NO COMMENT Review (from PÖFF 29)

(This review originally appeared in its entirety on scenethatreviews.com)

Welcome back to another review from 29th PÖFF | Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival! This time, from the “Official Selection Competition”, we have a political scandal that threatens to upend an election. It doesn’t matter what the story is though. All that matters is time and patience in… No Comment (2025).

Prime Minister Alma Solvik (Laila Goody) is locked-in and focused on the upcoming elections. The polls are close and she can’t afford even the slightest of missteps if she wants to win re-election for her party.

Well, apparently her husband, Sondre (Anders Baasmo Christiansen) failed to get that memo. A news story breaks that accuses Sondre of using inside information in order to trade stocks. While Sondre doesn’t deny making any trades, he does deny using insider information to place the trades.

As a result of the story, Alma begins to slide in the polls. She scrambles to assemble a crisis team to help navigate through this storm and salvage her campaign. Alma is happy with her team but feels that it could use an extra shot in the arm.

Enter Karianne (Pia Tjelta).

Alma and Karianne go way back. Though Karianne is no stranger to scandals. She’s has had her own fair share of late and is on the outside looking in as a result. Despite that, Alma recognizes Karianne’s determination to win and pulls her into the inner circle.

If push comes to shove, will Alma be able to sacrifice her husband to win reelection?

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Without a deep knowledge of Norwegian politics, I’m not sure that I can confidently say whether No Comment (2025) fits the bill of a political satire.

However, what I can say is that it works great as a dramatic comedy.

Alma, Sondre, and even Alma’s advisors have their moments to shine. But make no mistake, Pia Tjelta as Karianne is the real star here.

Whether it was rapping while drinking wine in order to relax, cutting down Sondre or a member of the crisis team, or just sitting there planning her next move, she demanded your attention anytime she was on-screen. And when she was speaking, I was hanging on her every word.

On the flip side, when Sondre was working independently to try and downplay his trades was when I was least engaged. Him being a bit unlikeable seems like it was a deliberate choice, one that may have worked a little too well. When he is up at the cabin with his lawyer and advisor, despite having its moments, was the only time that I felt like the story began to drag.

In fact, the overall pacing is a touch inconsistent throughout.

All in all though, thanks to the comedic writing on display, No Comment (2025) winds up being a fun watch. If nothing else, you should watch it for Pia Tjelta’s performance alone.

🍿 SCORE = 84 / 100