The Kidnapping of a President is a brisk, fact-based dark comedy from Finnish director Samuli Valkama. On October 14, 1930, a group of drunken far-right military officers from the Lapua Movement impulsively decided to kidnap Finland’s first president, the retired Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg (Pertti Sveholm), and his wife Ester (Riitta Havukainen). What should have been a decisive strike in a brewing coup quickly devolved into chaos, incompetence, and unintended consequences—think The Hangover meets a political thriller, with heavy shades of Armando Iannucci’s The Death of Stalin.
The film centers on characters like Lieutenant Colonel Eero Kuussaari (Jussi Vatanen), an officer with a reputation for sloppiness who gets pulled into the plot, and the more villainous Major General Kurt Wallenius (Aku Sipola). Their bumbling efforts, compounded by taking the no-nonsense Ester along for the ride, highlight the ridiculousness of the whole endeavor. The story unfolds across two main strands: the farcical kidnapping itself and the dawning realization back at base that the “revolution” (planned for 1931) kicked off prematurely thanks to one too many drinks.
I have to praise the film’s historical elements, visual beauty, and it’s sharp humor. Production design, costuming, and cinematography vividly recreate the interwar period, immersing viewers in 1930s Finland amid rising far-right tensions. The performances land well: Vatanen brings a disappointed, everyman quality to Eero, while Havukainen’s Ester stands out as delightfully steely. The brisk 82–87 minute runtime keeps things moving with buddy-movie energy and pitch-perfect black comedy that lets the absurd real events speak for themselves.
That said, as a comedy, it didn’t fully land for me. The historical accuracy and visual splendor are undeniable assets. There are genuinely funny moments, particularly in the escalating absurdity of the kidnapping and the officers’ cluelessness. However, the humor often felt flat or broader than it needed to be. It leans more into satirical observation than gut-busting laughs, which works for its cautionary aims but left me wanting more consistent comedic punch.
The Kidnapping of a President is a worthwhile watch for fans of historical dark comedies, Finnish cinema, or stories that blend absurdity with real stakes. Its beauty, production values, and grounding in a wild true event make it stand out, even if the comedy doesn’t always soar to the heights of its potential. It’s a solid, timely reminder of how close buffoonery can come to catastrophe—worth catching for its charm and insight.
Screening at the 2026 Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival.
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