 | Monday 4th July, Reel Cinema, Andover Start time: 8:00 Release: 2010 (Cert 15) Director: Daniel Alfredson Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace and Lena Endre Watch the trailer, here. Andover Film Club winds up its current season by completing its showing of the much-acclaimed Swedish “Millennium” trilogy. The club will present “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets’ Nest” (cert 15) at the Reel on July 4th. Like its predecessors, the film is based on Stieg Larsson’s best-selling book of the same name, and it completes the story of the fierce and vengeful anti-heroine Lisbeth Salander. The movie follows directly on from the dramatic conclusion of “The Girl Who Played With Fire” in which Salander is shot by her father and left for dead. Not to be missed by lovers of dark and gripping drama! The first two “Millennium” films attracted large audiences and another good turnout is expected for the final instalment. As always the presentation is open to the public as well as club members, and the show will start at 8.00pm. Introduction Given On The Night, By Sue MowforthI’m assuming most of you here tonight will have seen or read the first two parts of the Millennium Trilogy – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl who played with Fire. Tonight’s film does stand on its own – but it’s best if you know the characters and the plot so far. Like all the best series, we were left at the end of the last film with the hero on the edge of disaster – shot in the head, buried in a grave, accused of murder, and with a background to die for (literally), can Lisbeth Salander survive? I’m sure you’ll remember the characters…Lisbeth Salander tragically damaged by a sordid past involving the despicable psychiatrist Dr Teleborian, the campaigning journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, who becomes the nearest person Lisbeth could call a friend, Mikael's colleague and occasional lover Erika and his sister, the lawyer. On the ‘baddie side’ Lisbeth's gigantic blonde half-brother who can feel no pain has an ominous presence, as do the elderly members of the secret organisation who are either limping heavily or have serious medical conditions - all symbolically on the way out. The plot requires the film to be a thriller and then a courtroom drama as we follow Lisbeth's fateful journey. I’m told that the courtroom scenes may baffle some viewers, but the setting accurately reflects the Swedish system in which (in trials like this) there is no jury. Although Sweden is one of the most transparent democracies in the world, it isn’t immune from the sort of abuse highlighted in this Trilogy. Steig Larsson has written a story that has a powerful message about corruption, the abuse of power, violence against women, and the failure of the various Swedish authorities to protect vulnerable citizens. The plot involves defection, corrupt government institutions, rape, pornography, clandestine groups and sordid secrets, which are all eventually revealed. Just as a side note - have you made your Will yet? If not let the Millennium Trilogy be a lesson to you. Steig Larson was estranged from his parents, left home at 17 and when he was 18 he met the love of his life, Eva Gabrielsson. He and Eva were together for 32 years until Steig died quite unexpectedly of a heart attack at the age of 50. By that time the books were finished and awaiting publication. Eva believes that she effectively co-wrote the Millennium Trilogy with Steig. There is certainly material in the novels that he took from the real life they shared together. For instance, Millennium Magazine, for whom the hero writes, is loosely modeled on Expo, where Steig, and for a time, Eva worked. Eva has also pointed out that many of the creative ideas, as well as characters, locations, arguments, themes and details evolved out of their shared political and social attitudes, and the joint discussions they had had over several years. They were hoping to use any money that they made from the three books to buy a small cottage. But they never married, and in Swedish law unmarried couples cannot inherit each other’s estates. So when Steig died in 2004, Eva lost not only her life partner, but also any share of the approximately 50 million Euro so far earned so far from the sale of the books, plus two sets of film rights. The original film rights were sold to a Swedish film company, Yellow Bird, and have already made more than $100m at the box office. More recently Sony and the US producer Scott Rudin bought the English-language rights and are now completing their own $100m version of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo starring Daniel Graig. Accounts filed by the Larsson’s company suggest a profit of $24m, after tax, between November 2008 and April 2010. All the money has gone to Steig’s estranged father and younger brother. Eva has had nothing. So, if you feel a novel coming on – make a Will! |
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest - 4th July
