The film is about a security guard who is set up in a robbery by a femme fatale who exploits his gullibility and loyalty.

Classical music is used as background throughout much of the film, including excerpts from the work of the famous Swedish tenor Jussi Björling.

While drinking alone in a bar, he catches the eye of some criminals headed by Lindholm who learn of his occupation.

Koistinen's only human contact is the grill vendor Aila to whom he outlines his plans of starting his own company.

Returning from his break, Koistinen meets a young boy in front of the pub and asks if he knows the owners of the dog.

Koistinen seeks a loan to start his own business, but is harshly refused at the bank due to his insufficient education and lack of guarantors.

Lindholm calls up the head waitress and tells about Koistinen's criminal record, which results in him being fired immediately.

The young boy who warned Koistinen earlier sees the thugs take him away and finds Aila.

However, Kaurismäki decided to boycott the awards and refused the nomination as a protest against US President George W. Bush's foreign policy.

Kaurismäki also boycotted the 2002 gala, when his previous film The Man Without a Past (2002) was nominated for an Oscar.

The site's critical consensus reads, "From its brilliant cinematography to its compassionate characters, Lights in the Dusk is another successful exercise in deadpan minimalist comedy from Aki Kaurismäki.

"[3] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 57 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".