The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009) Flickan som lekte med elden (original title)

Director:

Daniel Alfredson

Writers:

Jonas Frykberg (screenplay)
Stieg Larsson (novel)

Release Date:

18 September 2009 (Denmark)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

As computer hacker Lisbeth and journalist Mikael investigate a sex-trafficking ring, Lisbeth is accused of three murders, causing her to go on the run while Mikael works to clear her name.

Plot Keywords:

Journalist | Murder | Sweden | Sex Trafficking | On The Run

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Michael Nyqvist	...	Mikael Blomkvist
Noomi Rapace	...	Lisbeth Salander
Lena Endre	...	Erika Berger
Peter Andersson	...	Nils Bjurman
Michalis Koutsogiannakis	...	Dragan Armanskij
Annika Hallin	...	Annika Giannini
Sofia Ledarp	...	Malin Erikson
Jacob Ericksson	...	Christer Malm
Reuben Sallmander	...	Enrico Giannini
Yasmine Garbi	...	Miriam Wu
Ralph Carlsson	...	Gunnar Björk
Georgi Staykov	...	Alexander Zalachenko
Hans Christian Thulin	...	Dag Svensson (as Hans-Christian Thulin)
Jennie Silfverhjelm	...	Mia Bergman
Per Oscarsson	...	Holger Palmgren
Sunil Munshi	...	Dr. Sivarnandan
Anders Ahlbom	...	Peter Teleborian (as Anders Ahlbom Rosendahl)
Micke Spreitz	...	Ronald Niedermann (as Mikael Spreitz)
Johan Kylén	...	Jan Bublanski
Tanja Lorentzon	...	Sonja Modig
Paolo Roberto	...	Himself
Magnus Krepper	...	Hans Faste
Niklas Hjulström	...	Richard Ekström
Tehilla Blad	...	Young Lisbeth
Ola Wahlström	...	Per-Åke Sandström
Donald Högberg	...	Jerker Holmberg
David Druid	...	Tony Scala
Daniel Gustavsson	...	Niklas Eriksson
Pelle Bolander	...	Sonny Nieminen
Thomas Lindblad	...	Magge Lundin
Dennis Önder	...	Refik Alba
Richard Barry	...	McMillan
Olga Henrikson	...	Irina Hammujärvi
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Izzy Young	...	Man in Synagouge
Jörgen Berthage	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Alexis Dahlin	...	Cafe Guest (uncredited)
Daniel Janzen	...	Police Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Daniel Alfredson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jonas Frykberg		screenplay
Stieg Larsson		novel

Produced by
Stefan Baron	....	co-producer
Klaus Bassiner	....	co-producer
Susann Billberg-Rydholm	....	line producer (as Susann Billberg Rydholm)
Gunnar Carlsson	....	executive producer
Anni Faurbye Fernandez	....	executive producer
Wolfgang Feindt	....	co-producer
Jenny Gilbertsson	....	associate producer
Lone Korslund	....	executive producer
Jon Mankell	....	coordinating producer
Peter Nadermann	....	executive producer
Søren Stærmose	....	producer
Ole Søndberg	....	executive producer
Mikael Wallen	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Jacob Groth

Cinematography by
Peter Mokrosinski

Film Editing by
Mattias Morheden

Casting by
Tusse Lande

Art Direction by
Maria Håård
Jan Olof Ågren

Costume Design by
Cilla Rörby

Makeup Department
Jenny Fred	....	key makeup artist
Love Larson	....	special makeup effects artist
AnnaCarin Lock	....	assistant makeup artist (as Anna-Carin Lock)
Oskar Wallroth	....	assistant makeup effects artist

Production Management
Tobias Åström	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kerstin Sundberg	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kennet From	....	props
Ola Handberg	....	props
John Lindquist	....	assistant props master
Doreen Möllerström	....	property master
Peder Svensk	....	stand-by props

Sound Department
Niels Arild	....	sound editor
Niels Arild	....	sound re-recording mixer
Günther Friedhoff	....	dialogue recordist
Torben Greve	....	foley artist
Nalle Hansen	....	sound designer
Nalle Hansen	....	supervising sound editor
Anders Hörling	....	sound
Anne Jensen	....	foley recordist/editor
Andrea King	....	foley artist
Andreas Kongsgaard	....	sound designer (as Andreas Kongsgaard Mogensen)
Per Nyström	....	dialogue editor
Morten Pilegaard	....	additional sound designer (as Morten Pilegaard Jespersen)
James Shannon	....	dolby sound consultant
Camilla Mauritzson Skjaerbaek	....	dialogue editor
Mikkel Sørensen	....	foley recordist
Olle Tannergård	....	additional sound designer
Dan Widegren	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Jocke Fors	....	special effects technician
Johan Harnesk	....	special effects supervisor
Lars Höglund	....	special effects technician
Björn Kronsell	....	special effects technician
Anders Lexne	....	armourer
Victor Nilsson	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Tobias Bach Hansen	....	digital conform
Andreas Hylander	....	visual effects artist
Linus Lindbalk	....	matte painter
Martin Madsen	....	visual effects
Ruslan Ogorodnik	....	visual effects supervisor
Sean Wheelan	....	visual effects producer: FILMGATE

