Everybody’s Got Secrets

April 29, 2010 Comments »

The lives of financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who’s just been accused of libel, and of computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander, whose troubled past has landed her in jail, intersect as they investigate the disappearance of a wealthy businessman’s niece 40 years ago.

The Swedish film, based on the novel by Stieg Larsson, is part murder mystery, part love story, and part exposé of a dysfunctional family.

Except for a few very violent scenes which were quite difficult to watch, I found myself fascinated by the two main characters’ search for redemption.

The investigation provides Blomkvist an opportunity to clear his name after being set-up by the corrupt tycoon he’s exposed.  For Lisbeth it’s a chance to do something positive with her life and learn to trust someone in a way that has left many emotional scars in her past.

By investigating what the leader of the Vanger family suspects was his niece’s murder, both characters discover how far they will go to seek justice, not only for disappeared Harriet Vanger, but also for the whole of society.

Perhaps I’m digging too deeply, but as I ponder the significance of Lisbeth’s dragon tattoo, seen only twice in the film, I can’t help but wonder if it’s a metaphor.

Does the dragon a represent the emotional demons she’s finally able to slay by solving the case and doing something for the greater good?

Go see the film and let me know what you think.  It’s showing exclusively at the Five Points Theatre for the next two weeks.