Låt den rätte komma in och Män som hatar kvinnor

One of the many things I did while in Lismore was watch the film “Låt den rätte komma in”, the Swedish vampire film that screened in Australia under the title, “Let the right one in”.

Although I’ve seen it before with subtitles, I decided to “give it a go” to see if I could watch it without subtitles. And you know what? I could follow the film reasonably well possibly because a lot of the film’s dialogue involves children.

“Jag talar svenska som ett barn” (I speak Swedish like a child) is a phrase I sometimes use because it’s true. I reckon I’m at five year old level at the moment.

Nothing too complicated. Nothing too sophisticated. If it’s reasonably straight forward I’m reasonably okay.

Låt den rätte komma in
Låt den rätte komma in

More challenging was an invitation tonight to see the film “Män som hatar kvinnor” (Men who hate women), based on the Stieg Larsson book, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, which screened at the Swedish cafe in Goulburn Street.

And the challenge? No subtitles, not even Swedish ones which might have helped.

Män som hatar kvinnor

The level of Swedish was far too sophisticated for me, and I found myself picking up only bits and pieces here and there. I found I could understand some of the older actors better. Perhaps because their diction was clearer and perhaps their Swedish was a little more formal?

There’s one point in the film where the girl tatoos the words rapist, sexist and some other choice words on the bloke’s chest. When my friend – a native speaker told me what they said – Grant joked, “Marianne hasn’t taught us those words yet”.

But despite the challenge, it was great fun to go.

We chatted briefly to a woman near us who, charmingly, spoke slowly and clearly, making us feel very welcome in a room where just about everyone else were native speakers.

And we also met a bloke who has spent the last nine years working in the music industry there. “I got to witness the Swedish musical miracle first hand”, he commented.

Now that I’ve broken the seal, I think I’d like to go again and will keep an eye out for other Swedish films screening there.

Speaking of breaking the seal. We’ve just had some welcome rain. It’s just as well because it was bloody hot and humid tonight. 32 degrees at 10.30 at night, if you please.

As I came home via Oxford Street there was definitely a feeling of summer in the air. People were walking around in shorts. And they all seemed to have that hot sweaty summer glow about them.

Quite a contrast to the snow and ice of these two Swedish films I’ve watched in the last few days.

10 Replies to “Låt den rätte komma in och Män som hatar kvinnor”

  1. When I was only into my second month of studying French in Paris I went to try a non subtitled film or two. Initially I had only gone to nature documentary-style films where the narration was slow and I could more easily connect with the visuals.

    My first attempt at a romantic comedy (“Essaye-moi”) was enjoyable although the only dialog I understood was when two of the characters visited a supemarket and were calling out names of vegetables in the grocery section. :-)

  2. How was the movie? I have only recently read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (thanks to the recommendation of that danish guy at the Masters Games gala ball), and loved it. So much so that I bought his second novel as soon as I could, and am hunting for the third right now…

    1. Whoops. Forgot to review the film. It was good. Even though it was quite long, it zipped along nicely. I think the actors were fantastic, and I could possibly have Michael Nyqvist’s baby. Great cinematography also. Lots of gratuitous Swedish shots!

  3. Hi James,
    I also have seen both and felt the same as to understanding the Swedish utan titles. Let the right one was pretty easy, the other a bit harder. I also blogged about both a while back. Our parallel lives strike again. When do you head north, by the way?

  4. Hi James, fall into your blog from Sandras, the first Stig larsson movie is good, but i found the second one better, for the books 2nd and 3rd was also better, so.

    Roger, from -11C and 50 cm snowy Sthlm

    1. Hej Roger, nice to meet you. And thanks for the advice about the books. I’ve recently downloaded the audio books, so I hope to get a taste for them on the way to and from work. I look forward to reading your blog also. James

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