Rocky VI

Dir: Aki Kaurismäki

1986

****

Aki Kaurismaki’s Rocky VI is the director at his most playful. It’s a short parody of the Rocky films that was released in 1986 – coming a year after Rocky IV, the specific Rocky film is pokes fun at. It actually came a whole two decades before the actual Rocky VI and is no less ridiculous. It’s clear aim was to make fun of Rocky IV’s silly USA vs. USSR storyline and shows a fight that sees both countries in a completely different stereotype, with the American boxer being weak, unprepared and malnourished, while the Russian opponent is overweight, drunk on vodka and a little more thick-skinned. There is less to the fighters than there is of their managers and promoters, who are seen to enjoy many luxuries, gourmet food and plenty of drink. Unlike the real Rocky, the American boxer loses after being knocked out fairly early on in the fight. Kaurismaki relishes every minute, later describing the short film as “my revenge on Mr. Stallone, who I think is an asshole”. It’s a lovely little protest against American films that were fuelled by cold war themes that were a little too black and white for the rest of the world. It has become something of a favourite at film festivals and is staple education at film schools around the world. I like everything about it, but more than that, as a huge Aki Kaurismaki fan, it’s a wonderful example of his development and the source of many of his greatest works. It’s playfulness and the comradery within is a clear influence on the Leningrad Cowboys films and plays like a short but mature advance of Calamari Union. However, it also marks the last time Kaurismaki moved about as much. His films soon became rather static, like oil paintings, more refined if you will. Rocky VI is a bit punk, a playful protest but without the anarchy. There is an element of controlled chaos about it, which is a wonderful bit of sleight of hand that made many of his early works so appealing. It was great seeing such European directors fighting back as it were against the onslaught of tiresome Hollywood blockbusters. I can think of many who protested like Kaurismaki did but none that did is so directly and with such panache.