Cult crime trilogy on big screen
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 27, 2009 00:00
STOCKHOLM - The "Millennium" crime trilogy by the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson has become a cult hit worldwide, selling more than 10 million copies. The first novel's long-awaited movie adaptation hits screens today.
The books have become a phenomenon in Sweden and abroad, translated into more than 30 languages. Their popularity is a striking contrast to their author's tragic fate.
Larsson, who worked as a journalist in Stockholm, did not live to enjoy the sensational success. He died in November 2004 of a heart attack, aged 50, a year before the trilogy was published.The film opening in Swedish and Danish movie theaters today is based on the first book, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."
It follows Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative reporter, and Lisbeth Salander, a feisty rebel hacker-turned-detective, as they search for Harriet Vanger, the niece of a business tycoon who disappeared four decades earlier at the age of 16 in northern Sweden.
In Sweden alone, a country of 9 million people, 3 million copies of the books have been sold. In France, 2.5 million have flown off shelves, while a million copies have been sold in both Spain and Italy.
The city of Stockholm has even picked up on their popularity, offering walking tours pointing out locations mentioned in the book, such as Blomkvist's favorite pub, his apartment building on Bellmansgatan and Salander's favorite watering hole, the classic beer hall Kvarnen.
Fans of the books have been eagerly awaiting the film version, directed by acclaimed Danish moviemaker Niels Arden Oplev.
Shot in Stockholm, the film casts Swedish star Michael Nyqvist in the role of Blomkvist, who effortlessly tumbles into violent mysteries and intrigue, while Salander is brought to life by virtually unknown actress Noomi Rapace.
Swedish media have unanimously hailed the muscular, raven-haired Rapace, covered in piercings and a large dragon tattoo on her back for the shoot, for her convincing performance, especially in the most violent scenes including one in which she is brutally raped.
Some critics have said Rapace is physically too big and muscular to faithfully play Salander, described in the trilogy as a small, androgynous girl who is so skinny she looks anorexic.
After seeing an early screening of the nearly two-and-a-half-hour-long movie, however, most viewers said the physical differences were easily forgotten thanks to Rapace's convincing performance.
The film focuses fully on the Blomkvist-Salander duo, leaving out a number of other memorable characters from the book, including members of the Vanger family.
The movie, shot like a Hollywood thriller but with Sweden's icy winter landscapes as a backdrop, is due out in Norway on March 13, Finland on March 27 and France on May 13, where it may open the Cannes film festival.
It is also expected to hit the big screen in Belgium and the Netherlands soon.
For the Swedish release, Swedish cinema chain SF Bio said it expected 16,000 ticket sales for Friday, and 25,000 for the opening weekend, which would make it the most successful opening for a Swedish film.
The 11 million euro project consists of one feature film based on the first book and six television films based on the trilogy, said Yellowbird spokesman Erik Hultkvist.
Larsson, who worked as a journalist in Stockholm, did not live to enjoy the sensational success. He died in November 2004 of a heart attack, aged 50, a year before the trilogy was published.The film opening in Swedish and Danish movie theaters today is based on the first book, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."
It follows Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative reporter, and Lisbeth Salander, a feisty rebel hacker-turned-detective, as they search for Harriet Vanger, the niece of a business tycoon who disappeared four decades earlier at the age of 16 in northern Sweden.
In Sweden alone, a country of 9 million people, 3 million copies of the books have been sold. In France, 2.5 million have flown off shelves, while a million copies have been sold in both Spain and Italy.
The city of Stockholm has even picked up on their popularity, offering walking tours pointing out locations mentioned in the book, such as Blomkvist's favorite pub, his apartment building on Bellmansgatan and Salander's favorite watering hole, the classic beer hall Kvarnen.
Fans of the books have been eagerly awaiting the film version, directed by acclaimed Danish moviemaker Niels Arden Oplev.
Shot in Stockholm, the film casts Swedish star Michael Nyqvist in the role of Blomkvist, who effortlessly tumbles into violent mysteries and intrigue, while Salander is brought to life by virtually unknown actress Noomi Rapace.
Swedish media have unanimously hailed the muscular, raven-haired Rapace, covered in piercings and a large dragon tattoo on her back for the shoot, for her convincing performance, especially in the most violent scenes including one in which she is brutally raped.
Some critics have said Rapace is physically too big and muscular to faithfully play Salander, described in the trilogy as a small, androgynous girl who is so skinny she looks anorexic.
After seeing an early screening of the nearly two-and-a-half-hour-long movie, however, most viewers said the physical differences were easily forgotten thanks to Rapace's convincing performance.
The film focuses fully on the Blomkvist-Salander duo, leaving out a number of other memorable characters from the book, including members of the Vanger family.
The movie, shot like a Hollywood thriller but with Sweden's icy winter landscapes as a backdrop, is due out in Norway on March 13, Finland on March 27 and France on May 13, where it may open the Cannes film festival.
It is also expected to hit the big screen in Belgium and the Netherlands soon.
For the Swedish release, Swedish cinema chain SF Bio said it expected 16,000 ticket sales for Friday, and 25,000 for the opening weekend, which would make it the most successful opening for a Swedish film.
The 11 million euro project consists of one feature film based on the first book and six television films based on the trilogy, said Yellowbird spokesman Erik Hultkvist.