Calamari Union (1985): cast, story & where to watch
1985 · Film · ★ 6.9
Released in 1985, Calamari Union is a comedy film directed by Aki Kaurismäki, running about 81 minutes.
What it’s about. Calamari Union is an allegorical movie that tells the story of sixteen men all of whom are called Frank (inspired by Frank Armoton) apart from a single confrere, Pekka. Collectively the Franks and Pekka are unhappy with the perceived oppression they face in their district of Helsinki, Kallio, and decide to move to another, Eira, imagining it to be an unspoiled place where people can live lives of dignity. The journey is an ironic one given that both districts are not so far apart. In this spirit, their journey across the city takes on epic proportions with each of the travellers gradually falling by the wayside due to such travails as marriage, work, and death. In its entirety the film is a wry discussion of humanity within a system that regards humans as subservient components.
Who’s in it. Calamari Union stars Pirkka-Pekka Petelius as Frank, Timo Eränkö as Frank, Kari Heiskanen as Frank and Asmo Hurula as Frank, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, Calamari Union has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and Curzon Home Cinema. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Calamari Union page.
If you liked it. Fans of Calamari Union tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Calamari Union (1985)?
- In GB, Calamari Union is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Calamari Union worth watching?
- Calamari Union holds an audience score of 6.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Calamari Union?
- Calamari Union stars Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, Timo Eränkö, Kari Heiskanen, Asmo Hurula and Sakari Kuosmanen.
- When was Calamari Union released?
- Calamari Union was released in 1985, with a runtime of about 81 minutes.