7.7/10
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The Simple-Minded Murderer (1982)

Den enfaldige mördaren (original title)
| Drama | September 1985 (USA)
The Simple-Minded Murderer Poster
A mentally challenged man escapes from his tyrannical master and finds happiness when a poor family takes him in.

Director:

Hans Alfredson

Writers:

Hans Alfredson (screenplay), Hans Alfredson (novel)

Stars:

Stellan Skarsgård, Maria Johansson, Hans Alfredson | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
7 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

See all 33 photos »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stellan Skarsgård ... Sven
Maria Johansson ... Anna
Hans Alfredson ... Höglund
Per Myrberg ... Andersson
Lena-Pia Bernhardsson Lena-Pia Bernhardsson ... Mrs. Andersson
Nils Ahlroth ... Månsson
Lars Amble ... Bengt
Carl-Åke Eriksson Carl-Åke Eriksson ... Wallin
Cecilia Walton Cecilia Walton ... Vera
Wallis Grahn Wallis Grahn ... Mrs. Höglund
Else-Marie Brandt Else-Marie Brandt ... Sven's Mother
Gösta Ekman ... The New Driver
Carl Billquist ... Flodin
Lena Nyman ... Woman Without Legs
Björn Andrésen Björn Andrésen ... Angel
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

In the 1930s, the feeble-minded Sven's mother dies and he is hired as a farm-hand at the rich, affluent Höglund's farm. He has to work without pay and sleeps together with the cows. He meets the disabled Anna who is the first one to treat him as an adult. One day he has had enough of Höglund's maltreatment and moves in with Anna's family. Written by Mattias Thuresson

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

sweden | simpleton | killer on the run | non linear narrative | cleft lip | See All (49) »

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
Edit

Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Scanian | Swedish

Release Date:

September 1985 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Simple-Minded Murderer See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Svenska Ord,Svensk Filmindustri (SF),Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the sources of inspiration came when director Hans Alfredson first heard Verdi's "Requiem". He instantly knew that he wanted to use it for a movie. See more »

Quotes

Höglund: You see I really don't need this little sum of money, Månsson, it's not that. You see, it's about principle.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Sling Blade (1996) See more »

Soundtracks

Requiem
Written by Giuseppe Verdi (as Verdi)
Conducted by Georg Solti (as Sir Georg Solti)
Decca LP SET 374-5
See more »

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User Reviews

 
As relevant as ever
15 September 2018 | by aleistad-1 – See all my reviews

As others have remarked, this may be the best movie to come out of Sweden. It both enrages and soothes, as it follows the oppression and uprising of the main character.

While it covers the tribulations and triumphs of the main characters perfectly, it's about so much more. It has a big heart and reminds you that overcomplicating things can lead us astray, whereas the purity of simplicity is sometimes what we should strive for, and it's a lesson in the corrupt nature of power.

The production may seem plain at first, but you'll soon realize that it's pitch perfect. Unfortunately I didn't see this movie before now - I, like every man, could have done well with the additional ballast that this piece of art provides.
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