happiness. Unable to admit that Marko may no longer feel the same for her, Iiris clings to her idealistic fantasies. So, when her good friend's husband comes on to her, things really start to get complicated. Minna HaapkylÅ  is enchanting as a woman who comes to terms with the fact that life is not a romantic movie. More than a story about whether true love really exists, Aku Louhimies's delightful Lovers and Leavers portrays a charming woman who takes the words of Fred Rogers to heart and learns to love herself just the way she is. - Sandy Wolf