Stunts
Lars Hjelm	....	stunts
Deni Jordan	....	stunts
Kimmo Rajala	....	stunt coordinator
Kimmo Rajala	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Björn Becker	....	gaffer
David Gylje	....	second assistant camera
Stefan Jonsson	....	electrician
Knut Koivisto	....	still photographer
Misio Mokrosinski	....	assistant camera
Knut K. Pedersen	....	Steadicam operator
Otto Stenov	....	gaffer
Dag Svensson	....	clapper loader

Editorial Department
Ola Bäccman	....	digital intermediate colorist
Sigrid Strohmann	....	Script Editor (ZDF Enterprises )
Nikolai Waldman	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Peter Fuchs	....	scoring mixer
Rasmus Hansen	....	orchestrator
Martin Roller	....	assistant scoring mixer
Paul Talkington	....	music coordinator
Marian Turner	....	orchestra manager
Allan Wilson	....	conductor: Slovak National Symphony Orchestra

Other crew
Camilla Ahlgren	....	script editor
Klas Ankelstam	....	production assistant
Maria Billberg	....	location manager
Peter Bille	....	collection agent: European Collection Agency
Henning Cronheim	....	craft
Henning Cronheim	....	production assistant
Line Winther Skyum Funch	....	lawyer: Yellow Bird Films
Peter Gustafsson	....	consultant: Svenska Filminstitutet
Alexandra Hummingson	....	voice-over artist
Hans Lönnerheden	....	completion guarantor
Tommy Saks	....	insurance: Media Insurance Brokers
Sigrid Strohmann	....	script editor
Martin Strömberg	....	publicist
Eva Svenstedt Ward	....	story consultant
Lotta Westberg	....	script supervisor

Thanks
Anna Hedenmo	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Yellow Bird Films (as Yellowbird) (presents)
• ZDF Enterprises (in co-production with)
• Sveriges Television (SVT) (in co-production with)
• Nordisk Film (in co-production with)
• Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (as ZDF) (in co-production with)
• Filmpool Stockholm Mälardalen (in co-production with)
• Film i Väst (in co-production with)
• Spiltan Underhållning (as Spiltan Underhållning M AB) (in co-production with)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (with support from)

Distributors

• Zodiak Rights (2009) (worldwide) (all media)
• Alliance Films (2010) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Alliance Vivafilm (2009) (Canada) (theatrical) (Québec)
• Benelux Film Distributors (2010) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Encore Films (2010) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Energía Entusiasta (2010) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2010) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2010) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Incognito Films (2010) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Music Box Films (2010) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• NFP Marketing & Distribution (2010) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Nordisk Film (2009) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Rialto Distribution (2010) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Solar Entertainment (2011) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• UGC Distribution (2010) (France) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• BIM Distribuzione (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• Canvas (2010) (Belgium) (TV)
• Caravella DDC (2010) (Russia) (all media)
• EDKO Film (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2010) (Brazil) (all media)
• Katholieke Radio Omroep (KRO) (2011) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Lumière Home Entertainment (2010) (Belgium) (DVD)
• Lumière Home Entertainment (2010) (Belgium) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Lumière Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (extended version)
• Lumière Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (extended version)
• Music Box Films Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Odeon (2010) (Greece) (all media)
• Solar Entertainment (2009) (Philippines) (all media)
• Vendetta Films (2010) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• Vértigo Films (2009) (Spain) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2010) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Panorama film & teatereffekter
• Filmgate (visual effects)
• Terminal FX (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Dagsljus Filmequipment  recording equipment (as Dagsljus)
• Britts Corner Catering  catering (as Britts Corner)
• Southwest Productions  second unit production: Spain
• Nordisk Film Post Production  film lab: Sweden (as Nordisk Film Post Production Stockholm)
• Jolly Roger Klippstudio  editing studio (as Jolly Roger)
• Nordisk Film Audio  sound studio
• Ljudligan  adr
• Strömberg PR  press relations
• Strömberg PR  public relations
• Content Marketing Group  business relations
• Content Marketing Group  cross promotion
• CPH Legal  legal counsel
• European Collection Agency  collection agency (as ECA)
• Film Finances  completion guarantor (as Film Finances Ltd)
• Media Insurance Brokers  insurance
• Svenska Handelsbanken  bank (as Handelsbanken)
• Slovak National Symphony Orchestra  score performed by (as Slovakiska National Symfoniska Orkestern)
• Slovak Radio Concert Hall  score recorded at (as Slovakiska Radions Concerthal, Bratislava)
• Aftonbladet  the producers wish to thank
• Kia Motors Sweden  the producers wish to thank
• Posten Logistik  the producers wish to thank (as Posten Logistik AB)
• Scandic Hotels  the producers wish to thank (as Scandic)
• SJ  the producers wish to thank
• Sony Ericsson  the producers wish to thank
• Sterling Airways  the producers wish to thank
• Acer Sweden  thanks (as Acer)
• Digital Media Services (DMS)  digital marketing asset management (uncredited)

