MOVIE NEWS – The first Swedish home-produced series based on the bestselling author’s work will arrive on Disney+ on January 22nd. This political satire inspired by true events is based on the story of Jonas Jonasson, author of the popular novel “The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.” Whiskey on the Rocks is a visually stunning satire that combines humor, politics, suspense, unforgettable Cold War characters, and 80s nostalgia in a setting that is close to the outbreak of World War III. on the brink of World War II.

The story, based on real events but presented with a fictional interpretation, takes place in October 1981, a time of heightened political tensions and the threat of nuclear war. The situation was further exacerbated by the run-on of a Soviet submarine by a drunken crew off the coast of Sweden, close to the country’s top-secret naval base.

The incident, which generated huge international resonance and became known as “Whiskey on the Rocks”, led Sweden to increase its military readiness. The story, which made headlines around the world, took a dramatic turn when Swedish naval authorities detected high levels of radiation near the submarine, suggesting that the ship was equipped with a nuclear warhead. This discovery exacerbated the situation, as it meant that a Soviet submarine loaded with nuclear weapons had entered Swedish territorial waters, potentially violating the country’s neutrality and increasing the risk of a wider conflict. The tragic incident brought the world closer than ever to a conflict that could have led to another world war.

The Swedish series presents the not-at-all-fun situation to the viewers with tasteful humor, starring the farmer-turned-Swedish prime minister, Thorbjörn Fälldin, who is tasked with preventing the escalation of tensions and the unleashing of warmongering.

Making decisions with huge stakes is made more difficult by the fact that, while he is striving to govern his country peacefully, his commander-in-chief would start a war with against the Soviet Union. At the same time, Ronald Reagan, the newly elected president of the USA, wants to leave his mark on the world by seizing the situation and demonstrating his military power. Leonid Brezhnev, the leader of the Soviet Union, would also use the incident for a strategic demonstration, strengthening his position as a world leader by flaunting his military power. As tensions rise, those in power must find a solution to the situation, but – as is often the case – they only make the situation worse.

“Whiskey on the Rocks” approaches the challenges and dilemmas faced by major political figures with a unique perspective, and deals with the themes of pride, rivalry and indecision, mixed with humor. It presents traditional, male-dominated power structures while satirically highlighting how the egos, miscommunication, and faulty decision-making of the participants can lead to the outbreak of global crises.

The 6-part series based on the world-famous story of Jonas Jonasson will arrive on Disney+ on January 22. “Whiskey on the Rocks” is a co-production of Swedish public television (SVT) and The Walt Disney Company Nordic & Baltic, written by Henrik Jansson-Schweizer and directed by Björn Stein. The main roles are brought to life by an excellent international cast of Rolf Lassgård, Elsa Saisio, Mark Noble, Kęstutis Stasys Jakstas and Anders Mossling.

Source: Disney Plus press release