PRESENTS

THEGIRLWITHTHEDRAGONTATTOO

(PARTONEOFTHEMILLENNIUMSERIES)
Runtime:146minutes
AustraliaMarketingPublicityenquiries:
MikeVile-GeneralManager/SalesManager
AustralianCensor'srating:TBC
Australianreleasedate:TBC

Synopsis

Fortyyearsago,HarrietVangerdisappearedfromafamilygatheringontheislandownedandinhabitedbythepowerfulVangerclan.Herbodywasneverfound,yetheruncleisconvinceditwasmurderandthatthekillerisamemberofhisowntightlyknitbutdysfunctionalfamily.HeemploysdisgracedfinancialjournalistMikaelBlomkvistandthetattooed,ruthlesscomputerhackerLisbethSalandertoinvestigate.

WhenthepairlinkHarriet’sdisappearancetoanumberofgrotesquemurdersfromalmostfortyyearsago,theybegintounraveladarkandappallingfamilyhistory.ButtheVanger'sareasecretiveclan,andBlomkvistandSalanderareabouttofindoutjusthowfartheyarepreparedtogotoprotectthemselves.

MillenniumisbasedonthetrilogyofbooksbyStiegLarssonandhassoldover21millioncopiesworldwide.Tragically,Larssondidnotlivetoseethephenomenonhisworkhasbecomeashediedsuddenlyin2004soonafterdeliveringthemanuscriptstohisSwedishpublisher.

QuickFacts

  • Morethan21millioncopiesoftheMillenniumtrilogynowsoldthroughouttheWorld!!
  • “MenWhoHateWomen”wastheBestSellingBookintheEUof2008
  • StiegLarssonwasthesecondbestsellingauthorworldwideof2008(KhaledHosseiniauthorof"TheKiteRunner"camefirst)

MILLENNIUM

THEGIRLWITHTHEDRAGONTATTOO(AKA‘MenWhoHateWomen’)

Director’sstatement

Manypeoplehaveaskedme,ifIfelthonouredtobechosentodirectthefeaturefilm”MenWhoHateWomen”basedonthefirstbookintheMillenniumtrilogyofStiegLarsson,.Thetruthis:WhentheproducerSorenStaermoseaskedmethefirsttime,Isaidno.Ihadheardofthebooks,buthadn’treadthem.Furthermore,Ididn’thavethetimeandintentiontodoathrillerforthecinema.

Sorencamebackhalfayearlaterandaskedmeagain.Theproductiontimehadbeenpushedandhewasveryenthusiasticaboutmedoingthefilm.SoIreadthebook,itwasveryintriguingbutIdidn’tseeitasathriller.Isawitmoreasamysterydramawithstrongandspecialcharacters,whodevelopthroughoutthestory.Ireallyconnectedwiththismaterial,LisbethbeingadarkrebelandBlomkvistaleftistwatchdog.

ItoldSoren,thatIwoulddothefilm,butonlyifIhadartisticcontrolovercast,script,length,finalcutetc.Havingthiscontrol,Isawastheonlywayformetodoasuccessfulfilmbasedonsuchapopularbook.ThatIhadthesovereigntytomakeeverydecisionbeingaboutdoingthebestpossiblefilm.

Iwantedafilmwithstrongemotions,strongcharactersandacontroversialandintriguingstory.Thisismytrademarkalreadyandthisbookhaditall.Thevisualstyleandproductiondesignhadtoshowabigandspecialfilm.AndIwantedallthesmallcluesanddetailsinLarsson’sbooktobethere-oldstillphotos,whichmakesHarrietcomealive,oldfootagesfromthebridgeaccident,Lisbethhavingaphotographicmemoryetc.AndIwouldlikethefilmtokeeptheedge,thatthebookhas.Thatitdarestoshowthedarksideofsociety.

IaskedtwoofthebestwritersinScandinavianRasmusHeisterbergandNikolajArcel,towritethescriptforme.Togetherwedissectedthebookandplottedoutthestoryline.RasmusandNikolajthenwrotelikecrazy.Thetimeleftbeforethestartofshootingwasalreadyshort.

IttookthecasterTusseLandeandImonthstocastthefilm-Iamhystericalwithfindingtherightactorforthecharacters.Theremustbeaspecialconnectionbetweentheactorandthecharacter.Theactorsmusthavetheshineofthecharacter.TheSwedishstaractorMichaelNyqvistpresentuswiththehumanity,empathyandheavyweightintellectualism,whichweexpectfromhischaracterMichaelBlomkvist.Andhedoesthissowell,thatwearecapturedinexcitementallthewaythoughthestory.

