Screwed in Tallinn (1999 TV Movie) User Reviews

One of the best mockumentaries ever.

[lennholm82 · 9/10 · 29 November 2004]

One of the best mockumentaries ever, my favourite along with "This is Spinal Tap". The title is a word play, it can be read as something akin to "Addicted to Tallinn" but also as "Whoremonger/punter on Tallinn" (and the 'on' is not a grammar error made by me), the latter interpretation being a reference to the plot which involves a busload of Swedish men going to Tallinn to find women.

I don't know if it is available internationally with English subtitles but I do hope so, for everyone else. Some of the fun might be lost though since the characters are to some extent based on the social differences (and dialects) between people in different parts of Sweden. It's great to see the actors play different characters. Especially Robert Gustavsson who flawlessly acts such incredibly different characters.

Funny - Bittersweet.... and...Hilarious

[fischerthoren · 9/10 · 26 September 2014]

This movie is made by a famous group of Swedish comedians, whose trademark is a remarkable ability to spot the funny aspects of everyday life and turn into top notch comedy. Many of the actors are big stars in Sweden today, but I guess, totally unknown abroad.

The movie revolves around a group of men who have decided to join an arranged bus trip to the capitol of Estonia, Tallinn. Soul purpose of the trip – to find a female life companion.

The format of the movie is that of a documentary, but it's of course all made up.

In the beginning of the movie we get to know the different characters. My favourite character is Roland, the TOO nice guy who we all know. The one who is always getting the short end of the stick, simply because he is too good a guy. The expression "nice guys finish last" has never been more accurate.

We also get to know the arranger of the trip, wannabe entrepreneur Percy Nilegård and his trustworthy bus driver "Lasse Kongo".

This movie is extremely funny if you are into comedies that are flavoured with a bittersweet feeling. You laugh at the corny characters for all their faults, but at the same time you recognize certain parts of their behaviour in yourself. Depending on who you are, you will feel more for different characters.

Paldiski Palace – sounds like a nice retreat doesn't it. This is the final destination of the bus trip. Be warned – don't expect too much from this establishment.

My only worry is that perhaps the Swedish dry comedy does not suite an international audience. But my recommendation is that you give this one a shot.

Chances are this will be one of your top three comedies!!!!!

Well, yeah, um...

[BeneCumb · 7/10 · 2 January 2015]

Torsk på Tallinn is a real over-the-spindle feature documentary on the broad meaning of terms "searching for love" and "getting rid of loneliness". All this is crazy to watch, you will giggle, sneer and feel sorry... Acting is rigorous and realistic, rural types well depicted; apart from famous Swedish actors, there are some Estonian ones giving pleasant performances (Tõnu Kark and Merle Palmiste). Nevertheless, "only" 7 points from me as I am not too much into bluntly ridiculing people who behave in naturalistic manner not knowingly, but because of their upbringing and background. Before the global village developed by the Internet, it was practically impossible to bring forth high-minded and sophisticated values and manners.

PS Tallinn is shown very briefly in the film, the activities in Estonia take place in Paldiski, a former Soviet closed military town around 50 km from Tallinn, i.e. no suburb of it; thus, all those Swedish men were certainly not screwed in Tallinn :)

A Classic!

[petrinurmi · 10/10 · 3 August 2004]

This Swedish movie is a genuine comedy gem. It already has become a cult- movie among my friends.

It's a story about a group of single Swedish men who attend an arranged trip to Estland to find themselves love and companionship. Nothing seems to go as planned on this trip. The film builds up to an absolutely chaos at a remote hotel in Talinn. Specially Robert Gustafsson puts out a memorable performance.

The film is full of fine details that absolutely cracks you up! I recommend this film to everyone who appreciates good comedy with a tragical twist.

I give this film 10/10

A small film about solitude

[david-2147 · 10/10 · 30 January 2006]

One of the best movies ever produced in Sweden.

Of all the movies I've ever seen this one stands out as the most unerring description of loneliness. The characters are all incredibly well directed and thought through and they all contribute to the pictures uniqueness as a whole. The movie is about an arranged date-trip to Tallin; 20 some lonely swedes takes the chance in hope to find the love of their life.

Even though this movie contains numerous classic one-liners and solid dialog the honest reason of this movies wide popularity (in Sweden of course), especially among the youth, is probably that we are able to laugh at something so tragic. We all fear being single our whole lives and we all fear being in the situation that these men are. It's a comic relief. And it's absolutely brilliant.

I sincerely think it's one of the best movies ever.

Probably the best and serious produced movie from "Killing gänget"

[tenebrarium · 10/10 · 4 September 2003]

I cannot agree with kanskespam. This movie is a piece of the best material "killinggänget" ever produced. We are following some characters from different parts of sweden on a bus trip. It's not just an ordinary bus trip. All the people on the bus are looking for one to share their lives with. It's just that the buscompany is owned by Percy Nilegaard the famous mediaprofile.

The best thing about this movie is probably that all the characters seems to be taken from a real bus travling. I guess I've never been laughing so much while seeing a movie. It's a famous movie in sweden, but I don't know if it can be appreciated by international viewers.

Genius!!!!

