Lights in the Dusk 2007

Koistinen is a lonely nightwatchman whose job is to keep an eye on a shopping mall. Despite his efforts to reach out and socialize, he faces coldness from his manager and ridicule from his colleagues. One night, while drinking alone at a bar, he catches the attention of a group of criminals led by Lindholm, who soon learn about his job. The only person he feels connected to is Aila, the grill vendor, with whom he shares his dreams of starting a business.

During his shifts, Koistinen notices a dog left outside a pub without water, which stirs his compassion. On his break, he meets Mirja, who tells him he seems lonely, and they arrange to go on a date. However, upon returning to his post, he encounters a boy who warns him about the dog’s owners. Undeterred, Koistinen confronts them at the pub but pays for it dearly when they attack him.

On their date, the atmosphere is awkward; they scarcely converse, and Koistinen watches as Mirja dances with other men during a concert. Still, they plan to meet again. When he returns to Aila’s grill to share the evening’s happenings, she dismisses him, feeling offended. Meanwhile, Mirja meets with Lindholm to collect her payment and ridicules Koistinen by disclosing their relationship details.

Desperate to fund his business, Koistinen is met with harsh rejection at the bank due to his lack of qualifications and guarantors. In an unexpected twist, Mirja seeks him out during his rounds at work, and as Koistinen explains the mall’s security, she memorizes the security code he shares. Her intentions become clearer as she relays this information to Lindholm, who instructs her to cool off the façade of their relationship.

When Mirja visits Koistinen at his apartment, she abruptly leaves when he tries to get closer to her. Feeling dejected, Koistinen sinks into heavy drinking and ends up back at Aila’s grill, where she shows him kindness by walking him home and settling him into bed.

At work, a colleague taunts Koistinen about his romantic failures, provoking him. Though he grabs the man, he restrains himself from hitting him and continues his rounds. Later, Mirja meets him and convinces him to leave with her. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to him, she drugs him and hands his keys to one of Lindholm’s associates. They utilize his keys and the security code to orchestrate a robbery of a jewelry store in the mall.

Following the crime, the police interrogate Koistinen, but he maintains his innocence, claiming he was alone and intoxicated. Lacking evidence, they release him, but he is promptly dismissed from his job. Under Lindholm’s directive, Mirja meets him again, this time to plant incriminating evidence. Koistinen notices her suspicious behavior but does nothing, leading to his arrest. He receives a two-year prison sentence.

Initially, Koistinen grapples with loneliness behind bars and tears up a supportive letter from Aila. Just as he starts to find camaraderie among other inmates, he is unexpectedly released on parole after a year. He finds shelter in a temporary lodging and secures a job as a dishwasher in a restaurant, where he encounters Aila but chooses to step away. However, she pursues him to the night shelter, expressing interest in his future plans. When Koistinen expresses a desire to open a garage, Aila praises his hopefulness and they agree to meet again.

As fate would have it, Koistinen spots Mirja and Lindholm at his workplace but chooses not to confront them. Lindholm maliciously informs the head waitress of Koistinen’s criminal history, resulting in his immediate dismissal. In a fit of rage, Koistinen retrieves a knife and returns to the restaurant. As he attempts to confront Lindholm, he is quickly subdued by thugs. They consider killing him, but Lindholm, ever the businessman, declines.

The young boy who once warned Koistinen witnesses him being taken away. After informing Aila, they discover Koistinen severely beaten at the harbor alongside the dog he once tried to rescue. Though Aila offers to fetch help, Koistinen asks her to remain by his side. When she expresses her concern about his survival, he reassures her with a steadfast, > “I won’t die yet,” while squeezing her hand.