LisbethSalanderispossiblythecharacterinmodernScandinaviandramawiththemostexpectationsattached,andIcan’tbelievetheluckwehavehadinfindingNoomiRapaceforthispart.Noomihastransformedherselfintohercharactertoachillingperfection.HerperformanceasLisbethisoutstanding.

ItalkedcinemaphotographerEricKressandproductiondesignerNielsSejerintotravellingtoSwedentodothisfilmunderhecticconditions.Adecision,Ididnotregretatanymoment.Theyhaveraisedthebarforthisfilm,givingtheartdepartmentworkamazingdetailsandtheimagesadarkexcitingfeel.

Thepreptimewasshortandearlyonitbecamecleartome,thatweneededamiracletobringthefilmhomeontimeandbudget.AtthattimetheSwedishcrewcameonboard,ateamthatwasdeterminedtomakeaqualityfilmevenifittooklongdaysandhardworkundertoughconditions.Andman,didtheydeliver.Asdidthewholeensembleofactors.Thefeelingofthesetwas,thateveryshootingdaywasabattleforquality.Abattleweweredeterminedtowin.Andnow,thatthefilmisnearlyfinished,Iknowwedid…

MICHAELNYQVISTPLAYSMIKAELBLOMKVIST

AftergraduatingfromtheSwedishAcademicSchoolofDrama,Michaelworkedmainlywiththeatrebutalsolandedsmallerpartsinseveraldifferentfilmproductions.Hisfirstbigbreakthroughcamein2000withthefilmTOGETHERdirectedbyLukasMoodysson.Themoviereachedgreatinternationalsuccess.AfterthathehasplayedleadingpartsinawardwinningmoviessuchasGRABBENIGRAVENBREDVIDdirectedbyKjellSundvall,ASITISINHEAVEN,directedbyKayPollakandawardedinhismostrecentlySuddenlydirectedbyJohanBrisinger.

MichaelwasalwaysintherunningfortheplayingthepartofMikaelBlomkvistbutitwashischarismathatsuitedtherolethemost.Director,NeilsArdenOplevfoundthematchhewaslookingfor-someonewhohadtherightlooks,thecharmandthelikeabilityfactor.

TodayheisoneofSweden’smostbelovedactors.

Awards:
  • BestMaleActorattheGuldbagge,theSwedishOscar2002
  • FilmStaroftheYear20022004byAftonbladet(Swedishnewspaper)
  • BestMaleActor2003byNöjesguiden
  • PrizewinnerTheGoldenSun,2004
  • BestActorintheInternationalFilmFestivalinGijon2003
  • ASITISINHEAVENnominatedforBestForeignFilmattheOscars2004
  • BestMaleActorintheInternationalFilmFestivalinMinsk2006
  • WinneroftheAudiencePrizeattheGuldbaggeGala2006

NOOMIRAPACEPLAYSLISBETHSALANDER

Thefirstissuetheproductionteamhadtoestablishwas“WhoisLisbethSalander?”

AhugelistofyoungfemaleactorswereconsideredaswereunknownandinexperiencedactressesasthesearchforLisbethtooktothestreetsofStockholm!Ultimately,whattheywerelookingforwassomeonewithoriginality.Noomi’sleadingroleinthefeaturefilm“DaisyDiamond”drewtheattentionoftheproductionteam.ThiswasaverybraveroleanditwasdecidedthatwithherskillsandmentalstrengthshewouldbeabletodomiraclesintheroleasLisbethwiththerightdirector.

Noomi,aself-taughtactresshavingneverbeentodramaschool,tooktotheroleinstantly.Sheundertookaradialchangeinherappearanceforstarters-shecutherhair,tookboxinglessonstochangeherbodyintoaballofmuscle,gotpiercingsinhereyebrow,lip,earsandnose.Sheevengothermotorbikelicense!EverythingisforrealwithNoomi,exceptforthehugetattoowhichwasimportedfromAmerica!

STIEGLARSSON-AUTHOROFTHEMILLENNIUMTRILOGY

StiegLarsson(1954-2004)wasajournalist.HewastheEditor-in-ChiefofthemagazineExpofrom1999,andhadpreviouslyworkedatamajornewsagencyformanyyears.Hewasoneoftheworld’sleadingexpertsonanti-democratic,right-wingextremistandNaziorganisations,andhewasoftenconsultedonthataccount.HewasjustasreadytogivealectureinasecondaryschoolasatScotlandYard.

TheMillenniumseriesisasurprisinglyconfidantdebutinthethrillergenre.Theactioninthebookstakesplacein2003andlater,mainlyinStockholmbuteveninotherpartsofSwedenandoutintheworld.StiegLarsson’sprimarystrengthishisunaffectedstyle,freeofclichés.Hewriteseffectively,histoneisspot-onandheisprofessional.

