Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1987
Farewell, Mr. President
Buy Farewell, Mr. President now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Farewell, Mr. President' (or 'Goodbye, Mr. President';[https://www.listal.com/movie/jaahyvaiset-presidentille Goodbye, Mr. President (Jhyviset presidentille) (1987)] - Listal.com ) is a 1987 Finnish thriller and action film directed by Matti Kassila and starring Hannu Lauri. It tells the story of a bitter waiter planning to assassinate the president.[https://mubi.com/films/goodbye-mr-president FAREWELL, MR. PRESIDENT (1987)] - MUBI The film is based on a 1979 thriller novel of the same name by Pentti Kirstil. Unlike contemporary Finnish films, the film is a thrilling film strongly influenced by post-classic Hollywood films.Jaakko Seppl: "Kiikarithtimess tasavallan presidentti", p. 225
With a budget of more than FIM 3 million, the film once received little attention from viewers and its reception were mostly mixed. However, Hannu Lauri, who played the lead, was awarded the Jussi Award for his chilling performance.
Plot summary
The main character of the film is Asko Mertanen (Hannu Lauri), a Tamperean waiter who have tall poppy syndrome. During his work, he sees the bosses of the city and the construction business elite celebrating "with worker's money." Feeling anger and bitterness about this, Mertanen is planning the assassination of the President of Finland (Tarmo Manni). Mertanen's girlfriend, waitress Eeva-Maria (Laila Rikk), wants to witness as he practices for his plan by shooting at a live target. At the same time, police are investigating the death of another female waitress, leading to interrogating Eeva-Maria, and during that, the police notice Mertanen for the first time. Several events come in contact with him, and in this way Detective Hanhivaara (Antti Litja), who is investigating strange shootings, manages to track him down.
Cast
Production
The film was shot in the summer of 1986 in Helsinki, Tampere and the surrounding areas. Hannu Lauri plays the role of Mertanen, and as a bald-headed president reminiscent of Urho Kekkonen, Tarmo Manni is doing his last film role work as the President.'[https://www.finna.fi/Record/kavi.elonet_elokuva_101280 Jhyviset presidentille]' - National Audiovisual Institute, 'Finna.fi' (in Finnish) President Kekkonen died during the filming, and Kassila even thought that the film could not be continued. Earlier, in March 1986, there had been the assassination of Olof Palme, the Prime Minister of Sweden, and during the filming, Mikkeli hostage crisis also happened.
Reception
Contemporary reviews gave the film both praise and criticism. Sakari Toiviainen ('Ilta-Sanomat') considered the film a rarity: "A well-made action film in a 100% Finnish environment with 100% Finnish people". Erkka Lehtola's ('Aamulehti') evaluation of the film was also positive, considering it to be done professionally, but still finding criticism for the lack of a social reference background. Pentti Stranius ('Kansan ni') found the character of the murderer too obvious, even clichd, while Heikki Etelp ('Uusi Suomi') thought that Hannu Lauri's role as murderer was very charismatic. Arto Pajukallio ('Tv-maailma') describes his later evaluation the film's dialogue as "too contrived",AP: 'Jhyviset presidentille', p. 13. Pivn elokuvia, 'Tv-maailma', 3/2014 (in Finnish) while Pertti Avola ('Helsingin Sanomat') states that the story has gained more credibility over time.Pertti Avola: 'Thtimess Kekkosen nkinen presidentti', p. B 17. Tv & radio, 'Helsingin Sanomat', January 23, 2013. (in Finnish)
Analysis
Jaakko Seppl states in his article on Kassila's career-telling biography, 'Elokuvat kertovat, Matti Kassila', that although main character Mertanen is motivated by tall poppy syndrome, the film itself does not deal with the "horsetrading" of politics and the business world. "Tall poppy syndrome", Seppl says, "is the key to understanding the whole film." He equates Mertanen with Lalli, a Finnish peasant who traditionally killed Bishop Henry in the Middle Ages. Admittedly, Lalli's act is revenge at the individual level, which is not what Mertanen's plan is. Seppl describes Mertanen's act as collective in the sense that Mertanen believes that by his actions he will end the era of corruption.Jaakko Seppl: "Kiikarithtimess tasavallan presidentti", p. 226227Harto Hnninen: '[https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2017/08/17/hairiintynyt-skini-yrittaa-tappaa-presidentin-kassilan-jaahyvaiset Hiriintynyt skini yritt tappaa presidentin Kassilan Jhyviset presidentille ]'. YLE Teema, 'YLE', August 17, 2017. (in Finnish)Sources
*
References
Buy Farewell, Mr. President now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1987