Whatever Works - Filmhouse Cinema Edinburgh

24 Nordic NoirTHE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO INSOMNIAWALLANDER: THE SECRET WALLANDER: FACELESS KILLERSNordic NoirIt’s impossible to ignore the publishing phenomenonthat is Nordic Noir. Crime fiction from Denmark,Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden is beingtranslated and published internationally. Althoughsuccessful at home, with a few notable exceptions,the film and television thrillers (both adaptationsand original screenplays) haven’t enjoyed the samelevel of attention. But with the critical acclaim forJar City and the popular successes of The Girl Withthe Dragon Tattoo and the BBC’s Wallander, is thatabout to change? This season offers the perfectopportunity to take stock before the next crime(fiction) wave crests.This season originated at ScreenLit Festival of Film, TV &Writing, Broadway Cinema, Nottingham. With thanks toLinda Pariser.TICKETDEALSSee any three (or more) films in this season and get 15% offSee any six (or more) films in this season and get 25% offSee any nine (or more) films in this season and get 35% offThese packages are available online, in person and on thephone, on both full price and concession price tickets.Tickets must all be bought at the same time.The Girl With the Dragon TattooMän som hatar kvinnorFri 7 to Wed 12 MayNiels Arden Oplev • Sweden/Denmark/Germany/Norway 20092h33m • 35mm • Swedish with English subtitles18 – Contains scenes of sexual violenceCast: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Lena Endre, Peter Haber.The film version of part one of Stieg Larsson’s bestselling‘Millennium Trilogy’ is a dark-hearted tale full of twists andturns. Disgraced investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvistis hired by the patriarch of a family of wealthy industrialiststo solve the mystery of his niece’s disappearance 40 yearsearlier, and, with the help of anti-social hacker LisbethSalander, uncovers a complex series of brutal slayings thatmay or may not involve other relatives.The Man on the Roof Mannen på taketFri 7 May at 6.00pmBo Widerberg • Sweden 1976 • 1h50m • 35mmSwedish with English subtitles • 15Cast: Carl-Gustaf Lindstedt, Sven Wollter, Thomas Hellberg,Håkan Serner, Ingvar Hirdwall.Widerberg made several stylish policiers with politicalmessages, of which this was the most successful. Basedon ‘The Abominable Man’ by Sjöwall & Wahlöö, it findsMartin Beck organising a vast manhunt for the murdererof a corrupt and brutal policeman. The film culminates ina spectacular set piece, allegedly inspired by The FrenchConnection. Apparently, this is the only one of the Beckadaptations that Sjöwall rates. Check it out for yourself inthis rare screening.Print courtesy of The Swedish Institute.InsomniaSat 8 May at 8.45pmErik Skjoldbjærg • Norway 1997 • 1h36m • 35mmNorwegian and Swedish with English subtitles15 – Contains infrequent moderate sexCast: Stellan Skarsgård, Maria Mathiesen, Sverre Anker Ousdal,Gisken Armand, Kristian Figenschow.“Christopher Nolan’s American remake was perfectly fine,but it couldn’t capture the gut-twisting oppressivenessof Erik Skjoldbjærg’s original. Anchored by Skarsgård’simpeccable portrayal of a man drowning in his own sins,this is the neo-noir that truly turned noir on its head:darkness becomes something you pray for, while lightis a straight razor that’s found entrance to your brain.”(Novelist Dennis Lehane)Print courtesy of Norwegian Film InstituteWho is Kurt Wallander?Sun 9 May at 1.00pm - Tickets £5.40/£3.50Elaine Donnelly Pieper • UK 2008 • 1h • DigiBeta • 15DocumentaryJohn Harvey presents a documentary about internationallybestselling Swedish writer Henning Mankell, creator of theKurt Wallander series. By examining Mankell’s anti-hero,it reveals the hidden angst affecting present-day Swedenand attempts to discover how his books inform the rest ofthe world about Scandinavia’s largest country.