Johannes Bah Kuhnke is especially good at playing men who need their excuses to be believed. In Force Majeure, he makes that need painfully funny without asking us to take the man's side.
Fi1m perspective
In Force Majeure (2014), Tomas keeps explaining himself as though the next sentence might persuade his wife to accept his account. Johannes Bah Kuhnke makes this painfully funny by treating each defence as a useful contribution to the discussion. His need to be believed remains visible, even when he thinks he is being reasonable. We rate the performance highly because he lets us understand that need without suggesting it excuses anything.
He had already played the android Rick in Real Humans (2012) before Ruben Östlund's film brought him international attention. Kuhnke has described wanting a more difficult part after repeatedly being cast as uncomplicated young lovers. As Tomas, he plays a father whose moment of panic turns into a prolonged marital dispute. Later credits include Sten in The Rain (2018) and a supporting part in Lars von Trier's The House That Jack Built (2018).
Much depends on Lisa Loven Kongsli as Ebba, whose hurt makes the cost of Tomas's self-defence clear. We laughed at their exchanges because both still appeared to think that careful wording could make the trouble ordinary. Kuhnke leaves room for her insistence to register; the comedy needs us to hear what Tomas would rather not accept. Östlund's control helps, although the arguments continue longer than they need to. A few of those exchanges could have been shorter without costing either actor anything.
Such a persuasive performance brings a risk of being asked to repeat it. Kuhnke received further offers to play weak men after Force Majeure, a development that makes sense without being especially encouraging. What interests us is the effort Tomas puts into seeming reasonable, and how much he needs Ebba to cooperate. Repeating the weakness alone would miss what makes this performance work. Start with Force Majeure, allowing for the arguments that outstay their welcome.
Biography
Johannes Bah Kuhnke is a Swedish actor and singer. Born Kjell Dietrich Johannes Kuhnke on 17 April 1972 in Strömsund, he trained at a theatre gymnasium in Gothenburg and at the Malmö Theatre Academy.
He has performed in numerous stage productions at Stockholm's Stadsteater and other Swedish theatres, including Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and The Three Musketeers. On screen he is known for his leading role as Tomas in Force Majeure (2014), as well as appearances in Real Humans (2012–2014) as Rick, The House That Jack Built (2018) and The Rain (2018).
He participated in Melodifestivalen as a singer in 2010. He was married to politician Alice Bah Kuhnke from 2003 to 2023 and they have three children.
