- Release year: 1984
- Director: Bo Widerberg.
- Producers: Göran Lindström.
- Screenplay by: Bo Widerberg.
- Cinematography by: Thomas Wahlberg.
- Music by: Björn J:son Lindh.
Synopsis: two policemen investigate a car accident in relation to a post-office robbery.
Shotgun Commentary: frustratingly realistic portrayal of “the system”.
Review
The Man from Majorca (Mannen från Mallorca) follows two cops that are trying to make a name for themselves by catching a thief. Instead, they stumble upon a conspiracy that involves both the police force and political powers, making their job a lot harder. Radiance is now selling this film in Blu-ray, along with some fascinating extra content that provides further insight into Widerberg’s work and the Nordic crime genre. More on this after the review.
Full focus
This feature reminds of those classic crime books one could find in their local library, or on old bookshelves if one is lucky enough to have parents with similar reading tastes. As a long-time fan of anything crime or mystery-related, having so many novels about policemen, corruption and mysteries was an absolute dream, and this film is a wonderful reminder of that feeling. Based on the novel The Pig Party, by Leig G. W. Persson, this film as that old-novel vibe along with some noir strokes that result in a really entertaining adventure.
Like most noir films, the conspiracy uncovered by the protagonists is incredibly tangled and confusing at first. This encourages you to leave any connection to reality (phones, conversations, etc.) behind in favour of the movie. Additionally, even if you find the plot easy to follow, the fact that it is in Sweden might deter you from putting your attention anywhere else. Whatever the case, it provides a great chance to disconnect for a little while, something that we don’t really get to do very often in such a connected world.
Style and substance
The story begins with a robbery at a post office. The perpetrator is cool and collected. He performs the heist swiftly and as perfectly as humanly possible. On top of this, he’s got great physical prowess since he jumps and runs around without any effort, as well as being able to keep his cool in order to outsmart the policeman chasing him. It is a pity that such a surprising and intricate character ends up being nothing more than a catalyst for the real account. However, that is really telling of the effort put into the narrative.
The tale speaks of corruption, power, and consequences, in a non-stop succession of events that form a hypnotic chain whose end is impossible to see. Despite the frustration some audiences might feel, including yours truly, the commentary on the police force is accurate to the end. The finale being depressingly realistic and as far away from dramatisations as possible. This attitude shows a lot of respect, not only for the story but for the message one is trying to convey, the message that there is something wrong with certain systems and with the society that doesn’t hold them accountable.
The craftsmanship
The intensity of the plot rests almost entirely on the characters, their creation and how they are brought to life. In that regard, both writers and actors have worked in tandem to deliver beautifully complex characters whose infinite layers make them feel as real as anyone you might cross on the street. Even the smallest characters, those with merely a couple of sentences in the whole film, showcase the individuality and uniqueness that is usually only found in real life. This is undoubtedly one of the main attractions of the work.
All in all, The Man from Majorca is a brilliant work of Swedish crime fiction that combines an intriguing plot with just the right amount of humour to make the mental strain totally worth it. The complexity of the plot speaks volumes of the talent of everyone involved, including the author of the original work. Overall, huge recommend for all crime-genre fans.
Radiance’s Blur-ray of The Man from Majorca will be released the 16th of December, but it is already available for pre-order on their website. Link below!
LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
- High-Definition digital transfer by Svensk Filmindustri
- Uncompressed mono PCM audio
- On-set reportage including behind-the-scenes images and comments from Widerberg (1984, 2 mins)
- TV featurette featuring Widerberg (1984, 3 mins)
- Interview with Assistant Director Harald Hamrell (2022, 24 mins)
- Interview with Barry Forshaw, author of Nordic Noir (2024)
- Teaser trailer
- Gallery
- Newly improved English subtitle translation
- Reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters
- Limited edition booklet featuring new writing
- Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
Find the Radiance release right here!
Advice to take from this movie:
- Never trust the authorities.
- Never trust politicians.
- It’s imperative to stay calm when robbing a post office.
What’s your take? Have you watched The Man from Majorca? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