Kidnappers – Kidnapning (2017)

Directed by: Frederik Meldal Nørgaard | 81 minutes | comedy, crime | Actors: Alfred Bjerre Larsen, Luca Reichardt Ben Coker, Samuel Jacob Hallas, Kristian Ibler, Jonas Kriegbaum, Brian Lykke, Anders Brink Madsen, Christian Mosbæk, Cornelius Müller, Mette Svane Pedersen, Dina Rosenmeier, Morten Feldt

Bjarne Reuter is one of Denmark’s most famous children’s authors. Since 1975 he has written dozens of books, mostly set in and around Copenhagen. For example, ‘Buster’s World’, which was released in 1979, was made into a television series and a movie. In 1977 Reuter was awarded the children’s book prize of the Danish Ministry of Culture for his work and in 2000 ‘En som hodder’ was awarded the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for best children’s book in Germany. He was also nominated twice – in 2002 and 2004 – for the prestigious biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award, an award that is seen as the Nobel Prize for children’s literature. Sven Methling made a film of his very first book ‘Kidnappers’ (original title ‘Kidnapning’) from 1975 in the early eighties. Frederik Meldal Nørgaard, who is making his way as an actor in the crime series ‘Those Who Kill’, but is also a screenwriter and director, thought it was time in 2017 for a new film adaptation of Reuters debut. He didn’t need to freshen up much, because ‘Kidnappers’ is a timeless story that also appeals to the imagination of today’s youth.

The story is told from the perspective of Anders (Alfred Bjerre Larsen), the most well-behaved of the four children in the Jakobsen family. Since father Michael (Anders Brink Madsen) ended up in prison for cigarette smuggling, mother and her four children – in addition to Anders we have daughter Winni (Mette Svane Pedersen) and sons Oskar (Samuel Jacob Hallas) and Bertram (Luca Reichardt Ben Coker) – to make ends meet. They are very creative about this, but the reminders keep piling up and just on the day that father is released from prison, the family is evicted. Mother is so shocked that she literally collapses and ends up in the hospital. Uncle Georg (Brian Lykke), a petty thief who was in fact responsible for the otherwise fairly good Michael coming into contact with the law, offers Michael and the children temporary shelter. He has also found the way for them to get rid of their money worries: he comes up with a plan to kidnap the son of a very wealthy businessman (Kristian Ibler) and demand a ransom. Michael is not allowed to know anything about it, but the children have to help him lure the boy into the car. Surprisingly, this Bernard (Cornelius Müller) is happy to cooperate with the plan; he sees it as the ultimate way to get the attention of his ever-absent father. Georg and the kids already count themselves rich, but they haven’t taken into account butler Mikkelsen (Christian Mosbæk), who has devised his own nefarious plan.

The story is as old as director Nørgaard himself, but is still rock solid. Where the biggest criticism of the 1982 film adaptation was that the plot is not played out so nicely, that also applies to this version; the ending seems a bit rushed. Too bad, because ‘Kidnappers’ introduces us to some colorful characters. Of course they are a bit overweight (especially the criminal uncle Georg and the unreliable butler Mikkelsen), but there is also a lot of recognition for children. The plot line with the father absent on business in particular appeals to the imagination. Why mother’s role remains so marginal is curious. That is why we focus on the children and their mutual relationships. The inventive ways in which they go to work to score some extra food and drink or to deceive adults are funny. The camera work is not spectacular, rather basic. That actually applies to the entire set-up of the film, which has to rely purely on its story. Today’s youth are spoiled for choice with special effects and computer-animated techniques; technically, ‘Kidnapping’ seems a bit dated. None of the actors rise above themselves. Nevertheless, ‘Kidnappers’ is an entertaining film that will certainly captivate the young target group with its timeless adventure and unspectacular but solid execution.