Lost souls
A big-hearted Evi travels around northern Finland and frequents bars with names similar to Kaurismäki (like Next Step and Casanova), wanting to help these sad and lost souls. Hug. Think and feel with them. Evi dreamed of becoming a therapist, but she gave up due to lack of money. But she channels her skills and empathy – certainly developed in a difficult childhood – into her work as a karaoke manager, which she has been doing for 23 years, organizing thousands of shows, she says. To do this she takes her old Škoda, she puts the necessary things in the trunk and some of her. Other times, she Evi sleeps somewhere in a roadside parking lot when road conditions seem too dangerous. It doesn’t matter if the snow is hip-deep or the sun is scorching, patients wait for Evi.
Evi admits that it is interesting for her to observe what happened to the people who enter the karaoke stage at night. For example, a pot-bellied man in a plaid shirt sings, “The road is lonely and long, with a lonely man on it.” On his arm is a red heart tattoo with the words “Tanja forever“.
It is interesting to observe what ever happened to the people who go on the karaoke stage in the evening.
Although the Finns (as well as the Estonians and the Japanese – karaoke comes from Japan after all) have difficulty opening up at first, they calm down in front of Evi. True, for this you need a glass or five of wine (women generally prefer it here), a cocktail (I suggest with vodka, because old school gentlemen like it) or beer (it suits everyone). For example, Evi comforts a man who can’t even talk about the fact that her friend died two months ago. Evi investigates how he died. “Well, he broke up…and started drinking,” comes the reply. Evi hugs a man whose eyes are filled with tears. The man dedicates the song to his friend Jussi.
Painful experiences
“Karaoke Paradise” follows Toni, a shy computer game enthusiast, who still lives with his mother and works in construction. Toni waits for his performance in a dark bar with her hands on her knees. He admits that sometimes it’s difficult to get on stage because he can’t find the right rower. Laura also appears before the audience, dragging a pram out of her spacious two-story home. There is a row of houses under construction in the yard. There is a photo of a child on the wall at home. “I haven’t sung in a long time,” he says simply. The reason is predictable, but it is difficult for the viewer to think about it: young people recently lost a child who spent all the months of his life within the walls of the hospital.
But there is also Kari, who works in a car repair shop and raises a teenage daughter alone. Kari really wants a partner, but she can’t find one. You can also sing karaoke in her workshop. Kari doesn’t like going to the front to sing in a bar or go to a ballroom dance in a house of culture, much less does she know how to dress for the occasion. When the time comes, she chooses between two work jackets (one is slightly larger, the other is tighter). Her daughter knows about Kari’s confusion and he rolls his eyes in a friendly manner after changing clothes. Kari’s friend, however, suggested that she sing Jenka in a restaurant instead of Tinder, after which she had to immediately find a lover of her own.
Dig into the life of the soul
Elina can’t walk much due to Parkinson’s disease, but karaoke takes her to new heights. On the important karaoke day, she wears good makeup and lets her hair down. The director observes her characters with great empathy, letting them tell their story in complete tranquility. Winter becomes spring, summer becomes autumn. Presenters feel more and more comfortable in front of the camera, trusting it.
To be honest, I was hoping there would be a lot of fun in Karaoke Paradise. After all, it first of all reminded me of Estonians’ attitude towards drooling according to the video. But the director of “Karaoke Paradise” delves deeper into the topic, delving into the souls of the singers. You can also have fun, but there is much more pain, which you will gradually get rid of within an hour, even just for the time of being on stage. Until Evi arrives home full of angel figurines and hugs her beloved waiting for her on the sofa. “Did the machine work?” the man asks. “Luckily, it worked on this trip,” Evi replies. “Good weekend.” And the viewer’s heart calms down.
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2023-12-30 07:00:00
review-karaoke-saves-lost-souls