Ontopofthis,heexhibitsagreatknowledgeofthefieldhewritesabout,aknowledgeaswideasitisdeep,whichgivescredibilitytohisstories.Hehasafantasticabilitytokeepmanycomplicatedplotsgoingatthesametime.Andhedoesn’tleaveanypartofthemysteryunsolved.

NIELSARDENOPLEV-DIRECTOR

“Manypeoplehaveaskedme,ifIfelthonouredtobechosentodirectthefeaturefilm”MenWhoHateWomen”basedonthefirstbookintheMillenniumtrilogyofStiegLarsson,.Thetruthis:WhentheproducerSorenStaermoseaskedmethefirsttime,Isaidno.Ihadheardofthebooks,buthadn’treadthem.Furthermore,Ididn’thavethetimeandintentiontodoathrillerforthecinema.”

“Sorencamebackhalfayearlaterandaskedmeagain.Theproductiontimehadbeenpushedandhewasveryenthusiasticaboutmedoingthefilm.SoIreadthebook,itwasveryintriguingbutIdidn’tseeitasathriller.Isawitmoreasamysterydramawithstrongandspecialcharacters,whodevelopthroughoutthestory.Ireallyconnectedwiththismaterial,LisbethbeingadarkrebelandBlomkvistaleftistwatchdog.

ItoldSoren,thatIwoulddothefilm,butonlyifIhadartisticcontrolovercast,script,length,finalcutetc.Havingthiscontrol,Isawastheonlywayformetodoasuccessfulfilmbasedonsuchapopularbook.ThatIhadthesovereigntytomakeeverydecisionbeingaboutdoingthebestpossiblefilm.”

“Iwantedafilmwithstrongemotions,strongcharactersandacontroversialandintriguingstory.Thisismytrademarkalreadyandthisbookhaditall.Thevisualstyleandproductiondesignhadtoshowabigandspecialfilm.AndIwantedallthesmallcluesanddetailsinLarsson’sbooktobethere-oldstillphotos,whichmakesHarrietcomealive,oldfootagesfromthebridgeaccident,Lisbethhavingaphotographicmemoryetc.AndIwouldlikethefilmtokeeptheedge,thatthebookhas.Thatitdarestoshowthedarksideofsociety.”

“IaskedtwoofthebestwritersinScandinavianRasmusHeisterbergandNikolajArcel,towritethescriptforme.Togetherwedissectedthebookandplottedoutthestoryline.RasmusandNikolajthenwrotelikecrazy.Thetimeleftbeforethestartofshootingwasalreadyshort.

IttookthecasterTusseLandeandImonthstocastthefilm-Iamhystericalwithfindingtherightactorforthecharacters.Theremustbeaspecialconnectionbetweentheactorandthecharacter.Theactorsmusthavetheshineofthecharacter.TheSwedishstaractorMichaelNyqvistpresentuswiththehumanity,empathyandheavyweightintellectualism,whichweexpectfromhischaracterMichaelBlomkvist.Andhedoesthissowell,thatwearecapturedinexcitementallthewaythoughthestory.

LisbethSalanderispossiblythecharacterinmodernScandinaviandramawiththemostexpectationsattached,andIcan’tbelievetheluckwehavehadinfindingNoomiRapaceforthispart.Noomihastransformedherselfintohercharactertoachillingperfection.HerperformanceasLisbethisoutstanding.”

“ItalkedcinemaphotographerEricKressandproductiondesignerNielsSejerintotravellingtoSwedentodothisfilmunderhecticconditions.Adecision,Ididnotregretatanymoment.Theyhaveraisedthebarforthisfilm,givingtheartdepartmentworkamazingdetailsandtheimagesadarkexcitingfeel.

Thepreptimewasshortandearlyonitbecamecleartome,thatweneededamiracletobringthefilmhomeontimeandbudget.AtthattimetheSwedishcrewcameonboard,ateamthatwasdeterminedtomakeaqualityfilmevenifittooklongdaysandhardworkundertoughconditions.Andman,didtheydeliver.Asdidthewholeensembleofactors.Thefeelingofthesetwas,thateveryshootingdaywasabattleforquality.Abattleweweredeterminedtowin.Andnow,thatthefilmisnearlyfinished,Iknowwedid…”

NIELSARDENOPLEV–Director

Born1961

NielsArdenOplevgraduatedfromtheNationalFilmSchoolofDenmarkin1989.HisfirstfeaturefilmPortland(1996)wasselectedforthemaincompetitioninBerlinandhissecondfeatureChopChop(2001)receivedbothNationalDanishFilmAwardsBodilandRobert.OplevhasworkedasadirectorontheTV-seriessuccessesTaxa,UnitOne,DefenceandTheEagleThethreelastmentionedascreatoroftheseries.UnitOneandTheEaglebothreceivedtheprestigiousEmmyawardforbestforeignTVseriesin2002and2005.HismostrecentfeatureWeShallOvercome(2006)becamethemostsuccessfulDanishfilmin2006andwasamongotherawardshonouredwithTheCrystalBearatBerlinFilmFestivalsameyear.Oplev'snextfilmwillbebasedonthefirstbookinthebestsellingtrilogyTheMillenniumbySwedishauthorStiegLarsson.

