Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

PodBill Just what I expected

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Curt Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

Shadowplayed Two things...made me pursue this film and write about it. Stellan Skarsgard, young Stellan Skarsgard. The Title.Sven is poor, feeble minded young man, living with his mother in Swedish country making ends meat. Everyone regards him as village idiot and a fool, but what he can't show and verbally express (he's speaking with difficulty, mumbling words) he feels and in his mind vocalizes perfectly. This kind hearted fellow won't leave you cold if there's a shred of empathy left somewhere deep inside. His estranged sister whom he loves went away as young girl, and sickly mother soon dies. Sven is sent off to a cruel, wealthy landlord to sleep in a stable and do whatever crappy job is required of him, no fee, just food and lousy stable bench for bed.This is arty drama, which focuses on Sven's inner world and his life as opposed to cruelty of his "master" and the unjust world he lives in. However, he will meet some very nice people who kindly save him from humiliation and take him in. There he falls in love with the family's disabled daughter (I know, kind of an overkill there) and finally, the world looks like a good place for the first time to Sven.But, our unlucky protagonist was not meant for happiness, because things will go down for him and those around him pretty abruptly. This is not Swedish version of Forrest Gump, although it is sweeter and tad cornier than I'd hoped it would be. There is big social commentary, and no, not everyone will have equal rights and chance to fulfill their dream in this tale. Skarsgard is natural born actor, quite different here from his more mature and more popular roles, the body's thin and face lit, but crazy look in his eyes as a trademark is ever present. Marvelous actor.One distinct element that places Simple Minded Murderer into art film category are strange visions, righteous angels of light and vengeance whom Sven hallucinates about and are following him through some tough times and key moments.Beautiful film, gentle and mostly realistic with appropriate ending, which goes to show you can push the kind man only so far before he reaches his breaking point.

Bones Eijnar Den Enfaldige Mördaren deserves to be better known. It's a fabulous film directed by Hans Alfredson and stars Stellan Skarsgård in one of his most memorable performances as the hare-lipped young man Sven, who's considered retarded by his surroundings. He seeks consolation and spiritual strength in his faith and visions as his life becomes difficult and tormenting as a worker for the vicious local factory owner Höglund (played by Alfredson himself).Superbly played out in a slight retrospective manner, the film beholds a major heart. The emotional aspect is big as we witness Sven throughout the film; his childlike manners and his close relation to his guardian angels, the way he gets involved with the girl-next-door, and getting the opportunity to step up and being treated as an adult, receiving weekly salary and learning how to drive a motorcycle. It's a moving journey of a man who everyone around him seems to misunderstand and neglect. These bright and uplifting moments in the film works as a great counterbalance to the darkness it beholds, especially in the character of Höglund - he's first presented to us lurking into the stable where Sven sleeps among the animals, and he speaks violently and shows no affect for Sven, who's just lost his mother. Höglund treats Sven's sister as meat, shows no affection for his wife and kids, and uses gruesome actions to behold power in the local county.Den Enfaldige Mördaren is packed with symbolism and ideas, and it flows carelessly in place and time (we sense both the Middle Ages and something futuristic, and everything in between) and tells a tale a multi-layered tale, shuffling so many elements of humor, romance, spirituality, society's mangles, vengeance and adventure. It's a film that makes one enthusiastic about European cinema.

tependris Dazzling performances by both a young and hardly recognizable Stellan Skarsgard, as a simple minded man and movie's director Hans Alfredson as the movie's villain. They both give Oscar winning performances. The storyline is very intriguing, cinematography is close to perfection, the musical score flawless, the supporting actors play excellently, the pace of the movie, starting with the hero's flashbacks and revealing the past slowly and gradually till its climax in just the ending 5 minutes of the film, is superb! An enlightening film and as i'm informed one of the best Swedish movies ever! A must see for every cinephile who is fed up with Hollywood junk!

AKS-6 "Den enfaldige mördaren" is without a doubt one of the best Swedish films ever made. It's a beautiful film, as well as a harrowing experience to watch. Stellan Skarsgård is magnificent in the role of Sven who is generally considered to be an idiot (because he is harelipped and he's therefore unable to speak clearly) -- even by his own sister Vera who is deeply ashamed of him. He gets a job at a factory owner's estate and is treated cruelly by that man (played by wonderful Hasse Alfredson, who also wrote the script and directed the film).The film is fairly episodic but it definitely works in this film and as Sven's life gets better and better the pace becomes more "fluent", so to speak, which is really brilliant. The cinematography's brilliant as well. This is truly a great accomplishment.