PLIMOTH CINEMA: ‘The Girl Who Played With Fire’

They’re Back. Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Bloomkvist return this week to Plimoth Cinema in The Girl Who Played With Fire. The film will run for two weeks from July 30 through Aug. 12.

This same duo captivated audiences three months ago in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Played With Fire is one of the most anticipated films of the year. Those who haven’t heard about these novels or the films are probably living in a cave.

This is the second installment in the Millennium trilogy of mystery thrillers, written by Swedish author Stieg Larsson and turned into films. The books are a pop-culture rage and an international publishing phenomenon, making Larsson the world’s second best selling author last year.

You don’t have to have seen the first film to drop right into this second in the series but it helps given the fast pace and multiple characters. So Plimoth Cinema is bringing back Dragon Tattoo and running both films simultaneously, one in each of its theaters. Maybe there are even some die-hard Larsson fans that will see the first film at 4:30 and the second at 7 p.m.

Though this second film has a new director (Daniel Alfredson) and a new screenwriter (Jonas Frykberg), it is another dark and violent, edge-of-seat, nail-biting story. One of the great pleasures of these ingenious mysteries is that they are thematically unique.

Alfredson describes the first novel as a mystery story and the second as a kind of action adventure.

Noomi Rapace, as Lisbeth, is as electrifying and compelling as any movie character we’ve seen in years. Until now, Rapace was little known outside Sweden and much of her career was in Swedish TV. She brings to this film the same feminist energy we saw in Dragon Tattoo.

Alfredson describes Lisbeth as a contemporary fairy tale heroine and even considers her a stand-up role model for some women. 

In Played With Fire Lisbeth’s horrifying past comes back to haunt her. Though Lisbeth remains enigmatic, we learn more of why she is how she is. We also learn about unfinished business that some sinister forces have with her.

Lisbeth has returned to Stockholm from her island hideaway to deal with some of her own unfinished business. One matter involves Bjurman, the man who raped her in the first film. Among other things, Lisbeth reminds him that if he removes the lurid scars of vengeance she gave him in the first film she would return to inflict even worse.

The real action starts when Blomkvist, Lisbeth’s ally from the previous book, is gathering information on an expose on a Swedish sex-trafficking ring. The ring’s connections to high places and people become the catalyst for danger at every turn.

Two sources that had initially uncovered the trafficking are murdered just as they are about to disclose to Blomkvist the identities of the men involved.

Lisbeth’s enemies then succeed in framing her for the murders and Blomkvist is called upon to help prove Lisbeth’s innocence. Though the two do not meet in person until late in the film, they track parallel paths through multiple adventures. Their individual investigative talents unravel secrets as deep and sinister as any of those they encountered in the previous film. Lisbeth’s talents as a genius hacker continue to serve her well. 

Among the nemeses Lisbeth faces are a mysterious man named Zala and a hulk of a man named Niedermann, who can feel no pain. They are just two of Lisbeth’s formidable opponents but their true identities are shocking.

And in this film, Lisbeth gets as good as she gives with several near death encounters.

At the end of Dragon Tattoo, Lisbeth was seen walking away with a bundle of money and her enemies vanquished (at least those we knew of at the time). It would appear that Larsson did not know whether he would write a follow-on novel. The second film cranks up new villains and new dangers right away but it was obviously written with a third book in mind. The film of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is due to be released in the fall.

Screenings are offered every day at 4:30 and 7 p.m. Please note that for these films there will be additional 9 p.m. screenings Fridays and Saturdays.

Check film times by calling 508-746-1622, ext. 8877, check Plimoth Cinema’s film listings at www.plimoth.org or sign up for e-mail notices of upcoming films

All films are screened in the Linn Theater in Plimoth Plantation’s Visitor Center. Beer and wine are offered each Saturday. General admission is $9.50, $7.50 for Plantation members and seniors. Plimoth Cinema Club Cards, valid for the season, cost $10 and entitle one person to $1.50 off admission to any film shown at the Cinema.