InWorldsApartOplevyetagainshowshispartialityforportrayingthestruggleagainstimperturbableauthoritiesandstatictraditions.ButwheretheautobiographicWeShallOvercomedealtwithnewtimesintheprovinceandelementaryschool,WorldsAparttakesontheconflictswithinthecontroversialandreligioussectJehovah'sWitnesses.ThefilmisbasedonanewspaperarticleabouttheformerwitnessTabita,whoat17succeededinbreakingawayfromthesectshegrewupin,bychoosingfreedomandloveasopposedtoJehovah'sreligiousstandards.OplevchosetoletthemaincharacterSara'sfightfortherighttoloveandfreedombeasymboloftheeternal,criticalstandtowardsthekindofdogmaticauthoritywhichfundamentalistreligionsareonlyonepartof.

(BiographywaswrittenatthetimeofthecinematicreleaseforWorldsApart)

Director:
  • Mänsomhatarkvinnor(2009)...akaMændsomhaderkvinder(Denmark)...akaTheGirlwiththeDragonTattoo(International:Englishtitle)
  • Toverdener(2008)...akaWorldsApart(International:Englishtitle)
  • "Ørnen:Enkrimi-odyssé"(7episodes,2004-2006)...akaØrnen(Denmark:shorttitle)...akaTheEagle(International:Englishtitle)-Kodenavn:Ithaka-Del24(2006)TVepisode(headdirector)-Kodenavn:Ithaka-Del23(2006)TVepisode(headdirector)-Kodenavn:Thanatos-Del19(2006)TVepisode(headdirector)-Kodenavn:Kerkes-Del16(2005)TVepisode(headdirector)-Kodenavn:Kerkes-Del15(2005)TVepisode(headdirector)(2more)
  • Drømmen(2006)...akaWeShallOvercome(International:Englishtitle)
  • "Forsvar"(2003)TVseries(unknownepisodes)...akaDefense(literalEnglishtitle)
  • Fukssvansen(2001)...akaChopChop(Europe:Englishtitle)
  • "Rejseholdet"(3episodes,2000)...akaMordkommissionen(Sweden)...akaUnit1(International:Englishtitle)...akaUnitOne(International:Englishtitle)-AssistancemeldingA-21/99,del2(2000)TVepisode-AssistancemeldingA-21/99,del1(2000)TVepisode-AssistancemeldingA-15/99(2000)TVepisode
  • "Taxa"(5episodes,1998)-Del24(1998)TVepisode-Del23(1998)TVepisode-Del22(1998)TVepisode-Del14(1998)TVepisode-Del13(1998)TVepisode
  • HeadbangiHovedlandet(1997)(TV)
  • Portland(1996)
  • Nøgen(1992)...akaTilbagetilkærligheden-Nøgen(Denmark:seriestitle)
Writer:
  • Toverdener(2008)(writer)...akaWorldsApart(International:Englishtitle)
  • Drømmen(2006)(writer)...akaWeShallOvercome(International:Englishtitle)
  • Fukssvansen(2001)(writer)...akaChopChop(Europe:Englishtitle)
  • HeadbangiHovedlandet(1997)(TV)(writer)
  • Portland(1996)(writer)
  • Nøgen(1992)(writer)...akaTilbagetilkærligheden-Nøgen(Denmark:seriestitle)
MiscellaneousCrew:
  • Mellemos(2003)(consultant)(asNielsArden)...akaBetweenUs(International:Englishtitle)(UK)
  • Self:
  • (2007)(TV)....Himself-Winner...akaRobertPrisen2007(Denmark:promotionaltitle)
  • "Deadline"....Himself-FilmDirector(1episode,2006)...akaDeadline17:00(Denmark:firstparttitle)...akaDeadline2.sektion(Denmark:lateSundayedition)-Episodedated24March2006(2006)TVepisode....Himself-FilmDirector
  • Drømmen-eninstruktørsrejse(2006)(TV)....Himself/Director
  • "Smagsdommerne"....Himself(1episode,2006)-Episode#3.7(2006)TVepisode....Himself
  • MadeinFilmland(1997)....Himself...akaMadeinFilmland,meno-paluusuomalaiseenelokuvaan(Finland:longtitle)

