Sweden has produced a lot of good movies worthy of attention outside its borders. They are so good and popular enough to be included in the online streaming sites, most notably Netflix and Prime. Here are the five Swedish films voted the most popular and considered must-see.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Of course there is no way you cannot include this film series based on the novels by Stieg Larsson. The 2009 film directed by Niels Arden Oplev and starred Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace in the title role. The film is about a journalist who hires a hacker to help him find the killer of woman murdered 40 years ago. What makes this film interesting and not just like any other crime-thriller flicks is the intricate web of deceit and manipulation of the major characters, plus their issues make things even more complicated, it will be difficult to tell who is on the right side. Next to Netflix, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is also streaming on Hulu.
The film has found its way to audiences outside Sweden and has garnered great reviews. Despite its popularity, Hollywood came up with a remake in 2011 starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, and directed by David Fincher which also did well.
Force Majeure
This 2014 film is directed by Ruben Ostlund and stars Johannes Bah Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Kristofer Hivju, Clara Wettergren and Vicent Wettergren. The film is about a man who takes his family to a ski resort. He panicked following a controlled avalanche incident when he abandoned his family while seeking safety. This put a strain on his marriage and relationship with his children. The movie garnered good reviews, one of them underscoring the takedown of the false sense of security as it reveals the flaws in human character in the face of adversity. The film won the Jury Prize in the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. It was also screened at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival. A Hollywood remake starring Will Ferrell and Julia Dreyfus is said to be in the works.
Wallander
This 2005 film is based on the series of novels by Henning Mankell centering on a fictional Swedish police inspector who will do whatever it takes to solve crimes, even if it means resorting to unconventional tactics or breaking the rules. The movie was also released outside of Sweden and garnered sterling reviews. It enhanced the image of Mankell, putting him at par with the likes of James Patterson and Mickey Spillane. The film has led to the creation of TV adaptation in Sweden and the United Kingdom. Kenneth Branagh plays the title character in the latter version. The Swedish version is on Hulu streaming. You can also watch it on Netflix US.
Kiss Me
Also known under the title With Every Heartbeat, this 2011 film is directe by Alexandra-Therese Keining and stars Ruth Vega Fernandez, Joakim Natterqvist, Krister Henriksson and Lena Endre. The film focuses on lesbian relationship. A woman who has just gotten engaged goes on weekend getaway with her father’s live-in girlfriend and the latter’s daughter with whom she had an intimate relationship during that time spent together. The movie earned good reviews and has won the Breakthough Award at the 2011 AFI Festival.
Sound of Noise
This is a 2010 joint Swedish-French film directed by Ola Simonsson and Johannes Stjarne Nilsson. It stars Bengt Nilsson, Sanna Persson and Magnus Borjesson. It is about a group of anarchist musicians who play music using different non-musical objects they can find in several institutions in the city. One critic called the film “Bonnie and Clyde on Drums.” Other than that, blends music, crime-drama and romance. The film has received several accolades such as The Young Critics Award and Best Fantastic Film at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Next to Amazon Prime you can also watch it on Mubi.