Screwed in Tallinn
Encyclopedia
Screwed in Tallinn is a 1999 Swedish comedy-drama film written by and starring the comedy group Killinggänget
, and directed by their member Tomas Alfredson
. Made in a mockumentary
style, it revolves around a group of Swedish single men who travel by bus to Estonia where they have been promised to meet Estonian women.
The film was one of four 60-minute films Killinggänget produced for Sveriges Television
in 1999 under the label Fyra små filmer ("Four small films"). It received the Golden Gate Award for best television comedy at the 2000 San Francisco International Film Festival
.
organizes a bus trip for lonely Swedish men to Estonia, where Nilegård's Estonian business partner Lembit has gathered Estonian women interested in meeting Swedish men. The group comprises a mixture of men from different parts of Sweden: Rolan Järverup, a tentative dansband
fan from Karlskoga
, the easy-going Micke from Skövde
, who has grown tired of the local women, Magnus Ronell, a socially awkward and overly reserved perpetual student
, Lennart Sundström, an idealistic sanitary worker who lives with his mother in Vännäs
, and several others. The bus is driven by the severely alcoholic and often incomprehensible Lasse Kongo.
Once the group arrive in Paldiski
, outside Tallinn, a speed-dating system is put into practice, followed by dance later at night. Awkward and tragicomic situations occur as most characters fail to connect and behave smoothly. Eventually, after varying achievements, the men reenter the bus and return to Sweden.
(SVT), as one of four 60-minute television films written by and starring the comedy group Killinggänget
. SVT had already produced all of the group's previous works, such as the series I manegen med Glenn Killing
and NileCity 105,6
. Made under the collective title Fyra små filmer ("Four small films"), these productions marked the group's first collaboration with director Tomas Alfredson
, who replaced Walter Söderlund and since then has been considered a permanent member.
While filming the scenes set at the dance and conference hall, single takes could be 30 to 40 minutes long, in mass scenes where all actors participated; those in focus followed the script, while others improvised in case they were within the frame in the background. The first raw cut of the film was two and a half hour long, and for a while the filmmakers considered to release a longer version than originally commissioned. Many of the most tragic scenes did not make it to the final edit, including a scene where Lennart witnesses his father hanging himself.
on 22 April 1999. A Swedish DVD was released on 28 March 2003. In a review of Killinggänget's 2004 feature film Four Shades of Brown
, Svenska Dagbladet
s critic referred to Screwed in Tallinn as the group's masterpiece, "both satirical and heartbreaking at the same time."
Killinggänget
Killinggänget is a Swedish comedy group, started in 1991. It is named after Glenn Killing, a character played by Henrik Schyffert who has appeared in many of their shows....
, and directed by their member Tomas Alfredson
Tomas Alfredson
Tomas Alfredson is a Swedish film director, best known internationally for directing the 2008 vampire film Let the Right One In...
. Made in a mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
style, it revolves around a group of Swedish single men who travel by bus to Estonia where they have been promised to meet Estonian women.
The film was one of four 60-minute films Killinggänget produced for Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...
in 1999 under the label Fyra små filmer ("Four small films"). It received the Golden Gate Award for best television comedy at the 2000 San Francisco International Film Festival
San Francisco International Film Festival
San Francisco International Film Festival is the oldest continuously running film festival in the Americas. Organized by the San Francisco Film Society, the International is held each spring for two weeks, presenting an average of 150 films from over 50 countries...
.
Plot
Entrepreneur Percy NilegårdPercy Nilegård
Percy Nilegård is a fictional character played by Johan Rheborg, and one of the primary staples of the Swedish comedy-group Killinggänget.A vain, snobbish, and possibly insane capitalist with a noticeable underbite, he does almost everything to earn money while also promoting his own ideas of good...
organizes a bus trip for lonely Swedish men to Estonia, where Nilegård's Estonian business partner Lembit has gathered Estonian women interested in meeting Swedish men. The group comprises a mixture of men from different parts of Sweden: Rolan Järverup, a tentative dansband
Dansband
Dansband is a Swedish term for a band that plays dansbandsmusik . Dansbandsmusik is often danced to in pairs. Jitterbug and foxtrot music are often included in this category. The music is primarily inspired by swing, schlager, country, jazz, and rock...
fan from Karlskoga
Karlskoga
Karlskoga is a locality and the seat of Karlskoga Municipality in Örebro County, Sweden with 27,500 inhabitants in 2005.-Geography:It is located at the northern shore of lake Möckeln, and the small settlement was initially called Möckelns bodar...
, the easy-going Micke from Skövde
Skövde
Skövde is a locality and the seat of Skövde Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 34 446 inhabitants .Skövde is situated some 150 km northeast of Gothenburg, between Sweden's two largest lakes, Vänern and Vättern. It sits on the eastern slope of a low mountain ridge Billingen ,...
