Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Encyclopedia
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses is a 1994 film directed by Aki Kaurismäki
. It is a sequel to the popular 1989 film Leningrad Cowboys Go America
that introduced the fictional Russian
rock band Leningrad Cowboys
which, subsequently, became a notable real life rock band in Finland
.
left off, the band has settled in Mexico
after charting a top ten hit there. However, many band members become alcoholics spending most of their day drinking tequila
. Before long, more than half of the band members have died from excessive drinking. The surviving members have, in the mean time, become naturalized Mexicans.
Down on their luck, the band is contacted by their manager Vladimir (Matti Pellonpää
) who, after going through an experience of being born again, now calls himself Moses. Moses has secured a gig for the band at Coney Island
which must now cross the Mexico–United States border illegally as a CIA
agent (André Wilms
) is on their tail. Afterwards, Moses helps the remaining members return to the Promised Land (Siberia
) so that they can rebuild the band.
Aki Kaurismäki
-Career:After studying Media Studies at the University of Tampere, Aki Kaurismäki started his career as a co-director in the films of his elder brother Mika Kaurismäki. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment , Dostoyevsky's famous crime story set in modern-day Helsinki...
. It is a sequel to the popular 1989 film Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Leningrad Cowboys Go America is a 1989 road movie by Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki about the adventures of a fictional Russian rock band that travels to the United States to become famous...
that introduced the fictional Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
rock band Leningrad Cowboys
Leningrad Cowboys
The Leningrad Cowboys is a Finnish rock band famous for humorously making rock and roll covers of popular songs, exaggerated pompadour hairstyles, long, pointy shoes, often featuring a Russian military band, the Alexandrov Ensemble.-Beginnings:...
which, subsequently, became a notable real life rock band in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
Plot
Picking up where Leningrad Cowboys Go AmericaLeningrad Cowboys Go America
Leningrad Cowboys Go America is a 1989 road movie by Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki about the adventures of a fictional Russian rock band that travels to the United States to become famous...
left off, the band has settled in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
after charting a top ten hit there. However, many band members become alcoholics spending most of their day drinking tequila
Tequila
Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....
. Before long, more than half of the band members have died from excessive drinking. The surviving members have, in the mean time, become naturalized Mexicans.
Down on their luck, the band is contacted by their manager Vladimir (Matti Pellonpää
Matti Pellonpää
Matti Pellonpää was an award-winning Finnish actor and a musician. He rose to international fame with his roles in both Aki Kaurismäki's and Mika Kaurismäki's films; particularly being a regular in Aki's films, appearing in 18 of them.He started his career in 1962 as a radio actor at the Finnish...
) who, after going through an experience of being born again, now calls himself Moses. Moses has secured a gig for the band at Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
which must now cross the Mexico–United States border illegally as a CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
agent (André Wilms
André Wilms
André Wilms is a French film and television actor who has also appeared in German and Finnish films. Wilms was the winner of the Best Supporting European Actor award at the 1992 European Film Awards for his work in Aki Kaurismäki's La Vie de Bohème.-Partial filmography:* Le tartuffe * Field of...
) is on their tail. Afterwards, Moses helps the remaining members return to the Promised Land (Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
) so that they can rebuild the band.
Cast and characters
- Leningrad CowboysLeningrad CowboysThe Leningrad Cowboys is a Finnish rock band famous for humorously making rock and roll covers of popular songs, exaggerated pompadour hairstyles, long, pointy shoes, often featuring a Russian military band, the Alexandrov Ensemble.-Beginnings:...
- themselves - Matti PellonpääMatti PellonpääMatti Pellonpää was an award-winning Finnish actor and a musician. He rose to international fame with his roles in both Aki Kaurismäki's and Mika Kaurismäki's films; particularly being a regular in Aki's films, appearing in 18 of them.He started his career in 1962 as a radio actor at the Finnish...
- Moses / Vladimir - Kari VäänänenKari VäänänenKari Väänänen is a Finnish actor. Domestically he is a member of the Ryhmäteatteri group of actors. He was introduced to international audiences by Aki Kaurismäki; and belongs to the list of his"trusted" stable of actors....
- The Mute - André WilmsAndré WilmsAndré Wilms is a French film and television actor who has also appeared in German and Finnish films. Wilms was the winner of the Best Supporting European Actor award at the 1992 European Film Awards for his work in Aki Kaurismäki's La Vie de Bohème.-Partial filmography:* Le tartuffe * Field of...
- Lazar / Johnson / Elijah - Nicky Tesco - American Cousin