Laugh or Die is a dark comedy-drama directed by Heikki Kujanpää and released in 2018. Set in the late 19th century in a remote prison camp in Finland, the story revolves around a troupe of prisoners who are forced to entertain their Russian captors with a comedy show that will determine their fate.
The main character is a serious and self-important film director named Juha (played by Martti Suosalo), who is among the prisoners. Juha is initially resistant to the idea of making a comedy, but he soon realizes that his survival depends on it. He sets out to create a show that will make the hard-to-please Russian officers laugh, with the help of his fellow inmates who have various skills and talents.
As the group scrambles to rehearse and perfect their act, tensions rise among them. There are conflicts over the script, the casting, and the staging, as well as personal rivalries and romantic entanglements. Meanwhile, the brutal Russian commander is watching their every move, plotting their punishment if they fail to deliver.
The film tackles themes of power, oppression, and creativity under duress, as well as the nature of comedy and its ability to bring people together. It offers a unique blend of slapstick, satire, and drama, all set against a starkly beautiful landscape of snow and ice.
Laugh or Die received critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards, including Best Film and Best Director at the Finnish Film Awards. It is a thought-provoking and entertaining movie that ultimately asks: what is the value of laughter in a world of suffering and injustice?
