colour, dolby stereo, 75 mins.
Finnish premiere October 17, 1986
directed by Aki Kaurismäki
screenplay Aki Kaurismäki
cinematography Timo Salminen
sound Jouko Lumme
design Pertti Hilkamo
edited by Raija Talvio
production Aki Kaurismäki / Villealfa Filmproductlons
cast
- Matti Pellonpää (Nikander)
- Kati Outinen (Ilona)
- Saku Kuosmanen (Melartin)
- Esko Nikkari (Nikander's workmate)
- Kylli Köngäs (girlfriend)
- Pekka Laiho (shop steward)
- Jukka-Pekka Palo (third man)
- Svante Korkeakoski (policeman)
- Mari Rantasila (Nikander's sister)
- Safka (pianist)
- Antti Ortamo (2nd pianist)
- Mato Valtonen (Pelle)
- Sakke Järvenpaa (Staffan),
- Ulla Kuosmanen (Melartin's wife),
- Neka Haapanen (cook)
- Riikka Kuosmanen

Matti Pellonpää's face is clearly visible in a half-torn poster for Varjoja paratiisissa on the wall of a city workers' hut on a Paris street. The time is close to the 1988 presidential election, verified by the lamp post on the right that carries a Jacques Chirac support notice. The location is 6, Rue du Fouarre, Paris 5e, quite near Ile de la Cité and Notre Dame.