The Simple-Minded Murderer

Stellan Skarsgård was awarded with a Silver Bear at Berlin for his role as the good-natured but tormented young farmhand Sven in Hans Alfredson’s acclaimed film saga.

Sven is called “The Idiot” and is humiliated and ridiculed for the way he talks and his harelip. He is used as an unpaid farmhand by the factory owner Höglund, one of the most detested characters in Swedish film, who Alfredson took upon himself to portray. In order to put up with Höglund’s unyielding abuse of power and sadistic behavior, Sven seeks refuge in the Bible, but when he becomes acquainted with the wheelchair-ridden Anna and her family, he becomes aware of the possibility of another life. Alfredson’s critically acclaimed and powerful tale both utilizes and commands over all the resources of the film medium in order to create visual magic. The film has been digitally restored by the Swedish Film Institute and is being presented in cooperation with Cinemateket.

• Tobias Åkesson