Based on the absurd but true 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis in Stockholm that was documented in the New Yorker as the origins of the 'Stockholm Syndrome'.Based on the absurd but true 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis in Stockholm that was documented in the New Yorker as the origins of the 'Stockholm Syndrome'.Based on the absurd but true 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis in Stockholm that was documented in the New Yorker as the origins of the 'Stockholm Syndrome'.
- Director
- Writers
- Robert Budreau
- Daniel Lang(article "The Bank Drama")
- James Luscombe(story editor)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Robert Budreau
- Daniel Lang(article "The Bank Drama")
- James Luscombe(story editor)
- Stars
- Awards
- 5 wins & 7 nominations
Videos3
Thorbjørn Harr
- Christopher Lindas Christopher Lind
- (as Thorbjörn Harr)
- Director
- Writers
- Robert Budreau
- Daniel Lang(article "The Bank Drama")
- James Luscombe(story editor)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
A semi-fictional account, including most of the names of the players being changed, of the event that resulted in the creation of the term Stockholm Syndrome to describe people who feel empathy and sometimes more for their captor(s) is presented. In 1973, a lone armed man, thought to be American, storms the downtown Stockholm branch of Kreditbanken. Ultimately the authorities, led by Chief of Police Mattsson learn of his at-gunpoint demand: $1 million US, the release of convicted bank robber and murderer Gunnar Sorensson, and a Mustang Boss 302 like the one Steve McQueen drove in Bullitt (1968) as a getaway vehicle for the two of them. By the time Mattsson gets Sorensson to the bank - unknown to the gunman, who is thought to be well known robber Kaj Hansson, Sorenson having made a plea deal with Mattsson for his cooperation against the gunman - there are three hostages at the bank, all the others that were in the bank at the time let go. Arguably the most lucid of the three is bank clerk Bianca Lind, a wife and mother of two preschool aged children. Ultimately she is able to figure out that the gunman is not Hansson as Mattsson suspects, but rather Lars Nystrom, what she knowing of his past crimes chief being his humane treatment of people he held at gunpoint. Beyond what Sorensson decides to do with his ultimate goal not to go back to prison, what happens largely depends on Lind, who begins to trust Nystrom more than either Mattsson or Prime Minister Olof Palme whose actions and decisions she believes from what she can see are more of a potential physical detriment to her and her fellow two hostages than that of Nystrom. —Huggo
- Taglines
- Based On An Absurd But True Story
- Genres
- Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for language and brief violence
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaThe actual event depicted in the film is what gave a name to the psychological phenomenon known as Stockholm Syndrome, where hostages develop a psychological alliance with (sometimes also referred to as sympathy or sympathetic feelings for) their captors as a survival strategy.
- GoofsThe massive television set in the prime minister's office is American, as are the power outlets on the wall. European television sets don't have trims covering the edge of cathode tubes as American versions do. The type of rabbit ear antenna as seen in the prime ministers office has very rarely been used in Europe; rather TV sets were connected to big rooftop antennae. Also, the power outlets in Sweden are Type C European (CEE 7/16 Europlug) or Type F German (CEE 7/4 Schuko).
- Quotes
Lars Nystrom: Do I look like a rapist?
Top review
Just Not Impressed
Yeah. I was expecting more I guess. You get to watch Ethan Hawke run around with a porn stache but that's kinda all that happens. There's no real drama taking place and the comedic aspect leaves a lot to be desired.
I would suggest that if you are looking for a true biopic this is not really gonna give all you would expect. It isn't awful. It's just a bit dull and like I said, unimpressive.
I would suggest that if you are looking for a true biopic this is not really gonna give all you would expect. It isn't awful. It's just a bit dull and like I said, unimpressive.
helpful•2512
- Foutainoflife
- Jul 3, 2019
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- The Captor
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $9,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $302,085
- Gross worldwide
- $1,139,481
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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