SørenStærmose-Producer

Born1952

Producer:
  • Mänsomhatarkvinnor(2009)(producer)...akaMændsomhaderkvinder(Denmark)...akaTheGirlwiththeDragonTattoo(International:Englishtitle)
  • "Wallander"(associateproducer)(13episodes,2005-2006)-Hemligheten(2006)TVepisode(associateproducer)-Jokern(2006)TVepisode(associateproducer)-Blodsband(2006)TVepisode(associateproducer)-Luftslottet(2006)TVepisode(associateproducer)-Täckmanteln(2006)TVepisode(associateproducer)(8more)
  • Capricciosa(2003)(producer)
  • Zingo(1998)(producer)
  • Hjørneafparadis,Et(1997)(associateproducer)...akaACornerofParadise(USA)...akaAScentofParadise(International:Englishtitle)...akaDoftavparadiset,En(Sweden)...akaRincónenelparaíso,Un(CostaRica)
  • TheDisappearanceofFinbar(1996)(co-producer)...akaNärFinbarförsvann(Sweden)
  • Lumièreetcompagnie(1995)(co-producer)...akaLumièreandCompany(International:Englishtitle)...akaLumiereycompañía(Spain)
  • StockholmMarathon(1994)(producer)...akaKommissarBeck-Verschlossenundversiegelt(Germany)...akaKommissarBeck:Verschlossenundversiegelt(Germany)...akaTodläuftmit,Der(Germany:TVtitle)
  • Polismördaren(1994)(V)(executiveproducer)...akaPolizistenmörder,Der(Germany)...akaThePoliceMurderer(USA)
  • Mannenpåbalkongen(1993)(executiveproducer)...akaMannaufdemBalkon,Der(Germany)...akaTheManontheBalcony
  • Polispolispotatismos(1993)(V)(producer)...akaMurderattheSavoy(USA)...akaUnddieGroßenläßtman(Germany:TVtitle)
  • Brandbilensomförsvann(1993)(executiveproducer)...akaAlarminSköldgatan(Germany)...akaTheFireEngineThatDisappeared
  • Morfarsresa(1993)(producer)...akaGrandpa'sJourney
Actor:
  • "Forbrydelsen"....LeifSimonsen(8episodes,2007)...akaTheKilling(Denmark:informalEnglishtitle)-Episode#2.9(2007)TVepisode....LeifSimonsen-Episode#2.6(2007)TVepisode....LeifSimonsen-Episode#2.5(2007)TVepisode....LeifSimonsen-Episode#2.4(2007)TVepisode....LeifSimonsen-Episode#2.3(2007)TVepisode....LeifSimonsen(3more)
ProductionManager:
  • Zingo(1998)(post-productionmanager)

ABOUTTHESERIES

NielsArdenOplevCopenhagenDecember2008

Introduction

TheMillenniumSeriesisbasedonthreevoluminousbooks,theresultofacrimedebutthatinitselfisastoryofanextraordinarykind.Theinterestforthebooks,bothnationallyandinternationally,hasbeenalmostunprecedented.Themytharoundthewriterandthebooksarebothtragicandmesmerizing.TheauthorStiegLarsson,investigatingjournalisthimselfatthemagazineExpo,wrotethreebooksof600pageseachbeforehandingitintothepublishingcompanyNorstedts.Tragicallyandunexpectedlythough,StiegLarssonpassedawaybeforethefirstbookwaseverpublished.However,thebuzzaroundthebookshadalreadystartedtospread,andthefollowingmarketingcampaignwasproportionaltotheinterest.60000copiesofthebookwasprinted,thelargestfirsteditionforaSwedishcrimedebutantever.Nowallthreebookshavesoldmorethan2millioncopiesinSwedenandalmost3,5millionscopiesintotalinEurope.ThebooksisorwillbepublishedinNorway,Denmark,Finland,GreatBritain,USAGermany,France,Holland,BelgiumandIsrael

YellowBirdobtainedtherightstothehighlypraisedbooksandourintentionistomake6x90mincrimeseriesforTV,basedonthethreebooks.Wealsobelievethereisathrillingfeaturefilmstoryinthefirstbook,Menwhohatewomen,andthisbookwillthereforebemadeintwoversions,one150minutefeaturefilmandone2X90minutesfortheTV-market.ThefeaturefilmwillbereleasedtheatricallyasanintroductiontotheuniverseofStiegLarsson’scharacters.However,fortheTV-audiencethethreebookswillappearinchronologicalorderstartingwithMenwhohatewomen.TheMillenniumSeriesisahigh-endseriestargetedataninternationalprimetimeaudience,tomeetupwiththestandardsandinterestarisenbythebooks.

