The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Poster
Original Title: Män som hatar kvinnor

Swedish thriller based on Stieg Larsson's novel about a male journalist and a young female hacker. In the opening of the movie, Mikael Blomkvist, a middle-aged publisher for the magazine Millennium, loses a libel case brought by corrupt Swedish industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström. Nevertheless, he is hired by Henrik Vanger in order to solve a cold case, the disappearance of Vanger's niece

Introduction
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is a 2009 Swedish mystery thriller film directed by Niels Arden Oplev. The movie is based upon the acclaimed criminal offense novel by the late Swedish author and reporter Stieg Larsson, the first in his 'Millennium Trilogy.' The main characters are Lisbeth Salander, a smart and antisocial computer hacker, and Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative reporter.

Plot Summary
The story starts when Blomkvist, played by Michael Nyqvist, is sentenced to prison for slander against billionaire industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström. On The Other Hand, Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), a dazzling however troubled scientist and hacker, is hired to put together a background check on Blomkvist by a lawyer representing retired industrialist Henrik Vanger (Sven-Bertil Taube).

Blomkvist, having actually resigned from his publication 'Millennium,' is subsequently worked with by Vanger to fix the 40-year-old case of his missing niece, Harriet, whom he assumes was killed. Blomkvist moves to Hedestad, Vanger's remote island, to investigate.

Lisbeth's Story
Parallelly, the movie reveals Lisbeth's troubled life, where she goes through sexual abuse by her guardian Nils Bjurman (Peter Andersson). When Bjurman blackmails her for control over her life, she retaliates by completely assaulting him, recording his confession of attack, and tattooing "I am a sadistic pig and a rapist" on his abdominal area.

Blomkvist and Lisbeth's Encounter
After discovering Salander's investigation of him, Blomkvist hires her as his research study assistant. He discovers that Harriet discovered a series of brutal murders of ladies, which may have resulted in her murder. As they delve much deeper, they realise these murders were inspired by Biblical verses, a clue that leads them closer to Harriet's secret.

Deciphering the Mystery
After a failed effort on Blomkvist's life, Blomkvist and Salander understand Harriet's murderer is still active and linked to the Vanger family. They recognize Harriet's brother Martin (Peter Haber) as the culprit, however he abducts Blomkvist before they can act.

Conserved by Salander, Blomkvist discovers the stunning truth - Harriet is alive. She got away to leave her brother who began attacking her after acquiring his father's legacy of violence towards women. Reuniting with Vanger, Harriet agrees to take over his business.

Retribution
In the ending, Salander uses her hacking skills to expose Wennerström's prohibited activities, avenging Blomkvist. He restores his track record and relaunches 'Millennium'. Regardless of developing a close relationship, Salander's expect a romantic relationship ends abruptly when she sees Blomkvist with his previous lover, Erika (Lena Endre), leaving her heartbroken.

Conclusion
In "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", the troubling darkness of sexual and violent criminal offenses is powerfully contrasted with the mission for justice. The movie is a gripping tale of mystery, revenge and unexpected alliances that leaves the audience with a sobering reflection on the cruelty of criminal activities against women. The raw and intense efficiencies of Rapace and Nyqvist are really noteworthy, contributing to the film's commercial and important success. The film immensely popularised Larsson's characters, resulting in American remakes and follows up continuing Lisbeth Salander's story.

Top Cast

  • Michael Nyqvist (small)
    Michael Nyqvist
    Mikael Blomkvist
  • Noomi Rapace (small)
    Noomi Rapace
    Lisbeth Salander
  • Lena Endre (small)
    Lena Endre
    Erika Berger
  • Sven-Bertil Taube (small)
    Sven-Bertil Taube
    Henrik Vanger
  • Peter Haber (small)
    Peter Haber
    Martin Vanger
  • Peter Andersson (small)
    Peter Andersson
    Nils Bjurman
  • Marika Lagercrantz (small)
    Marika Lagercrantz
    Cecilia Vanger
  • Ingvar Hirdwall (small)
    Ingvar Hirdwall
    Dirch Frode
  • Björn Granath (small)
    Björn Granath
    Gustav Morell
  • Ewa Fröling (small)
    Ewa Fröling
    Harriet Vanger
  • Michalis Koutsogiannakis (small)
    Michalis Koutsogiannakis
    Dragan Armanskij