I was about to cancel my Netflix subscription because I’m getting damn tired of watching dark crime shows where everybody mumbles and everybody gets naked and sweats and groans all over everybody else. Everybody struggles against the evil but it doesn’t matter because everybody knows the bad guys are going to win in the end . . . unless some zombie comes along and eats them all. Well, I exaggerate, but only slightly.
And then I happened onto this movie:
It hadn’t been promoted by Netflix at all and so I had no idea what it was about. Ignorance of the subject matter turned out to be a good thing. I’ve watched far too many movies about the Nazis and WWII. If I’d known the subject matter, I probably would have passed.
However this movie is different. We’ve all been in situations where we know we could have done more to right a wrong, but didn’t. Either we were afraid for our physical safety or we needed to keep our jobs or we felt helpless, believing it wouldn’t matter what we did. Nothing would change.
We’re not alone. It’s a perfectly human response, particularly during paranoid times. The thing is, that extra step doesn’t have to be a big one. Sometimes it’s just a matter of doing your job properly. A tiny clog can bring down a powerful machine.
Anyway, the acting is superb. I watched it in Swedish and had no trouble understanding what was happening. Most notable was the actor playing Gösta Engzell, Henrik Dorsin. I read that in Sweden he’s considered more a comedian, singer and revue artist than an actor. That was hard for me to believe!
Saying nothing in particular 
the Sally Field/Octopus movie is worth a watch
Thanks!
I often find that Europeans do films with so much more depth, class and nuance.
They’re not afraid to have heroes look like average people (which they usually are) that’s for sure.
I seldom watch a movie, which is a shame because I know there are some great ones out there xx
I have a tendency to watch movies and tv in general when I’m catching up on other projects – like cleaning the kitchen (my tv is in the kitchen!)
I’ve never heard of this one either. Thanks for the heads up.
I hope if you decide to watch it you will enjoy it!
The story of Sweden is overlooked. Thanks. Duke
The movie has gotten some criticism for taking a lighter tone than most holocaust movies but I found it more believable. It easy for us to imagine ourselves heroes until we realize the potential costs. The horror creeps nearer and interferes with our everyday life.
Morning. There are lots of comedies on Netflix too. I watched two funny series there recently: Running Point; Big Mistakes.
Thanks Neil. I’ll check them out. I’m really tired of these Netflix hits that are all so filled with f bombs and naked people, gruesome murders and mumbling in the dark. Always mumbling in the dark!