Hamlet Goes Business ( 1987 )

Hamlet Goes Business (1987): A Finnish Corporate Tragedy

Aki Kaurismäki's 1987 film, Hamlet Goes Business (Finnish: Hamlet Liikemaailmassa), is not a straightforward adaptation of Shakespeare's iconic tragedy. Instead, it's a darkly comedic and deeply cynical satire of corporate greed and the ruthless world of business, set against the backdrop of a Finnish rubber duck manufacturing company. While drawing heavily on the plot and characters of Hamlet, Kaurismäki transposes the play's themes of revenge, betrayal, and moral decay to a modern, capitalistic context, creating a unique and unsettling cinematic experience.

The Kaurismäki Touch: Deadpan Humor and Existential Angst

Kaurismäki, known for his minimalist style, deadpan humor, and melancholic characters, infuses Hamlet Goes Business with his signature aesthetic. The film is characterized by long, static shots, sparsely decorated sets, and a muted color palette, creating a sense of bleakness and alienation. The characters, often taciturn and world-weary, deliver lines with an almost robotic detachment, amplifying the absurdity of their actions and the moral emptiness of their pursuit of wealth and power.

Unlike traditional Shakespearean adaptations that strive for fidelity to the source material, Hamlet Goes Business deliberately distances itself from the play's literary grandeur. The language is stripped down and colloquial, the dialogue often delivered in a monotone. This deliberate subversion of expectations forces the audience to confront the timeless themes of Hamlet in a new and unsettling light, revealing their continued relevance in a world driven by economic ambition.

Plot Summary: Rubber Ducks and Corporate Intrigue

The film opens with the sudden death of Hamlet Senior, the owner of a successful rubber duck manufacturing company. His son, Hamlet Junior, a withdrawn and intellectual young man, inherits the business. However, his world is shattered when he learns that his uncle, Klaus, has not only married his mother, Gertrude, but also orchestrated his father's murder to seize control of the company. The motive? A lucrative secret agreement between Hamlet Senior and a Soviet partner regarding the production of… toilet brushes.

Consumed by grief and a desire for revenge, Hamlet feigns madness, a strategy he hopes will allow him to uncover the truth and exact retribution. He hires Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two bumbling private investigators, to spy on Klaus and Gertrude. The resulting investigation is a series of comical mishaps and absurd encounters, punctuated by moments of genuine tension and moral ambiguity.

Hamlet's internal struggle mirrors the play's exploration of existential angst. He grapples with the weight of his father's death, the betrayal of his mother and uncle, and the moral implications of his own actions. His famous To be or not to be soliloquy is reimagined as a contemplation on the merits of suicide versus the practical difficulties of carrying it out, delivered with a characteristic Kaurismäki blend of dark humor and philosophical despair.

The narrative unfolds with a series of double-crosses, betrayals, and corporate machinations. Hamlet's pursuit of revenge leads him down a path of moral compromise, blurring the lines between good and evil. The climax of the film is a chaotic and violent confrontation, mirroring the tragic conclusion of Shakespeare's play, but with a distinctly Kaurismäkian twist. The ending is ambiguous and unsettling, leaving the audience to question the true cost of revenge and the ultimate futility of the characters' pursuit of power and wealth.

Character Analysis: A Modern Take on Classic Roles

Kaurismäki's adaptation of Hamlet features a cast of characters who, while recognizable from the original play, are reimagined in a modern, corporate context. Each character embodies a specific aspect of the film's critique of capitalism and the corrupting influence of power.

Hamlet Junior: Played by Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, Hamlet is depicted as a disillusioned and introspective young man, overwhelmed by the moral decay surrounding him. He is not the eloquent and passionate prince of Shakespeare's play, but rather a quiet and withdrawn figure, struggling to find meaning in a world dominated by greed and ambition. His feigned madness is not a display of cunning, but a reflection of his genuine despair.

Klaus: Esko Salminen portrays Klaus as a ruthless and ambitious businessman, driven by a desire for power and wealth. He is the embodiment of corporate greed, willing to stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Unlike Claudius in the original play, Klaus is not portrayed as a morally conflicted character; he is simply a pragmatic and opportunistic businessman.

Gertrude: Kati Outinen plays Gertrude as a shallow and materialistic woman, easily seduced by Klaus's wealth and power. She represents the moral emptiness of the consumerist society that Kaurismäki critiques. Her lack of remorse for her husband's death and her complicity in Klaus's schemes highlight the corrosive effects of greed on personal relationships.