, who has grown tired of the local women, Magnus Ronell, a socially awkward and overly reserved perpetual student
Perpetual student
A perpetual student, also known as a professional student , is a college or university attendee who re-enrolls for several years, typically more than what is necessary to obtain a given degree....
, Lennart Sundström, an idealistic sanitary worker who lives with his mother in Vännäs
Vännäs
Vännäs, from Wendenäs, ‘where the river changes it path’ is a locality that have existed since 1539. Vännäs is the seat of Vännäs Municipality in Västerbotten County, Sweden and had roughly 4,100 inhabitants in 2005....
, and several others. The bus is driven by the severely alcoholic and often incomprehensible Lasse Kongo.
Once the group arrive in Paldiski
Paldiski
Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri peninsula of north-western Estonia. Originally a Swedish settlement known as Rågervik, it became a Russian naval base in the 18th century. The Russians renamed it Балтийский Порт Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the...
, outside Tallinn, a speed-dating system is put into practice, followed by dance later at night. Awkward and tragicomic situations occur as most characters fail to connect and behave smoothly. Eventually, after varying achievements, the men reenter the bus and return to Sweden.
Cast
- Robert GustafssonRobert GustafssonCarl Robert Olof Gustafsson is a Swedish comedian, actor, and member of Killinggänget. He has sometimes been called "the funniest man in Sweden".-Style of comedy:...
as Roland Järverup, Micke and Lasse Kongo - Johan RheborgJohan RheborgCarl Johan Rheborg is a Swedish comedian, actor and script writer, born on June 5, 1963, in Täby, Sweden. He is a member of the Swedish comedy group Killinggänget....
as Percy NilegårdPercy NilegårdPercy Nilegård is a fictional character played by Johan Rheborg, and one of the primary staples of the Swedish comedy-group Killinggänget.A vain, snobbish, and possibly insane capitalist with a noticeable underbite, he does almost everything to earn money while also promoting his own ideas of good...
and Magnus Ronell - Jonas Inde as Lennart Sundström
- Tőnu Kark as Lembit
Production
Screwed in Tallinn was produced by the Swedish public broadcaster Sveriges TelevisionSveriges Television
Sveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...
(SVT), as one of four 60-minute television films written by and starring the comedy group Killinggänget
Killinggänget
Killinggänget is a Swedish comedy group, started in 1991. It is named after Glenn Killing, a character played by Henrik Schyffert who has appeared in many of their shows....
. SVT had already produced all of the group's previous works, such as the series I manegen med Glenn Killing
I manegen med Glenn Killing
I manegen med Glenn Killing was a Swedish television show broadcast by SVT in 1992. It marked the television debut of Swedish comedy group Killinggänget....
and NileCity 105,6
NileCity 105,6
NileCity 105,6 was a Swedish 6-part television show broadcast by SVT in 1995. It was the first major success of Swedish comedy group Killinggänget....
. Made under the collective title Fyra små filmer ("Four small films"), these productions marked the group's first collaboration with director Tomas Alfredson
Tomas Alfredson
Tomas Alfredson is a Swedish film director, best known internationally for directing the 2008 vampire film Let the Right One In...
, who replaced Walter Söderlund and since then has been considered a permanent member.
While filming the scenes set at the dance and conference hall, single takes could be 30 to 40 minutes long, in mass scenes where all actors participated; those in focus followed the script, while others improvised in case they were within the frame in the background. The first raw cut of the film was two and a half hour long, and for a while the filmmakers considered to release a longer version than originally commissioned. Many of the most tragic scenes did not make it to the final edit, including a scene where Lennart witnesses his father hanging himself.
Release
The film premiered on SVT1SVT1
SVT1 is the primary television station of the Swedish public service broadcaster Sveriges Television in Sweden.-History:The channel began broadcasting in 1956 and was known as Radiotjänst TV, A year later, it was renamed Sveriges Radio TV. In 1969, the second television station TV2 was launched and...
on 22 April 1999. A Swedish DVD was released on 28 March 2003. In a review of Killinggänget's 2004 feature film Four Shades of Brown
Four Shades of Brown
Four Shades of Brown is a 2004 Swedish film written by the comedy group Killinggänget and directed by their member Tomas Alfredson. The film stars Robert Gustafsson, Johan Rheborg, Henrik Schyffert, Jonas Inde, Maria Kulle and Ulf Brunnberg. The film consists four interweaved stories about life...
, Svenska Dagbladet
Svenska Dagbladet
Svenska Dagbladet is a daily newspaper in Sweden. The first issue appeared on 18 December 1884. Svenska Dagbladet is published in Stockholm and provides coverage of national and international news as well as local coverage of the Greater Stockholm region...
s critic referred to Screwed in Tallinn as the group's masterpiece, "both satirical and heartbreaking at the same time."