[twinols13 · 10/10 · 22 January 2010]

This is a an honest but brutal black comedy about the left-overs of Swedish manhood looking for someone to save them from their pit of loneliness. I just saw the film for probably about the tenth time and it struck me that not only the nice and naive country-guy Roland and the other obviously lonely participants in the trip are lonely but so are almost everyone. What this film is about is their different way of dealing with their loneliness.

Look at the mediocre loser of a businessman Percy who hides his feelings of abandonment in a false layer of professionalism. The only time we see Percy vulnerable and his yearning for love is on the ferry, strongly intoxicated with alcohol. And the one he opens up to is Lasse Kongo, a soul so deprived from alcohol abuse, with no ability for empathy, but all the while, seemingly Percy's only friend. Paradoxically, Percy, being the self-proclaimed matchmaker ultimately appears to be the one who ruins Rolands chances of scoring. However, Percy is not as far from redemption as Magnus, who lives his life completely in denial.

And the nice and correct Roland, who tries, and we really feel sorry for him, but turns out too weak. Life is hard against him and he is forced to submit.

Or Lennart, who hides his insecurity in always being the strong one and his inability to communicate with women with a detailed sermon about the basis for relationship taken from some book he just read for this occasion.

The film is both incredibly funny and incredibly tragical. You can say that the more tragical it gets, the more funny. You really get caught with laughing at the patehetic shortcomings of the characters which poses the question of ethics. Sometimes you wonder if it wouldn't be more correct to cry. However, the element of comedy is based on the concept of recognition which ultimately leads us to the conclusion that we're actually laughing at ourselves.

This is a great film in every aspect. The acting, the story, the cinematography, the casting and especially the writing. Some of the lines are just so genius and so right on the target, especially the small details that creates such a tremendous realism and creditability to this film. Take Roland when he removes the first slice of cucumber. Its such a trivial thing but gives us such an insight in to the Universe of Roland. This little will of Roland's to be correct and proper, combined with the general gloominess in the room can be a metaphor for his life.

I'm really proud of being from a country that has produced this tragical, honest, hilarious and simply genial portrait of this outcast of manhood. "Torsk på Tallinn" is unparalleled in this genre and I'm sorry not more people will get the chance to enjoy it.

Wonderful

[Andrew_Greenbay · 29 December 2002]

The most people only like it for the humour in it, but one should definitly understand that this film is wonderful because of the humour mixed with the incredibly strong theme. This film is about a set of people who meets up in a bus going to Tallinn. They don't know each other, and everyone of them come from very interesting backgrounds. So it's a strange set of desperate people who's going to Tallinn only to get themselves wives. That sounds very funny, but the fact remains that this is what people in real life do, and that must not be forgotten. If you don't think about that, you haven't understood the film. The film is incredibly not serious yet incredibly serious, and being able to find a balance between that is skilled, and that's what makes it so good. It's a 9/10

Not as good as those others

[MrMartinJosefsson · 6/10 · 31 August 2003]

The movie was ok but these guys (Killinggänget) also make those shorter sketches and I like them much more. This movie doesn't have any intelligent twists or unexpected incidents. It's rather a movie that shows the atmosphere that exists before and during a trip. I was glad that Jonas Inde did a good performance here because earlier (in "Percy tårar") he had not yet found a convincing way of acting. I gave 6/10 and if you would like to get familiar with Robert Gustafsson and this kind of humour I would recommend you to start with "Grogg".

Perfect mix of tragedy and comedy

[MrVibrating · 10/10 · 12 February 2008]

If you have some the least bit of shadenfreude in you, this movie will have you in stitches. The actors, screenwriters and the director should all be praised for their ability to turn something so horribly sad and pathetic as a sex/marriage trip for single men to Estonia to something this insanely funny.

You see the characters created fantastically by the experienced Killing gang and shudder; could this have been me? Will I ever end up like this? This passes quickly as someone says something screamingly funny or so cringe-worthy you can feel your skin crawl.

The plot moves perfectly, set to the wastes of mid-Sweden and the suburbs of Estonia. The characters, the buildup, the tension and the angst leads to an apocalyptic and hysterical finale that you will never forget.

Never, ever see this movie alone, single, dumped or depressed.

Alone In A Crowd

[novajowe · 7/10 · 13 February 2020]

This film is satire. This film is social commentary. This film is comedic. This film is...good. This is a story about being alone and longing for company. A longing as old as humanity, we long to be with others and in this movie the others are members of the opposite sex. On the surface this is a comedic romp about a group of horny men trying to get laid. Get past that and the movie offers so much more. These are men who are alone in their jobs, alone in their families, alone in every aspect of life. They are even alone on a bus full of men just like themselves. They do not want to stay lonely and the movie revolves on that desire to be with others, to love and to be loved. I really liked this movie.

Best film ever

[tjalaget-40465 · 10/10 · 5 May 2019]

This is, without a doubt, the most interesting, amazing, fantastic film of all time. With the great cast of Killinggänget this movie proves that Sweden is a force to be reckoned with. Together we will win!

On of the best films in Swedish history?

[Segelflygaren · 2 October 2002]

Torsk på Tallinn is a cinematic masterpiece from the beginning to the end. I've never seen such a good mix of comedy, documentary and tragedy as this film presents. Killinggänget have really done it with this film. Nearly every line in the movie is by now cult!

Note: A couple of months after I saw the film for the first time, I saw a true documentary about american men going to Estonia for the official purpose of finding a wife. It was Torsk på Tallinn on the spot!