THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE

Sweden, 2009, 129 minutes, Colour.
Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace Lena Endre, Peter Andersson, Yasmine Garbi, Per Oscarsson.
Directed by Daniel Alfredson.


Over a year in the life of Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) has gone by when we take up her story in this sequel to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. She is now back from her travels and trying to get her life in order. That is not to be. However, by the end of the film – and this should please and interest those who have not read the novels (and there are probably a few, including this reviewer – we learn the full story and background to Lisbeth’s tormented life).

Her lawyer-parole officer assaulted her sexually, and quite graphically, in the first film. This sequence is repeated in part and becomes a key issue for the narrative now.

There are two strands of plot which are interwoven. On the one hand, Michael Blomqvist (Michael Nyqvist) is working again for his magazine, Millennium, and two researchers are preparing an expose of trafficking in women in Sweden, names of criminals as well as the women’s clients/exploiters. As might be expected, this is a risky undertaking and murders follow. It would appear, on some evidence, that Lisbeth Salander is responsible. The police believe this and investigate accordingly. Michael does not and pursues his own search for Lisbeth who has disappeared (in disguise – and giving us the opportunity to see what she looks like without the punk nose rings...)

The other strand is Lisbeth’s own search for documents about her past, especially about her father. We have seen her setting him alight in the first film and this one opens with that scene. However, the denouement is not what she expected.

Along the way, her friend, Miriam, with whom she has a sexual relationship and Paolo Roberto (Paolo playing himself), a boxer friend, are set upon by a giant bruiser who works violently for the unseen criminals.

In many ways, this is tough stuff, as was the first film, filmed with a Scandinavian serious and sometimes-intensity that makes it different from the many American versions of crime and police investigations (and American versions are under way). While this film comes to a conclusion, it is clear that it must also be continued (and according to the cast list of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, at least seven of the characters here will be seen again).

1. The place of this film in the trilogy? Impact, the middle story, open-ended?

2. Presuppositions, Lisbeth Salander, her skills, research, mental condition, violence and the fire attack on her father? The lawyer, sexual abuse, the video? The connection with Michael, his investigations? The work for the family, the article, Michael in jail? Lisbeth abroad?

3. Stockholm, the city, the visitors, ordinary, the streets and offices, apartments? The countryside, the summer houses, locations for attack? The musical score?

4. The credits, the information from the past, the lawyer, his being accosted, given jobs? His relationship with Lisbeth, the documents, her visit, his sleeping, her confrontation, and his fear?

5. Michael and Lisbeth, a year without contact? His work at the magazine, aims, his relationship with Erica? The family party, his being a bachelor? Annika and his wanting her to do legal checks, his discovering the bodies, her comfort?

6. Dag and Mia, in themselves, young, the research, their pitch to the magazine, its being accepted, the data, seeking more information? The explanation of the bringing the women to sweeten? From Russia with Love and the documents? The need to check? The contact with Irina, the water, the discovery of her body? Dag and Mia dead, Michael at the funeral? The gun of the lawyer, with Lisbeth’s fingerprints? The discussion whether to publish or not?

7. The authorities, Bublinski, establishing a special squad? Their investigations, the personnel, the leak to the press and Nicholas being fired?

8. Lisbeth, her visit to Armanski, his saying she did not care about people? The news about Holger, his meal, her concern, her hiring the trainer full-time for him?

9. The lawyer’s death, the police, deciding Lisbeth was responsible? The interviews? Michael and his own investigations?

10. The accusations against Lisbeth, the television news? Michael and Erica and their discussions? Their sexual liaison?

11. The background of Lisbeth’s psychological condition, the documents, the treatment, suffering, her dreams?

12. Miriam Wu, the sexual relationship, the sex shop, the police and the interrogations? Her abduction and torture? Rescue, the police and the interrogation? The break-in in her apartment, trashing it? The other reporters contacting her? Strange theories about Satanism…?

13. The client for the prostitutes, Michael and the lottery technique, the phone call, the client tricked, Michael’s visit, the photos of girls abused, the further background of his police connections, with the lawyer, with other officials and their being his controllers? The man not wanting his name to be publicised?

14. The other officials, the phone calls, the information, Lisbeth making herself up, stringing him up, his daughter’s arrival? Interrogation about Zala?

15. Michael, at the cafe, discussing theories with Bublanski? Going to see Paolo, the information about Lisbeth and her skills, boxing?

16. The blond man, the abductions, Paolo following him because of the abduction of Lisbeth? The extensive fights and brutality? The hospital, discussions with Michael? Bublanski?

17. The official, contacting Michael, the truth about Zala? Wanting to be out of the report? The information about Zala and his migration from Russia, being accepted?

18. The blond man, dangerous, his confrontation of the men who should have set the house on fire? Lisbeth going to the lawyer’s house, the attic, finding the documents? The fight with the men, her getting the gun, taking the motorcycle? The police on the site, making connections?

19. Michael and the discussions, with Lisbeth? The visit to Holger, his explanations? The story of Lisbeth’s father, 1969, coming from Russia, marrying his wife, the brutality, her supporting him, Lisbeth and her anger, attacking her father with the fire? His getting officials to intern her?

20. Lisbeth, the confrontation with her father, with the blond man, his being her half-brother? The torture? Her response, the attacks, shooting? Michael and his search, arriving, the police, taking Zala away to hospital, taking Lisbeth?

21. A satisfactory ending to this middle part of the trilogy? Further investigations?