Fallen Leaves | Verona Valentine’s Closing Event

Fall for our beloved Verona location one last time before its move to Palace Moore Park with a special Verona Valentine’s Closing Event – a perfectly fitting date for the bittersweet farewell, as in a true full-circle moment, we opened Verona on Valentine’s Day 28 years ago in 1996!

Join us for the official Verona Closing Night screening of the critically acclaimed Fallen Leaves, a new masterful comedic romance from Finland’s most beloved director, Aki Kaurismäki with a complimentary glass of sparkling, heart-shaped chocolate, an exclusive Verona Tote Bag, plus a special invitation to a secret free screening at our newest arthouse location, Palace Moore Park!  

Or, join us at Palace Central or Norton Street for a Valentine’s Day Opening Night Event screening, with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine and chocolate on arrival.

Hailed as the best-reviewed film of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival – where it topped Screen International’s prestigious critics’ poll – the beguiling new comedic romance from celebrated auteur Aki Kaurismäki (Le Havre, Drifting Clouds, The Other Side Of Hope) follows two lost souls who meet by chance in the Helsinki night and then try, in turbulent times, to find companionship.

Ansa (Alma Pöysti) works at a supermarket, where the job is so badly paid that she takes home expired sandwiches for dinner. Holappa (Jussi Vatanen) is a metalworker, labouring in a job so hazardous he’s sure it will kill him, so he drinks through the day, and then again at night. Meanwhile, the radio constantly carries news about the nearby war in Ukraine. One evening, against his will, Holappa is dragged to a karaoke bar by a friend. “Tough guys don’t sing”, he says. But karaoke night is also a night for romance, and when Holappa meets the shy Ansa, there’s an immediate spark. But life being what it is, a variety of obstacles conspire to get in the way…

With his trademark deadpan humour, minimalist dialogue and retro aesthetic, Kaurismäki’s latest delight showcases his unrivalled mastery for depicting down-on-their-luck characters in all their complexity, and finding humour and optimism in the unlikeliest of circumstances. In a time of economic disparity, war and uncertainty, Fallen Leaves is a valuable reminder of the importance of love and connection.

To see the best in arthouse cinema, be sure to set Palace Moore Park as a preferred location in your member hub.

Verona Closing Night Event Details:

Wednesday, February 14 | Palace Verona

Palace Movie Club (max 2): $22
General Admission: $28
Includes glass of sparkling wine, chocolate, Verona tote bag and preview pass

Valentine’s Day Opening Night Event Details:

Wednesday, February 14 | Palace Central and Norton Street

Palace Movie Club (max 2): $22
General Admission: $28
Includes glass of sparkling wine and chocolate

Reviews:

“The best film of the year. A masterpiece… Sometimes small miracles appear in the form of movies. Kaurismäki works magic. “

– TIME MAGAZINE

★★★★★

“A gem.”

– LIMELIGHT

“The year’s most succinctly perfect film.”

– LOS ANGELES TIMES

★★★★★

“Utterly delightful. The best big-screen romance of the year. The kind of movie that’s so charming, you want to run it back the moment it’s over.”

– ASSOCIATED PRESS

Watch Trailer