Tärningen är kastad

This crimethriller is based on a screenplay partly written by Kerstin Ekman, famous Swedish author and previous member of The Swedish Academy(they decide who gets the nobel prize in litterature)but resigned after the Salman Rushdie affair.

Just this fact makes this film very unusual. The other strange part is the setting,a TV-studio creating crimedrama, which makes it some kind of meta, ironic twist to this film. The same kind of music whenever something exciting is happening in TV show is used throughout the "real" film.

Almost as if the makers of this film knew how to make fun of this genre and at the same time make it exciting. It is fairly generic story but the writing and direction and great Swedish actors makes it above the usual crimethrillers.

Åke Falck playing the suspected killer/screenwriter and also the sleuth that has to try and solve this murder case before the killer gets away. He plays his part pretty good and delivers some very memorable scenes.

Jan Malmsjö as a creepy, murder victim who had a lot of enemies and no friends, he is very good here playing a pretty despicable character.

Anita Björk as Rebecka Striid, a femme fatale, a noir cliché but gives us a good performance and her role is pretty shocking considering her openness about sex (this film was shot in 1960) and the many casual encounters she has.

Let us not forget the trio of Toivo Pawlo, Allan Edwall, Sif Ruud that brings a comic relief and also gives clues and inspiration to the main character how he can solve the crime.

Viewers should seek up this film but as long as they don't expect to much. Oddly it's better the most thrillers made in Sweden today.