Leningrad Cowboys Go America

1989 1h 19m FI

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 220

ComedyMusic

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The Leningrad Cowboys, a group of Siberian musicians, and their manager, travel to America seeking fame and fortune. As they cross the country, trying to get to a wedding in Mexico, they are followed by the village idiot, who wishes to join the band.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Matti Pellonpää
Vladimir (Manager)
Kari Väänänen
Igor (Village Idiot)
Sakke Järvenpää
The Leningrad Cowboys
Heikki Keskinen
The Leningrad Cowboys
Pimme Korhonen
The Leningrad Cowboys
Sakari Kuosmanen
The Leningrad Cowboys
Puka Oinonen
The Leningrad Cowboys
Silu Seppälä
The Leningrad Cowboys

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Writers: Aki Kaurismäki, Sakke Järvenpää, Aki Kaurismäki
Languages: English, Finnish
Countries: Finland, Sweden

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 79-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

37 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Finnish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Finland, Sweden.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Leningrad Cowboys Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Aki Kaurismäki, shot by Timo Salminen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Mauri Sumén. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Raija Talvio shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Aki Kaurismäki directs. Timo Salminen behind the camera. Mauri Sumén scores. Raija Talvio cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Finland, Sweden. Dialogue in English, Finnish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 79-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
237 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Finnish.
4International production across 2 countries: Finland, Sweden.
5Part of the "Leningrad Cowboys Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
6Directed by Aki Kaurismäki, shot by Timo Salminen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Mauri Sumén. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Raija Talvio shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Matti Pellonpää and Kari Väänänen and Sakke Järvenpää carry the top of the cast.
10IMDB entry: tt0097728 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 10 themes, including "career", "rock 'n' roll", "dreams", "american dream".

The technical file

Cinematography: Timo Salminen
Original score: Mauri Sumén
Editing: Raija Talvio
Costume design: Tanja Tolonen
Makeup / hair: Tanja Tolonen
Sound: Kjell Westman
Runtime: 79 min · 1h 19m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: FI
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)

Part of

Leningrad Cowboys Collection

Aki Kaurismäki's Leningrad Cowboys movies

Also by

Aki Kaurismäki

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

deepkino2025-08-05
★ 7/10
A rock band from the Russian tundra comes to America in pursuit of fame and fortune, and the movie follows their tour there. Kaurismäki tells the story with a dry, northern-style humor. The band members' haircuts and shoes are very original! It's an easy-to-watch road movie with the added bonus of being an absurd comedy. Some scenes are also filled with finely crafted jokes.

Production companies

Who made it

VI
Villealfa Filmproductions
FI
FI
Finnkino
FI
ME
Megamania
FI
ES
Esselte Video
SE

Key crew

ProducerKatinka Faragó
EditorRaija Talvio
Assistant DirectorPauli Pentti
Production ExecutiveKlaus Heydemann
Production ManagerJaakko Talaskivi
Production ManagerLisa Blok-Linson
Production ManagerPhil Linson
First Assistant CameraHeikki Ortamo
Second Assistant CameraTimo Markko
GafferMikko Mattila
GafferOlli Varja
GafferGary Hildebrand
GafferJoseph Dianda
Script SupervisorMalla Hukkanen
Still PhotographerMalla Hukkanen
Assistant EditorOuti Hyytinen
Production SecretaryHaije Alanoja
PublicistErkki Astala
Sound Re-Recording MixerKjell Westman
ProducerKlas Olofsson
ProducerAki Kaurismäki
DriverBobby Barret
DriverJoanne Figueroa
Production AssistantDale Ashmun

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

career
rock 'n' roll
dreams
american dream
new orleans, louisiana
success
musical
outfit
finland
road movie

Release history · US

When it landed

Premiere1990-09-25· New York Film Festival
Theatrical1990-11-02PG-13· New York City, New York

Also known as

International titles

Ленинградские ковбои едут в АмерикуSU
Leningrad Cowboys van a AméricaUY

6.9