In Samppa Batal’s Romantic Dramedy ‘Apple Thieves,’ It’s Time to Fall in Love – And to Get Really Drunk (EXCLUSIVE)
variety.comMarta Balaga Finnish director Samppa Batal finds sadness in romance and romance in sadness in the Helsinki-set “Apple Thieves.” “I see it as a romantic dramedy,” he says. “I believe we should embrace sadness [in relationships] because it will come.
The problems start when we refuse to admit it. I don’t remember when, but I have learned to embrace it and live through it, and it doesn’t feel that bad.” In the (mostly) black-and-white film world-premiering at Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy – previously, it was presented at its industry sidebar Finnish Film Affair – Sebe (Joel Hirvonen) is going through a devastating breakup in the middle of the pandemic.
Forced to go out with his friends, he meets Satu (Satu Tuuli Karhu). Sparks fly, even with their masks on, but they are both terrified of starting anything new. “With the actors, we talked a lot about where these characters come from and what they fear.
Sebe has lost his self-respect and Satu hasn’t realized she lost hers as well. They share the same story, but they are not in the same place,” explains Batal, who encouraged improvisation “on set and before.” “I wrote the dialogues, but not every line.
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