Samppa Batal Talks Love, Drinking and ‘Apple Thieves’

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. It was something we could create together. Maybe I keep coming back to the subject of love because I think we don’t love enough in our world or we don’t dare to show it? Maybe I am just trying to show it more. To everyone, to my partner and complete strangers.”

Batal, who produces alongside Tuomas Kohtamäki for Cinerain and Grade One, echoed some of his personal experiences – or insecurities – as well.

“Joel would probably say that sometimes, he’s playing Samppa. I think it might be a bit of a taboo to talk about how men view their bodies. We are supposed to be tough. In ‘Apple Thieves,’ we show a man at his most vulnerable.”

And at his most intoxicated. Sebe, as well as his faithful buddies and everyone they meet on their way, is ready to drink the night away.

“I’ve been drunk a few times in my life, and during some of these times I remember thinking: ‘I would like to see a film where everyone is drunk.’ Like in [Andrey Zvyagintsev’s] ‘Leviathan’,” he jokes.

“It was fun to do and fun to watch, even though it’s not easy to believably act drunk. Also, this is how we spend time in Finland. When I was younger, you had a job and you had friends, and you didn’t really have anything in common – except for the drinking.”

But any company, even intoxicated, can come in handy – especially during heartbreak.

“When you break up as a 20-year-old, it’s the end of the world. Everything is gray and you see no future. Together, we can find the strength to carry on – even until the next morning.”

“Apples Thieves,” which exclusively premieres the first clip here and will be released locally in November, is an ode to films where “nothing really happens” and yet everything does.

“I like them a lot,” admits Batal.

“I wanted it to feel like that kind of night out when in the morning you say: ‘Remember when we met this guy on the street? Who the hell was that?!’ There is a bit of nostalgia too, because my generation might be the last one behaving like that. Apparently, the next one doesn’t drink.”

Following 2022 “Timeman,” “Apple Thieves” marks another independent film for Batal, made without the support of the Finnish Film Foundation.

“I haven’t necessarily decided to make films without funding, but during the pandemic everything shut down,” he says.

“I thought it would be my last independent project, but looking at what our government is doing [announcing budget cuts for culture], it probably won’t be. I can’t wait for years; I like to seize the moment. I don’t know anything about football, but if you really want to score and you wait too long, you won’t make it. That moment will pass you by. None of my films would have been made if I’d waited.”

Also, with great power – or budget – comes great responsibility, he argues.

“The bigger the budget, the more compromises I actually had to make. The way people approach independent film in Finland is that the less money there is, the less possibilities you get. That’s not my experience. It’s about finding the right partners and making sure no one’s in a hurry to get home. This is the most honest thing I’ve ever done. It’s actually quite touching that we’ve managed to accomplish all that.”

Just like Richard Linklater in his ‘Before’ trilogy, Batal might be tempted to return to his unlikely couple one day.

“I almost shot a sequel to ‘Apple Thieves’ at one point. I’m still thinking about it.”