Ariel

Set in the late 1980s Finland, the film captures a period of economic transition as traditional industries fade. The urban milieu contrasts with the stark northern landscape, shaping the characters' choices. The presence of a 1962 Cadillac convertible anchors the era's aesthetics and attitudes.

The story begins in a remote mining town in Finnish Lapland, where a mine closure upends livelihoods. It then moves to a southern Finnish city, revealing a contrast between northern hardship and urban life. Key locations include a harbor, a hostel, a courtroom and a ship named Ariel that becomes the route of escape.

🚶 Escape

From a closed mine to the city, the protagonist seeks freedom from debt and past mistakes. The escape is both physical, moving across Finland, and emotional, seeking a fresh start with Irmeli. Yet every step toward safety becomes entangled with crime and risk. Escape here is a double-edged pursuit, promising a better life while inviting danger.

💘 Love

Irmeli's relationship with Kasurinen pulls him from isolation and offers a chance at belonging. Their bond grows through shared vulnerability, even as their pasts threaten to derail them. They marry in a prison visit, a gesture that fuses affection with desperation. Love acts as shelter and lure, propelling them toward a risky escape.

🔒 Crime

Criminal acts punctuate the couple's arc, from thefts to a bank robbery funded by their escape plan. The consequences—arrest, prison, and violence—raise questions about guilt and responsibility. The accomplices betray them, showing how trust fractures in desperation. The film uses crime to expose the fragility of self-determination in a harsh economy.

🛳️ Migration

Facing an uncertain future, Kasurinen and Irmeli board a ship named Ariel bound for Mexico. The voyage frames migration as both liberation and risk, a leap toward an elusive new life. The ending positions escape as a path to dignity and a chance for a fresh start beyond Finland.