Thestories

TheMillenniumSeriesisauniqueandnewformofconspiracyandcrime,writtenwithequalpartsofthoroughresearchandenthusiasticnarrativezest.Thefirstbookhavethecharacterofaclassicwho-done-it,thesecondismoreofanervewreckingthriller,thethirdbesidesbeingathrilleralsohasgreatpartsofcourtdramatoit.InsteadoftheclassicSuperintendentcharacter,themaincharacterduoinTheMillenniumSeriesaretheinvestigatingjournalistMikaelBlomkvistandhisreluctantpartnerLisbethSalander,aworldclasshackerwithadefinitivesocialbehaviourproblem.ThestoriestakeplacejustasnaturallyinStockholm,GöteborgAlingsås(Nosseberga)andthesmallnorthernvillageHedeby.

TheMillenniumSeries

Themajorpartofthefirstbook,Mänsomhatarkvinnor[THEGIRLWITHTHEDRAGONTATTOOAKAMenwhohatewomen],consistsofaclassicwho-done-it-amodernvarietyofDorothySayersonemightsay-whichendsinadirtyandbloodyfamilydramawithmanycorpsesinthewardrobes.

Booknumber2and3arepureactionthrillerswithelementsfromcrimenovels,bothinafast,compactpace.

Thegalleryofcharactersthatareintroducedinthefirstbookarefoundagaininthesecondandthirdone,andnewcharactersareadded.Atthecentrewehaveamismatched,butunbeatablecouple:MikaelBlomkvistandLisbethSalander.StiegLarssonwrotethetwocharactersbasedonanadultversionoftwoveryfamousAstridLindgren-characters-BillBergsontheMasterDetectiveandPippiLongstocking.

MikaelBlomkvistisamiddle-agedinvestigativejournalistwhoispassionatelydevotedtohiswork.Heisapart-ownerandpublisherofamagazinecalledMillennium,whichexaminescontemporarysocietyfromacriticalpoint-of-view,andthatmagazineservesasabaseformuchofthestoryintheseries.Blomkvistisanhonourableandratherordinarydecentcitizen,giftedwithacharmthatmeansthatwomenareeasilyattractedtohim.

LisbethSalanderishiscompleteopposite.AyoungTarantino-womanwithamysteriouspastwhichhasturnedherintoanavengerandarealoutsider.Sheis24butlooksmorelike14,hasblack-dyedhair,hastattoosaswellaspiercings.Becauseofherbackground,Salanderhashadanofficialguardianappointedtokeepaneyeonher;sheisdeeplysuspiciousofallauthoritiesandinstitutionsandthishasledtoherhavingcreatedamoralstanceofherown.Sheisaworld-classcomputerhacker,andiscompletelyathomeinthecyberworldwhereshecangetanyinformationshewants.Butjustascomfortableshefeelsinthecyberworld,justasawkwardissheintherealworld,withrealpeople.Besidesthat,sheisunusuallyintelligentandhasaphotographicmemory.BlomkvistandSalandertogethermakeaformidableradar-duoandareawonderfulacquaintanceforustofollow.

THESTORIES

THEGIRLWITHTHEDRAGONTATTOO[AKAMenwhohatewomen]

ThefirstvolumeintheMillenniumseries

MikaelBlomkvistisaninvestigativejournalist,specializedinfinancialcrime.Atthebeginningofthebook,MikaelhasjustbeencondemnedtoashortprisonsentenceforslanderingthefinancierWennerström.Thismeansthathehastotake‘time-out’fromhisjobaspart-ownerandpublisherofthemagazineMillennium.Atthisjuncture,heisapproachedbyHenrikVanger,formerlytheheadoftheVangercompanieswhichhavetheirbaseinalittletowninnorthernSweden.

HenrikVangerwantsMikaelBlomkvisttogettothebottomofanunsolvedcriminalmystery.Thethen16-year-oldHarrietVangerdisappearedwithouttracealmost40yearsago,anditisassumedthatshewasmurdered.Buteveryyearontheanniversaryofherbirthday,HenrikVangerreceivesapostedreminderwhichmeansthatheisunabletoshakeoffthesuspicionthatshemightstillbealive.WiththehelpofaveryfatfeeandabaitintheformofinformationaboutfinancierWennerström’sdirtydealings,HenrikVangersucceedsinpersuadingBlomkvisttotakeontheassignment.TheofficialstoryisthatBlomkvistwillbewritingthehistoryoftheVangerfamily.

Blomkvistsoonpicksupatrackwhichleadsstraightintohidden,verybloodyfamilysecrets.Nowheneedshelpwithresearch,anditissuggestedthatheusedLisbethSalander’stalents.

