Ten Minutes Older

Ten Minutes Older is a 2002 anthology film that brings together some of the most respected names in international cinema to explore the theme of time - a subject that remains one of the most fascinating and ungraspable aspects of human existence.

This film is composed of two parts: "The Trumpet" and "The Cello". The compilation is a series of 15 short films, each offering the director’s personal commentary on time from their own cultural and philosophical perspectives. The fifteen directors involved, including such luminaries as Michael Radford, Volker Schlöndorff, and Peter Greenaway, each take an original approach, from the playful to the profound, the cynical to the philosophical.

The film begins with the Trumpet, and this is where we find Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki's contribution, "Dogs Have No Hell". His characters, played sublimely by the likes of Markku Peltola and Kati Outinen, occupy a melancholic and strange world. In Kaurismaki's world, the way you spend your time defines who you are and how you navigate the world around you. Music, a central theme in many of Kaurismaki’s films, is also prominent here, with Finnish rockabilly band, Marko Haavisto & Poutahaukat, further accentuating the atmosphere of the segment.

All the directors were given complete creative freedom within the loose confine of the '10-minute time frame' which serves as both a literal and metaphorical reference. The intent was for these short films to stimulate thought on temporality and its varied interpretations within the context of diverse cultures, societies and individual experiences.

What makes Ten Minutes Older a unique cinematic experience is the way it allows us to traverse various dimensions of the human experience as seen through the lens of time – presenting social realities, existential contemplations, and even delving into abstract expressions of the concept. Each director’s piece is a stand-alone work of art that resonates powerfully and emotionally with audiences, making the viewing experience akin to walking through a gallery filled with thought-provoking works of art.

The uniting thread of time not only holds the anthology together but also encourages viewers to think about time in their own life, the way they perceive it, and how its passage impacts them. Whether it’s pondering over wasted time, lost time, or lived time, the film opens up a space for audiences to reflect on their own existential relationship with time.

Each segment allows the fantastic cast, which not only includes Markku Peltola, Kati Outinen, and Marko Haavisto, but also features performances from some of the most reputable actors around the world, to show their magnificent acting prowess. They deliver performances that speak to the universal human condition, with each of their stories intertwining with the theme of time - recalling past moments, present occurrences or future anxieties.

Despite the diversity in storytelling mechanisms, the film manages to maintain a consistent tone brimming with thoughtfulness, wit, melancholy and attitude. It’s particularly striking how despite the uniqueness of each short from the perspective of its resolution and presentation, they harmoniously exist one after another, creating a smooth transition of thought, emotion and temporal consciousness.

The film's unique approach to the element of time, through myriad lenses, is a true testament to the flexibility of cinema as a medium to articulate abstract ideas and emotions. The moments of laughter, grief, surprise, and reflection that this film instigates in the viewer make it a rich tapestry of human experience.

To sum it up, Ten Minutes Older is an impressive collection of short films that offers a rare insight into the broad spectrum of human existence as viewed through the timescape. It encapsulates many aspects of time, as seen in different cultures, economic landscapes, individual lives and - crucially - in our minds and souls. It is an emotive, thought-provoking exploration of time that takes viewers on a memorable journey across the globe, across cultures, and into deeper levels of self-awareness and thought. The film’s ability to engage, entertain, and enlighten makes it a unique and valuable addition to international cinema. This is a definitive must-watch for those who enjoy intellectually and emotionally stimulating cinema as well as for lovers of international cinema.