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Unemployed Man's Bold Life Choice Sparks Debate
14 May
Summary
- A Finnish satire explores ideological unemployment and its impact on love.
- The story centers on a man who deliberately lives on social welfare.
- The film is based on a novel that ignited public debate in Finland.
The upcoming Finnish film "Arrogance" features Jussi Vatanen and Seidi Haarla in a satirical exploration of deliberate unemployment. Vatanen plays Ossi, a man who chooses to be unemployed on ideological grounds, bonding with Kaisa, played by Haarla, over a shared love for literature. Their happiness faces a challenge when Kaisa secures an internship in Paris, but Ossi cannot accompany her due to mandatory, demeaning training for the long-term unemployed.
Facing the potential loss of Kaisa, Ossi decides to write a book detailing his life and choices. The film is based on Ossi Nyman's 2017 novel "Röyhkeys" ("Arrogance"), a provocative and darkly humorous work that generated considerable public discussion in Finland. The novel's critique of work culture and social norms divided opinions, with some praising its boldness and others finding it irresponsible.
The film received development support from the Torino Script Lab in 2022 and production backing from the Finnish Film Foundation. Ville Jankeri directed and wrote the screenplay. Sons of Lumière is producing, having previously premiered their film "Earth Song" at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January. Nordisk Film will distribute the film across the Nordic region, with Folkets Bio handling theatrical rights in Sweden.
