Complotto a Stoccolma

Who was behind the murder of progressive Swedish leader Olof Palme in 1986? More than twenty years after the deed, the crime remains unsolved. This movie avoids naming real names behind the murder, but it suggests an international right wing conspiracy. The movie is shot as a thriller and the main characters are a Swedish police officer who suspects something big and ominous is going to happen in his country and tries unsuccessfully to prevent it, a mysterious but strangely charming British contract killer ready to pull the trigger, and a beautiful Swedish journalist whose choice of lover ends quite badly for her. I found this movie quite interesting, even though I'm not Swedish and I don't know a lot about Swedish politics.

On 28 February 1986, the Swedish prime minister, Olof Palme, was assassinated in Stockholm. The assassin has never been found. This movie tells the story of how the killing _might_ have happened, without pointing any fingers at who were pulling the threads. Swedish policeman Roger Nyman is promoted to the Special Branch/Secret police. He stumbles across the information that an international hitman is in Sweden. What is he up to? As Nyman uncovers the chilling truth, his investigation is ignored, if not directly hampered by his superiors.

The movie shows an interesting and vivid account of Sweden in the mid-eighties, and in a way accuses the Swedish general public of allowing an atmosphere to arise, in which the assassination became possible. But it also works as an exciting thriller, even if you have never heard the name Olof Palme before. A cross between "The Day of the Jackal" and Oliver Stone's "JFK" springs to mind. This movie deserves a larger audience than, as a Swedish film, it is probably going to get.

An excellent, intelligent film, well written and played. Michael Kitchen is superb as the cold-blooded assassin, much more believable than some indestructable beefcake "actor". The closest comparison I can think of is to the original "Day of the Jackal" film. Thankfully, we are spared any speculation as to who was involved in a conspiracy, only that the web of intrigue stretches far and wide. Can be strongly recommended, partly for historical interest, mostly as a good example of Swedish film-making (or indeed any film-making). It would be a great pity if the Swedish origin prevented it from reaching a wider audience.

A brilliant movie, with a standard but good and complex plot that changes all the time. (Even better than any of the Swedish Hamilton and also the Beck movies where the main actor Mikael Persbrandt plays a main support role.) The plot is built upon the assasination of Prime Minster Olof Palme. One pregnant error in the script concerns the Swedish political party EAP which is used as one of the scape goats. It never was a right-wing nazi party as shown in the movie. Still, the movie is one of the best thrillers I have seen in a bout one year. It is better than the best US movies, such as "Enemy of the State" due to the higher complexity and the high social realism which is more typical of European movies.

This is an excellent film with high production values and the two leading actors are superb. Don't be put off by the subtitles, a lot of it is in English with Michael Kitchen doing all his own speaking in English, so no captions for these scenes. I knew nothing about this political killing, but was gripped from start to finish. It's also one of those films that benefits from being watched more than once. Mikael Piersbrandt is terrific as the policeman who believes he knows what's going on, but can't make his superiors listen, while Michael Kitchen as the hired British hitman, provides a splendid contrast as he sets about his task in a cool, professional and frighteningly unemotional way. I was hooked right up to the last moment, and had to keep reminding myself that this wasn't necessarily what really happened. However, it's a very believable hypothesis, and gripping entertainment. Don't miss it, a real little gem!