Lipton Cockton in the Shadows of Sodoma is a dystopian science fiction film with a symbolic narrative about how hard-line masculinity has perverted the world.The events of the movie take place in the Ugric ghetto of Vladivostok, a peripheral mega-city in the European Federation in the future. The main characters speak Finnish, a Finno-Ugric language, but also both English and Russian are heard and they appear to be more prestigious languages in the society. The city infrastructure is crumbling in the ghetto and people are poor. 80% of the populace earn meager living by subjecting themselves to medical experiments for multinational corporations. The world is in an environmental and social crisis.A series of deaths of inexplicably exploding people has caused a wave of terror among the populace that could destabilize the government, which is unable to protect them. Lipton Cockton, a lone über manly detective (played by Jorma Tommila of Rare Exports fame), is on the case. The government sends a sadistic federal officer (played by director Jari Halonen himself) to take lead of the investigation and to bring it to the conclusion at any cost. In the following torturous days Cockton finds out that the real threat is not some lone lunatic bomber but the system, for whose protection he has dedicated his life.The film looks good and believable in spite of the low budget. This is achieved by excellent staging and lighting. The entire film takes place in crumbling urban surroundings, so there aren't any spectacular sci-fi sights except for the futuristic subway. Some props require suspension of disbelief, like Cockton's three-wheeled vehicle and the robot in front of Apocalypse Gallery.The actors are convincing though they play absurd roles in an absurd story. Cockton doesn't seem to do much actual detective work, he just wanders around the city and bumps into clues. The main thread of the story seems to be about blows to Cockton's masculinity. Anyway, lack of character motivation is the biggest weakness of the film. Fifteen minutes before the end I was worried is the director able to draw the story to a satisfying conclusion. Fortunately he is. The story unfolds nicely and Cockton makes a choice between regaining his masculinity and something else.All in all, Lipton Cockton in the Shadows of Sodoma is a satisfying movie watching experience. It is worth seeing for more than just its curiosity value.

In "Lipton Cockton in the Shadows of Sodoma", it is year 2037 and people mysteriously explode in the peripheric city of Vladivostok, part of the United Europe. A top detective, Lipton Cockton, is sent there to investigate this crime wave. The movie goes a bit strange and funny, but this film is not to be taken too seriously. Still, the sets and models are quite good for an indie film like this, they succeed in creating the ragged and dirty atmosphere of future Vladivostok.

A real collage of feverish narration, cheap special effects, dark humour and several nearly-perfectly lit scenes with magnificent colours.But remember. This is not a movie that should - by any means - be taken too seriously.If you ever have a chance, do yourself a favor and watch this movie! Seriously...

Vladivostok, the far eastern border on the European Federation. A stunning mystery of self-exploding men and women... And as Lipton Cockton, a private eye and a tough guy, solves these mysteries he also finds the way to his inner self.