Ophelia: Elina Salo portrays Ophelia as Hamlet's secretary and love interest. Unlike the tragic Ophelia of Shakespeare's play, she is a more independent and assertive character. However, she is ultimately caught in the crossfire of Hamlet's revenge plot, becoming a victim of the corporate power struggle.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: These characters are reimagined as two inept and comical private investigators, hired by Hamlet to spy on Klaus. They provide much of the film's comic relief, but their incompetence also underscores the film's theme of the absurdity of human actions in the face of overwhelming corruption.

Themes: Corporate Greed, Revenge, and the Absurdity of Existence

Hamlet Goes Business explores a range of complex themes, all refracted through the lens of Kaurismäki's unique cinematic style.

Corporate Greed: The film's central theme is the corrupting influence of corporate greed. The characters are driven by a relentless pursuit of wealth and power, willing to betray and even kill to achieve their goals. Kaurismäki critiques the dehumanizing effects of capitalism, portraying the corporate world as a ruthless and morally bankrupt environment.

Revenge: Like Shakespeare's Hamlet, the film explores the theme of revenge. Hamlet's desire to avenge his father's death consumes him, leading him down a path of moral compromise. The film questions the true cost of revenge, suggesting that it ultimately leads to further violence and destruction.

The Absurdity of Existence: Kaurismäki's film is infused with a sense of existential angst and the absurdity of human existence. The characters' actions often seem pointless and meaningless, highlighting the futility of their pursuit of power and wealth. The film suggests that life is inherently absurd, and that human beings are ultimately at the mercy of forces beyond their control.

Loss of Innocence: Hamlet's journey is one of lost innocence. He begins as a somewhat naive intellectual and is forced by circumstances to confront the dark realities of the world around him. His eventual complicity in violence and deception represents the corruption of his own ideals, a consequence of the relentless pursuit of justice in a world seemingly devoid of it.

Style and Technique: Kaurismäki's Signature Aesthetic

Kaurismäki's distinct stylistic choices are integral to the film's thematic impact.

Minimalism: The film's minimalist aesthetic reinforces its themes of alienation and moral emptiness. The sets are sparsely decorated, the dialogue is terse and understated, and the music is melancholic and repetitive. This minimalist approach creates a sense of bleakness and despair, reflecting the characters' emotional states.

Deadpan Humor: Kaurismäki's use of deadpan humor adds a layer of irony and absurdity to the film. The characters deliver lines with a straight face, even in the most ridiculous situations, amplifying the film's satirical critique of corporate culture. The humor is often dark and cynical, reflecting the director's pessimistic view of human nature.

Static Shots: The film is characterized by long, static shots, which create a sense of detachment and observation. The camera rarely moves, allowing the audience to observe the characters' actions from a distance. This technique reinforces the film's theme of alienation, suggesting that the characters are isolated and disconnected from one another.

Muted Color Palette: The film's muted color palette contributes to its overall sense of bleakness. The colors are subdued and desaturated, creating a somber and oppressive atmosphere. This visual style reinforces the film's themes of moral decay and the loss of innocence.

Reception and Legacy

Hamlet Goes Business received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics praising its unique and satirical take on Shakespeare's play, while others found it to be too bleak and cynical. However, over time, the film has gained a cult following and is now considered to be one of Kaurismäki's most important and influential works.

The film's enduring appeal lies in its ability to resonate with contemporary audiences. Its themes of corporate greed, political corruption, and the absurdity of existence are as relevant today as they were in 1987. Hamlet Goes Business remains a powerful and unsettling critique of modern society, challenging viewers to confront the moral compromises that are often made in the pursuit of power and wealth.

The film's influence can be seen in numerous subsequent works that explore similar themes, particularly in independent cinema. Its bold adaptation of a classic text and its unflinching portrayal of moral decay have cemented its place as a significant contribution to both Finnish and world cinema.

Comparative Analysis: Hamlet Goes Business vs. Shakespeare's Hamlet

The following table highlights some key differences and similarities between Aki Kaurismäki's film and Shakespeare's original play.

Thematic Parallels: From Royal Court to Corporate Boardroom

Despite the radical shift in setting and style, Hamlet Goes Business maintains certain thematic parallels with Shakespeare's original play. The following table outlines these connections.

Conclusion: A Timeless Tragedy in a Modern Context

Hamlet Goes Business is more than just a parody of Shakespeare's Hamlet. It is a profound and unsettling commentary on the state of modern society, highlighting the moral compromises that are often made in the pursuit of power and wealth. By transposing the play's themes to a corporate setting, Kaurismäki reveals their continued relevance in a world dominated by economic ambition. The film's bleak humor, minimalist style, and melancholic characters create a unique and unforgettable cinematic experience, making it a significant contribution to both Finnish and world cinema. While drastically different in execution, the core of Shakespeare's tragedy – the cost of revenge, the burden of morality, and the inherent corruption of power – resonates powerfully within Kaurismäki's darkly comedic and ultimately tragic vision of the business world.