Tueur d'état

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!

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.

Much has been written and speculated about this sad part of Swedish history. This movie presents an interesting view on how things may have unfolded. Almost 20 years and numerous investigations and commissions later still the whole truth has not come to see the light of day.

If you enjoy historical thrillers then this is a movie for you.

Being tired of watching U.S. detective and spy movies, with all their over used cliches (the spy who falls in love and must not, as in "The Saint", the nice looking hero who saves the free world, the Russians as being always the evil guys and sort of) all I can say about this one is that it recaptures the original meaning of detective movies, and shows us at the same time a new perspective (the troubles by keeping the detective job secret from the family, the unusual emotional ties between the assassin and a journalist, the passive role of the government in the crime, etc).

A very well time-paced movie with a intelligent and mature plot rarely seen in detective and action movies this days. I strongly recommend it.

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.