Tala! Det är så mörkt (1993)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Suzanne Osten

Writer:

Niklas Rådström (writer)

Release Date:

19 February 1993 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Teenager | Jew | Sweden | Rage | Racism

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Etienne Glaser	...	Jacob
Simon Norrthon	...	Sören the skinhead
Anna-Yrsa Falenius	...	Raped Woman
Anders Garpe	...	Sören's Father
Gertrud Gidlund	...	Sören's Mother
Pia Johansson	...	Nurse
Eva K. Johansson
Staffan Kihlbom	...	Skinhead
Elin Klinga	...	Girl at Consert
Ana Laguna	...	Jacob's Mother
Gunilla Lilja	...	Nurse
Magnus Lundblad	...	Skinhead
Charles Maquignon	...	Skinhead
Jesper Nikoladjeff	...	Skinhead
Jan Ole Nordgård	...	Skinhead

Also Known As:

Speak Up! It's So Dark
Talk! It's So Dark

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-14 | Sweden:11

Company:

Götafilm

Soundtrack:

Race Traitor

A Young Skinhead And A Jewish Doctor Discover They Have More In Common Than Just Their Hatred For One Another

An eye-opening look at the racial tensions in Sweden is explored through the eyes of a young, angry skinhead and a bitter Jewish shrink who, following an awkward meeting on a train, form an uncanny bond.

The skinhead, played by Simon Norrthon, is an angry youngster who has found belonging in the skinhead revolution. Although, he partakes in the brutal attacks being committed, he truly doesn't believe in the validity of the movement in which he belongs.

A frustrated time bomb set to go off, the youth seeks counseling from, of all people, the jewish psychiatrist he met on the train. Hesitant at first, the skrink agrees to take on the youth as a patient.

Their is a definite chemistry between Glaser and Norrthon who spend the remainder of the film discussing their views on racism.

The film's writers decide to throw in both sides of the argument, the jewish doctor's and the skinhead's, and unlike so many other film's in this genre, it never becomes one sided. Tala! Det är så mörkt never declares that hating a race for whatever reason is wrong, instead it offers up reasons on why one would choose to funnel hatred through racism.

We soon come to understand why this youth is angry. In a chilling scene we watch as Norrthon is beaten bloody by his maniacal father.

The film comes full circle when the youth confronts the doctor on a train just minutes after saving him from a beating. In an interesting and poignant turn-around, his anger is that of a person worried for the safety of a friend, not of a racist.

Where Romper Stomper and American History X over-utilized violence in an attempt to push along the plot, Tala! Det är så mörkt makes good use of conversation and actually comes off as more thought-provoking in the end. A great film!