Swedish movies have been very difficult to find in USA after Bergman retirement, several years ago, but after the incredible international success of the "Girl with the Dragoon Tattoo" trilogy; Scandinavian cinema is (hopefully ) coming back to these shores.
While "Girl with the Dragoon tattoo" started a heavy criticism on Swedish seemly perfect Government and Society; "CALL GIRL" is a frontal attack to an obviously two faced society with "double standard" public functionaries.
"CALL GIRL" in an almost documentary style tells the real events (with some name and time-line changes) that almost destroy Sweden political system the seventies.
Upon Secret Service discovery (due to espionage suspicions) of several very high level ministries linked to a prostitution ring; investigation evolves to find out that almost every big political figure was involved too.
The ring was run by Dagmar Galns (the excellent Pernilla August). The parallel story of two adolescent girls, recruited by her slow down the movie; but lets us see the other side of the equation; get acquainted with prostitutes and their customers, abusers or exploiters.
Surprisingly, the portrait of Glans is ambiguous; she is shown as an intelligent, workaholic (she works same as her girls), charismatic but abusive woman. Her followers, describe her as a savior (in that times rights for women and equal job opportunity were not granted).
In the end, Glans, her girls, the two adolescent and the police trying to do their job, are just innocent bystanders. The real wolves are the corrupt and/or cowards politicians and government officials, using their power to cleanup their images sacrificing human lives in the process.
The ending as you can guess; is not happy; but still it is a must see movie.
While "Girl with the Dragoon tattoo" started a heavy criticism on Swedish seemly perfect Government and Society; "CALL GIRL" is a frontal attack to an obviously two faced society with "double standard" public functionaries.
"CALL GIRL" in an almost documentary style tells the real events (with some name and time-line changes) that almost destroy Sweden political system the seventies.
Upon Secret Service discovery (due to espionage suspicions) of several very high level ministries linked to a prostitution ring; investigation evolves to find out that almost every big political figure was involved too.
The ring was run by Dagmar Galns (the excellent Pernilla August). The parallel story of two adolescent girls, recruited by her slow down the movie; but lets us see the other side of the equation; get acquainted with prostitutes and their customers, abusers or exploiters.
Surprisingly, the portrait of Glans is ambiguous; she is shown as an intelligent, workaholic (she works same as her girls), charismatic but abusive woman. Her followers, describe her as a savior (in that times rights for women and equal job opportunity were not granted).
In the end, Glans, her girls, the two adolescent and the police trying to do their job, are just innocent bystanders. The real wolves are the corrupt and/or cowards politicians and government officials, using their power to cleanup their images sacrificing human lives in the process.
The ending as you can guess; is not happy; but still it is a must see movie.