Thetwoprotagoniststhuscometogether.ThesuspensetightenswhentheyrealisethatamemberoftheVangerfamilyisinvolvedinanumberofsadisticcrimes,anditreachesaclimaxwhenSalandersavesBlomkvistfromasituationwhichisabouttocosthimhislife.

Thepromisedreward,whichbesidesthefeewouldalsocontainimportantinformationaboutWennerström,turnsouttobeinsufficient.Instead,itisyetagainSalanderwithherhackerskillswhosucceedsingettingholdofconvincingevidenceagainstWennerström.Blomkvistthusgetshisrevengefortheslanderjudgementagainsthim,andSalander-withthehelpofherunconventionalmethods-managestogetholdofalargepartofWennerström’shiddenriches.

THEGIRLWHOPLAYEDWITHFIRE

SecondvolumeoftheMillenniumseries

WithWennerström’smoney,Salanderhastravelledaroundtheworldundervariousaliasesandwithdifferentpassports,andhasalsoarrangedacoupleofdrasticchangestoherappearance.

InStockholm,MikaelBlomkvisthasreturnedtohisworkatthemagazineMillennium.Heiscoordinatinganarticleandbookprojectabouttrafficking,thetradewithyounggirlsfromeasttowest.Theauthorisayoung,investigativejournalistwhoisshackedupwithapostgradwhoisjustfinalisingherdoctoralthesisinthesamesubject:FromRussiawithlove.AnumberofveryseniormeninSwedishsociety,includingadeputyheadofthesecurityservice,areexpectedtobecompletelyscandalisedattheimminentpublication.

Meanwhile,SalanderreturnstoStockholmandbuysanewluxuryflatunderanassumedidentity.ShehasalwayskepttrackofwhathasgoneoninMillennium’sandBlomkvist’scomputers,andshefindsaconnectionwithherpast,hernowguardianNilsBjurman-whoturnedouttobeanastybitofworkandwhohadpreviously(inbook1)abusedher-andthetraffickingproject.Sheseeksouttheyoungjournalistandhispost-gradgirlfriendandwhenBlomkvist,thatsameevening,visitsthecouplehefindsthattheyhavebeenshotdead.Ataboutthesametime,Bjurmantooisfoundmurderedinhisownhome,andwiththesameweapon,agunwithSalander’sfingerprintsonit.Now,alltheevidencepointstowardsher.

Agiganticpoliceinvestigationrollsintoaction.Anation-widewarrantisputoutforSalander’sarrest,andsheispulledtopiecesinthemediawithherpassportphoto,recordsfrompsychiatriccareandotherthingsthatcanbedugupaboutherpast.OnlyMikaelBlomkvistandhiscolleaguesatMillenniumbelievethatSalandercanbeinnocent,andtheyinsteadlookforaconnectionbetweenthetriplemurderandthetraffickingtheme.

Acoupleofhit-menassociatedwithamotorbikeclubkidnapSalander’sclosestfriendMiriamWu.Now,Salandersetsoutonahuntfortheinvisibleleaderofthegang,afearedpersonknownasZala.ThisZalaisacentralfigureinSalander’slifeandshenowhasadecisivechancetogetevenwithhim.

Thebookendsinabloodysettlement.ThedramaticfinalscenewhereSalanderisfoundriddledwithbulletsandburiedalive,hasthereadergaspingwithsurprise.

THEGIRLWHOKICKEDTHEHORNET’SNEST

ThethirdnovelintheMillenniumseries

TwoverybadlyinjuredpersonsareflownbyambulancehelicoptertotheUniversityHospitalinGothenburg.OneofthemisLisbethSalander-sheisinacriticalconditionafterbeingshotinthehead,andshemustbeoperatedonimmediately.TheotherinjuredpersonisAlexanderZalachenkoaliasKarlAxelBodin.HeisaformerprofessionalkillerfromtheRussiansecretservicewhodefectedtotheWestinthe1970sandwasgivenasanctuaryinSwedenbySÄPO,theSwedishintelligenceagency.ZalachenkoisalsoSalander’sfather.

AlexanderZalachenkoisthespiderinthewebinLisbethSalander’sdarkpast.Heisadeeplycriminal,violentandruthlessman,andheworriedthelifeoutofSalander’smother.WhenLisbethSalander-12yearsold-triedtokillhimbypouringpetroloverhimandsettingfiretoit,thenheandhisprotectorsinSÄPO’ssecretso-called‘Section’ensuredthatshewaslockedupinaspecialchildpsychiatryunit.There,shewasleftinthehandsoftheseniordoctor,PeterTeleborian,tobe“caredfor”.Anditwashewholatersawtoitthatshewasputunderguardianship.

