The film No Comment, directed by Petter Næss and based on real political events in Norway, premiered this week at the 29th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. The movie explores the murky waters of political scandal and crisis management, drawing inspiration from former Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who faced scrutiny due to her husband’s stock trading activities during her tenure from 2013 to 2021.
The plot centers around a fictional politician, Alma Solvik, portrayed by Laila Goody, who finds herself embroiled in a scandal just before elections. As her husband, Sondre, allegedly uses government insider information for stock transactions, Alma assembles a crisis communication team led by Pia Tjelta. They devise strategies aimed at deflecting blame and winning the election with the campaign slogan “Sondre is the culprit.”
Næss describes the film as a universal narrative about the desire for power and the extreme lengths individuals will go to maintain their position. He highlights how Alma wins the election in the film, contrasting it with real-life calls for her resignation. “Her stubbornness killed her,” he noted in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
The urgency of the project was underscored by the need to complete it before Norway’s parliamentary elections in early September 2023. Tjelta found inspiration for her character in Kellyanne Conway, the former advisor to Donald Trump. She researched Conway’s role in shaping political narratives and engaged with PR professionals to better understand the dynamics at play.
Goody found her character compelling, noting Alma’s composed demeanor amidst chaos. “She gives very little away,” Goody remarked. This complexity provided rich material for the actress, who also expressed her love for political satire, citing influences like The West Wing.
In a humorous twist, the film includes a scene where the two lead characters rap to bolster their confidence during the crisis. Both actresses emphasized the difficulty of this sequence, with Goody stating, “The rap took practice, I promise you.”
Despite initial fears from politicians about the film’s portrayal of Alma, Goody explained that the narrative is infused with warmth and compassion. “It’s very important in a democracy to make fun of those in power,” she stated. Næss further clarified that the film refrains from delving into the personal lives of the political figures involved, particularly out of respect for their family.
The creators aimed to reflect the reality of political life while injecting humor into the narrative. “Everything is true, but not accurate,” Tjelta explained, indicating that while the film draws from real events, it does so with a satirical lens.
As the film gains international attention, it serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty in politics. Goody concluded, “Politicians would benefit if they started to be more honest and open because people are so sick of the spin.”
In a world where political scandals are a constant, No Comment provides a comedic yet poignant look at the strategies and consequences of maintaining power in the face of adversity.
