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.

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.

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.