Leningrad Cowboys Go America

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Leningrad Cowboys Go America
VHS cover
Directed by	Aki Kaurismäki
Produced by	Katinka Faragó Aki Kaurismäki Klas Olofsson
Written by	Sakke Järvenpää Aki Kaurismäki Mato Valtonen
Starring	Matti Pellonpää Kari Väänänen The Leningrad Cowboys: Sakke Järvenpää Heikki Keskinen Pimme Korhonen Sakari Kuosmanen Puka Oinonen Silu Seppälä Mauri Sumén Mato Valtonen Pekka Virtanen Nicky Tesco as „lost cousin“
Music by	Mauri Sumén
Cinematography	Timo Salminen
Editing by	Raija Talvio
Release date(s)	March 24, 1989
Running time	78 min
Country	Finland
Language	English
Followed by	Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
IMDb profile

Leningrad Cowboys Go America is a 1989 road movie by Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki about the adventures of a fictional Russian rock band (the Leningrad Cowboys, played by the Finnish rock band Sleepy Sleepers) that goes to the United States to become famous. The title came from the Marx Brothers film Go West (1940).

Leningrad Cowboys Go America was followed five years later by a sequel, Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses (1994) and a concert film Total Balalaika Show (1994). As a result of the success of the film, the band took off in its own right.

[edit] Plot

At the beginning, the Leningrad Cowboys, a band with foot-long pompadour hairstyles, are in Siberia, where nobody likes their polka music. Due to their seemingly complete lack of talent, a move to America comes as a natural choice, as they say people will listen to "anything" there. Before they leave for America, one band member goes outside to practice and freezes. An agent in New York offers them a gig at a wedding in Mexico, and recommends that they change their musical style to rock and roll. They buy a car and set off to earn their way through the Deep South, carrying the coffin containing the frozen band member on the roof of their car. All the while they are being driven on and exploited by their manager Vladimir (Matti Pellonpää), who keeps his beer in the coffin, and pursued by the village idiot, Igor (Kari Väänänen), who tries to become a band member. The trip includes a spell in jail, and they pass the time by making noises on the table in their cell, causing the warden to wear ear muffs; having their car engine stolen; having one nightclub close after they play there; and meeting up with a lost cousin (Nicky Tesco). The band makes it to Mexico, where the frozen bass guitarist is revived with a shot of tequila and joins the group on stage. The manager leaves, and the band finally finds success and happiness, making the top ten.

[edit] Cast

Jim Jarmusch has a cameo as a car dealer. The film also includes a cameo by American Rockabilly Hall of Famer, Colonel Robert Morris, and his wife Irene.