Based on the Västberga heist, a real-life smash-and-grab incident that is so thrilling that it seems to be taken straight from some blockbuster action flick, Netflix’s Swedish thriller series The Helicopter Heist focuses mostly on the characters involved and the transformation in their lives following the heist. At the same time, the series is an adaptation of Jonas Bonnier’s novel sharing the same title, and like the novel, it follows the real-life scenario pretty closely, especially the operation itself, while adding drama and tension by taking certain creative freedoms. While the characterization is nothing to write home about, it still manages to capture different shades of the lives of the people on both sides of the law, allowing viewers to form a perspective of their own. The ensemble cast, which consists of mostly Swedish actors, performed well according to the demands of the character-driven narrative.
Rami Farhan (Safa Kadhum) Played By Mahmut Suvakci
Swedish actor Mahmut Suvakci is a popular face in the country’s movie industry, having acted in numerous silver screen and small screen ventures, including acclaimed titles like Easy Money and Top Dog. Mahmut’s compelling, tragic performance as Rami in The Helicopter Heist helps viewers somewhat sympathize with his character. Rami and his best friend Michel are presented as foils to each other, and whereas Michel took pride in his craft, i.e., robbery and similar illegal activities, Rami was habituated to that sort of lifestyle due to financial compulsion. Rami struggles with his self-worth, and having the chance to turn his life around while raising his family, Rami gives up on his old ways. As a victim of racial prejudice, it was not easy for Rami to find a decent job to support his family, but still he took pride in making an honest living, which is why he initially didn’t give in to the temptation of approaching Michel to fix him with a score, despite having every reason to do so when his own life hit rock bottom. But the more Rami finds himself cornered by increasingly troubling situations, the more he gravitates towards the life he had wanted to leave in the first place. Rami is caught in a strange conundrum where he tries to balance between his family life and secret life, trying to have it all without sacrificing either. For him, the responsibilities he has towards his family justifies his actions, but in the process he alienates himself from his loved ones. Rami feels belittled by his father-in-law’s’ derisive remarks about his past and blames his wife for not standing by his side—turning a blind eye to the fact that he himself has chosen to malign his self-respect by returning to the criminal life. It might be argued that Rami is a victim of circumstance, but there is always a choice, which Rami made clear at the end. Mahmut portrayed the reel counterpart of real-life heist crew member Safa Kadhum.
Michel Maloof (Charbel Charro) Played by Aradalan Esmaili
Iranian-Swedish actor Ardalan Esmaili has acted in a host of Danish and Swedish movies, which include acclaimed dramas like Milad Alami’s Opponent. In the series, he plays the role of Michel, Rami’s childhood friend who guided him to the life of crime, and for a long time while growing up, the duo were partners in crime. Unlike Rami, who remains conflicted when he has to choose between family and life of crime, Michel is totally dedicated to the latter, even if it costs him his relationships. Michel is proficient at what he does, and reasonably, he is the mastermind behind the heist. Michel doesn’t hesitate for a second to exploit people close to him if it benefits his cause, as seen in the way he chose to be in a relationship with Alex, who worked as the Västberga cash depot employee, simply to gain intel about the place he is going to rob. However, gradually Michel fell for Alex, and during the heist, the fleeting thought of putting Alex in harm’s way came to his mind, which he eventually shrugged off. Till the very end, Michel doesn’t change as a person; even after getting imprisoned, he tattoos the helicopter insignia on his body, taking pride in the heist that he has dreamt of completing for a long time. It was Michel’s hubris that led to the downfall of his heist crew, along with a lack of foresight. Actor Aradalan Esmaili played the series’ counterpart of heist crew member, ‘The Organizer’ Charbel Charro.
Leonie Hamsik Played by Iskra Kostic
Actor Iskra Kostic has previously featured in acclaimed TV series like The Restaurant and Riding in the Darkness, and in the series she plays the role of Leonie Hamsik, an upstanding detective disgraced by a corrupt, failing system. There is a parallel drawn between Leonie and Rami in the way both struggle to maintain a work-life balance, and a similarity exists between her and Michel, as none of them are averse to using their personal relationships as a means to find success in their respective fields of work. As a single mother, tackling a despicable social system and institutionalized misogyny—Leonie has every reason to be a little on the edge, which almost jeopardizes her career in the beginning. However, over time, she gains composure, develops a much more mature outlook, and, through sheer perseverance and intuition, manages to nab the criminals at the end. Another defining feature of Leonie, which I personally liked, is the fact that unlike the men at the forces, she as a woman doesn’t subscribe to the ideology of criminal glorification. When one of the officers of her task force marvels at the proficiency of Michel and his crew and how they completed the heist without bloodshed or gunfire, Leonie is quick to remind him about the threat posed by the antisocial elements, which are often forgotten behind the insensitive crime glamorizing. Surely viewers will feel a bit more focus could have been allotted to her character, as Iskra did a fantastic job in portraying Leonie.
Axel Broberg (Alexander Eriksson) Played By Erik Svedberg-Zelman
The amateur member of Michel’s heist, Axel, a neurotic, addict pilot whose anxiety and panic cost Michel and his crew dearly at the end, was skillfully portrayed by actor Erik Svedberg-Zelman, who has previously acted in Düsseldorf, Skåne. Axel’s severe paranoia stemming from his shady past, addiction issues, and family conflicts was palpable through Erik’s portrayal, and even with a limited screentime, the character left a lasting impact in the narrative. Erik portrays the role of Alexander Eriksson, the Swedish pilot who took part in the heist in real life.
Zoran Petrovic (Goran Bojovic) played by Dejan Milacic
Actor Dejan Milacic plays the role of Zoran, the getaway guy/fixer, who is the reel counterpart of the heist crew member Goran Bojovic. Zoran’s devil may care; his no strings attached attitude made him quite an elusive criminal, and it can be argued that if he and Michel could have planned for contingencies in a better way, the crew could have pulled off the heist without leaving a trace.
Nikolas Larson (Mikael Södergran) played by Wim Elfwencrona
The role of Nikolas, aka Nicke, the demolition expert, was portrayed by actor Wim Elfwencrona, the series’ counterpart of heist crew member Mikael Södergran. Like Rami, Nicke was a family man who chose to return to his past life of crime and paid a hefty price. Unlike Michel, Nicke is shown to have a sense of morality, as he was averse to the idea of bombing the gate of a cash depot in fear of harming innocent employees on the other side.
Miscellaneous Characters
Aside from the main heist crew and the Maverick detective, a host of supporting roles saw an ensemble of Swedish actors, who allowed the series to have a life of its own by making the most of their limited screentime. Mark Lewis played the role of Mats Bjørssen, Hamsik’s task force co-lead, and Johanna Hedberg appeared as Karin, Rami’s wife, a victim of her husband’s decisions and priorities. Vic Carmen Sonne shined in the role of Michel’s girlfriend, Alex, who is another sufferer of the selfish decisions taken by the person she loved.
