Neuigkeiten aus Lappland (The Missle, Ohjus)
Finland/Estonia 2024

Opening 14 Nov 2024

Directed by: Miia Tervo
Writing credits: Miia Tervo
Principal actors: Oona Airola, Pyry Kähkönen, Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Tommi Korpela, Jarkko Niemi

It’s 1984 and Niina (Oona Airola) lives with her children Janna and Jonne at the home of her parents in Finland. She has divorced her abusive husband Tapio (Tommi Eronen), who happens to be in jail. By mistake she accidentally drives her car into the house of Esko (Hannu-Pekka Björkman) and must make up for the wreckage. He prints the magazine Lappland News. And so, as a journalist, she will contribute a front-page article. Her topic is not long in “landing” when a Russian rocket carrying a nuclear war head crashes into the snow near Lake Kaavinjärvi in Lapland, Finland. This is dangerous and could explode. Who else heard the crash? The physicist Mailis Ahmo is also investigating. Suddenly Tapio appears back in the picture.

The original title Ohjus means “The Missile” in English. It is being presented as a comedy, although it is more of a serious, even sad, love story, based on the true story of a Russian missile that crashed, also in 1984, at Lake Inari, also in Lapland, Finland. Snow is naturally in every scene, considering it’s far north and wintertime. A young soldier, Kai, appears to help develop the love story. The town Hamburg is mentioned twice halfway into the plot. Interesting advice is: “If nothing works, reveal your low neckline. That’s a female’s weapon.” The story happens forty years ago, a time when old-fashioned typewriters were important, and news was not shared online. Neuigkeiten aus Lappland premiered at the 2024 Göteborg Film Festival where Oona Airola won best acting in a Nordic film. Enjoy the excellent actors and the never-ending snow and hope finally to see the rocket. (Becky Tan)