Also Known As:

"Flickan som lekte med elden" - Sweden (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for brutal violence including a rape, some strong sexual content, nudity and language

Runtime:

129 min | 183 min (TV version)

Country:

Sweden | Denmark | Germany

Language:

Swedish | Italian | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Norway:15 | Denmark:15 | Sweden:15 | Spain:13 | Iceland:16 | Germany:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Italy:VM14 | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:16 | USA:R (certificate #46228) | Japan:R15+ | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:15 | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R16 | Ireland:16 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:M18 (edited version) | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | Chile:Y7 | Hong Kong:III | France:U | Peru:14 | Brazil:16 | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

Götgatan, Södermalm, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company:

Yellow Bird Films

Trivia:

Of the three books and films in the Millennium Trilogy, this is the only one whose title is the same in English and Swedish. 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' was originally titled 'Men Who Hate Women'. 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest' was originally titled 'The Castle in the Sky that was Blown Up'.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Lisbeth hacks into Bjurman's computer, she finds an email confirming an appointment to have his stomach tattoo removed on Friday, November 7, 2009. In 2009, November 7 fell on a Saturday.

Movie Connections:

Features Kungsgatan (1943)

Soundtrack:

Calling You

Second installment of the Swedish Millennium trilogy about heroine Lisbeth Salander made me relish the first film by director Niels Arden Oplev

This follow-up installment by director Daniel Alfredson is a decent mystery thriller with expected action scenes and a string of plot points to keep your interest going. It provides more background information about our tenacious heroine Lisbeth's childhood and her legal guardians, mysterious police reports, and her couple of singularly close friends (Miriam and Paolo, both happened to also know kick-boxing and boxing). Of course, there is Millennium key journalist, Micke Blomkvist and his fellow investigative reporters, and most of the storyline we're following thread after thread, hoping (as everyone in the movie does) to get closer to Lisbeth. From the audience point of view, we get to see her, alright, tagging along with her varying guises to avert danger too close for comfort. She, too, wanted to get to the bottom of the alleged murders that were conveniently linked to her name. The whole movie feels like an expanded "Wallender" episode from the Swedish police-detective TV mystery series.*

"The Girl Who Played With Fire" gave us seemingly straightforward 'facts' as the multiple characters uncover - likened to a 'treasure hunt' (or musical chairs, if you so inclined from the number game of the targets by the villains) vs. providing dramatic highs and penetrating clues, suspenseful and emotional exciting turns as in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," when we followed Lisbeth and Micke on their investigative furtive trails and cerebral deductions. What Danish director Niels Arden Oplev gave us in the first installment can very well stand on its own as a suspense dramatic thriller (which was true to the original Swedish title "Men Who Hate Women"). It's an excellent whodunit - quality entertainment, moving and satisfying wrap-up to the point of tear-jerker, in spite of some plot-required gritty (raw, not for the squeamish) scenes, which were actual arcs for the next two installments to lean on and refer to. Yes, I recall those particular cited scenes in "The Girl Who Played With Fire" when replayed and enhanced our empathy with Lisbeth's character. What this second installment did give us is preparing for the next and final movie in pursuit of Lisbeth's truth along with Micke staunchly standing up for her - so I kinda read the reviews already on IMDb for "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest". Truly anticipate for the wide release of the 'Part 2' of the second installment and getting to the nitty-gritty rhyme and reason of our heroine Lisbeth and hope for the very best for her.

Do see "The Girl With Dragon Tattoo" if you haven't experience it yet. Yes, mind you, there are NFE (not for everyone) scenes, but they are necessary to the understanding of the heroine, Lisbeth Salander, and set up for the next two movies that follow in this worthwhile mystery trilogy from Sweden. Subtitles in English.

* "Wallender" is a popular Swedish detective mystery TV series I was lucky to catch now and then on KCSM (in Bay Area, California) on their 'International Mystery Monday nights' at 10 PM. They are usually intense, violent crime scenes without apology, political story lines, tons of threads (or red-herrings) that compel you to stay through till the end of the 90-minute episode. There's also a British "Wallender" mystery series based on the same Swedish police-detective Kurt Wallender, played by Kenneth Branagh (who's an executive producer for the program).

If you have a chance to catch the German-Austrian production of "Tatort: Crime Scene" - that's a favorite international mystery I highly recommend. Every TV episode is intelligently written and delivered, with crime scenes usually suggestive or chilling effects off-screen, and simply loved the pair of investigators Max Ballauf and Freddy Schenk (detective partners brilliantly played by Klaus J. Behrendt and Dietmar Bär - one's kinda skinny, the other's kindly plump). If good old-fashioned mystery style is your cup of tea, try "Maigret" the French, pipe piping burly of an endearing Parisian Inspector, impeccably portrayed by Bruno Crémer, who solves murderous puzzles ever so facile. Great sets, costumes and befitting music as we accompany Maigret, unhurriedly sauntering on police business, visiting the rural provinces of French locales.