The Kidnapping of a President is an interesting and amusing film of the attempted muddling takeover of Finnish democracy.
The Kidnapping of a President screens as part of the Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival 2026, more information about the festival is available here:
https://www.palacenova.com.au/events/hurtigruten-nordic-film-festival-2026
Read the Glam Adelaide story about the festival here: Glam Adelaide – Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festive 2026
Inspired by true events, The Kidnapping of a President is an entertaining retelling of the 1930 kidnapping of the ex-first president of Finland and his wife by the far-right Lapua Movement.
The Kidnapping of a President begins with Lieutenant Colonel Eero Kuussaari (Jussi Vatanen) longing for a promotion in his rank but due to his previous incompetence he has earned the nickname of Der Saboteur. After lying to his wife, Marjatta (Elsa Saisio), that he has received a promotion, he confronts his friend General Kurt Wallenius (Aku Sipola) as to why he has been overlooked. Wallenius is sympathetic to his friend and he brings Kuussaari into his circle of conspirators who are seeking to overthrow Finland’s young democracy. The group go on a drunken bender and three days later Kuussaari finds himself in a hotel in Joensuu in eastern Finland, where he receives a coded message that he doesn’t understand.
Meanwhile, a group of 4 bumbling henchmen, Jukka Janné (Elias Salonen), Erkki Varoma (Alvari Stenbäck), Eino Olin (Markus Misukka) and Sven Fjalar Semenius (Alex Paul Pukk) have kidnapped the former President Kaarlo Ståhlberg (Pertti Sveholm) and his wife, Ester Ståhlberg (Riitta Havukainen) and they are bringing them to Joesuu. After the henchmen contact Kuussaari, he discovers that in his drunken stupor, he ordered the kidnapping. He tells Wallenius, who is initially annoyed, but then embraces the idea of bringing forward the revolution.
Screenwriters John Lundsten and Samuli Valkama (who is also the director) have produced a funny and engaging script that keeps the narrative moving as the two streams of the story come together. Valkama coordinates the on screen action ably through the 1 hour and 27 minutes. The Production Designer, Henrich Boraros and Costume Designer, Eugen Tamberg have produced an authentic representation of the era adding a sense of realism to the film.
Vatanen performs well as Kuussaari but is outshone by Sipola who delivers a Blackadder Flashheart like version of Wallenius. Salonen, Stenbäck, Misukka and Pukk perform skillfully in the roles as the inept henchmen. Sveholm and Havukainen perform stoically well as the straight people to their stumbling kidnappers.
The Kidnapping of a President is an interesting and amusing film of this attempted muddling takeover of Finnish democracy.
Reviewed by Rob McKinnon
Rating 4 out of 5
Distributor: NordiskFilmFinland
