★★★½
Set in Helsinki in 1930, The Kidnapping of a President, funnily enough, tells the story of exactly that: the kidnapping of President Stahlberg. What ensues is a series of incompetent events.
An alcoholic Lieutenant Colonel, Eoro, drunkenly issues the call for a revolution early, enlisting a team of ragamuffins to kidnap the president, forgets through his drunken stupor and then has to piece together his actions that lead to the promotion he’s been desperately seeking.
Meanwhile, the band of kidnappers struggle to put up with the president and his chatterbox, expert negotiator wife, all the while crumbling under the moral pressure of the assignment.
The film is set in a deadly serious way, with drab, militant production design, setting the scene for the lonely world of Eoro, our protagonist. Jussi Vatanen, who plays Eoro, is a prince of dry humour. I loved him in his previous film Fallen Leaves, but he takes that dry tone and amps it up to a new volume for this narrative.
Vatanen is the glue that keeps the silliness of the narrative together. He’s just enough of a complete loser that you almost feel bad for him, a hilarious take on the typical ‘straight man’ protagonist for a comedy film.
Aku Sipola is a total scene stealer. As General Kurt Matti Wallenius, he is extravagant and eccentric, going balls to the wall in a way that still feels believable for a delusional military official obsessed with power and attention.
I’m always interested to see how comedy translates across continents, when every country has their own specific sense of humour, especially something like political satire without knowing much going in. However, because the world of the film is incredibly straight-faced, the ridiculousness of the narrative, matched with the witty and droll script, keeps the laughs coming.
The serious backdrop of military politics and attempts at political treason become the comedy, and the ineptitude of each player adds to the joke. Under Samuli Valkama’s direction, the film feels reminiscent of a Coen Brothers or Armando Iannucci film, almost like if The Death of Stalin and Fargo had a baby.
The film is snappy, just under 90 minutes, with crisp editing that wastes no time and keeps the pace moving seamlessly with the comedic beats. This is paired with a great period-inspired score with jazzy snares and a brilliant use of horns to keep things goofy but maintain the intensity for the characters.
The Kidnapping of a President is an offbeat, blackly comic take on historical fiction. Beneath its absurd premise lies a sharp satire on the fragility of the male ego and the desperate need to prove oneself to those who refuse to be impressed.
By skilfully weaving together its multiple storylines, the film allows each character’s blind ambition to collide, building to a finale that is as ironic as it is entertaining.
The Kidnapping of a President runs at the 2026 Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival from 9 July, with dates varying in each city.
See full city dates and venues below.
Tickets: https://nordicfilmfestival.com.au/films/nor26-the-kidnapping-of-a-president
Website: https://nordicfilmfestival.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/nordicfilmfest/
Hero image supplied. Watch the trailer below:
Film details:
Title: The Kidnapping of a President
Director: Samuli Valkama
Cast: Jussi Vatanen, Aku Sipola, Pertti Sveholm, Riitta Havukainen
Country of Origin: Finland, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Estonia
Duration: 87 mins
Rating: CTC
2026 Festival Dates and Venues by City:
Canberra: 9 July – 2 August, Palace Electric
Melbourne: 10 July – 2 August, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Church St, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Penny Lane, The Kino, Pentridge Cinema and The Astor Theatre
Ballarat: 10 July – 2 August, Palace Regent Cinema
Brisbane: 22 July – 16 August, Palace James St, Palace Barracks
Adelaide: 22 July – 16 August, Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
Sydney: 23 July – 16 August, Palace Norton St, Palace Moore Park and Palace Central
Perth: 23 July – 16 August, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Palace Raine Square
Byron Bay and Ballina: 23 July – 16 August, Palace Byron Bay, Ballina Fair Cinemas