Manycrimes,evenmurders,havebeencommittedunderthedirectionofZalachenko’sprotectors.Theyarenowinahurrytosweepawayalltracesthatmightrevealtheiractivities.Theformerbossofthe‘Section’,theoldcommunist-hunterEvertGullberg,iscalledintoshootZalachenkoandthenhimselfinthehospitalroominGothenburg.

OneofthecrimesSalanderissuspectedof,istheattemptedmurderofZalachenko,andassoonassheisfitenoughshewillbebroughtbeforecourt.MikaelBlomkvistisnowgettingclosertothetruth,andisbeginningtounderstandhowthesex-traffickingaffair,theSalandercaseandthejudicialscandalaroundSÄPOallinterconnect.HeispreparingajournalisticrevelationwhichwillclearLisbethSalander’snamecompletely,butwhichwillalsoshaketothecorethegovernment,SÄPOandtheentirecountry.Heaskshissister,alawyerspecialisinginwomen’srights,AnnikaGiannini,tobeSalander’sdefencecounselinthecomingtrial.

ThebookendswithamagnificentcourtscenewhereAnnikaGianniniisaglowingdefencecounselandwherejustice-truejustice-finallytriumphs.ForthefirsttimeinLisbethSalander’slife.

Quotesaboutthebooks

‘Apublishingsensation,anaccomplishedcrimewriterwhoseeminglycamefromnowhere…CrimefictionhasseldomneededtosaluteandmournsuchastellartalentasLarsson’sinthesamebreath’SundayTimes

‘Thejournalistandthehackerareingenious,believablecreations…Intheend,thenovelbecomes,amongotherthings,somethingofatenderlovestory...Thisisastrikingnovel,fullofpassion,anevocativesenseofplaceandsubtleinsightsintovenal,corruptminds.‘Observer

‘Theballyhooisfullyjustified…Thenovelscoresoneveryfront-character,story,atmosphereandthetranslation’TheTimes

‘Anticipationofthetreatsinstoreintheremainderofthetrilogyare,sadly,temperedbytheknowledgethatshortlyafterpresentinghismanuscript,Larssondiedofaheartattackaged50…[but]hisperceptiveinsightsintotheabuseofpowerbybothindividualsandinstitutionsaredesignedtoreachawiderreadershipthanhecouldeverhaveimagined.’SundayTelegraph

‘Swedishcrimefiction,likethecountryitself,hasbothclassandasocialconscience.ItwasonlyamatteroftimebeforeitproduceditsownWarAndPeace…Thisbehemothofanovel[is]notonlyall-encompassinginitsthemeswithacastofdozensbutalsosophysicallyhugethatifyouwanttostayupallnightdevouringit,asyouundoubtedlywill,you'llhavetositatthekitchentable.It'sfartooheavytoreadinbed….Theplottingandpacingaremasterful.NowonderEuropehasgonewildoverBlomkvistandhisrivetingsidekick’SydneyMorningHerald

‘Thestyleisleisurelyanddetailed,theplotinterestingandcrediblebutabovealltheheroineissplendidlyoriginal…anextraordinarybook’LiteraryReview

‘Arip-roaringserial-killeradventure’MailonSunday

‘Amulti-layered,multi-characteredtalebyawriterofsomeconsiderablepower.Fullofsocialconscienceandcompassion,withconsiderableinsightintothenatureofcorruption,itjustknockedmeout…ablendthatisasmesmerizingasitisinsightfulintohumanmotivations…Thiscouldbethecrime-fictionnovelof2008’AliKarim,Shotsmag

‘Ifyou’reareviewer,yousometimesfindthehypesurroundingcertainbooksalittleOTT.InthecaseofTheGirlWiththeDragonTattoo,everywordofpraisethat’sbeenpinnedtoitisrichlydeserved...Thebookisdarkandabsolutelycompelling…TheGirlWithTheDragonTattooisoneofthefinestcrimefictionnovelsit’sbeenmyprivilegetoread…Evenifthetworemainingbooksinthetrilogyareonlyhalfasgood,Larssonwillhaveleftaformidablelegacy.’SharonWheeler,ReviewingtheEvidence

‘Alongthriller[that]sustainsthereader’sinterest,partlybecauseitswellplottedbutmore,perhaps,becauseoftheangerLarssondirectsathistargets…Highlyeffectiveandaverygoodread:Ilookforwardtothesequels.’Spectator

‘Thefirstinthetrilogyofthrillersbyaformerpoliticaljournalistwhowriteswithpace,powerandauthorityoneverypage.Nottobemissed.’ClassicFM

‘StiegLarsson’sambitiousdebutnovelisapotentpackage…Itboastsatimelyover-ridingtheme…aremarkableanddistinctivepunkheroine,afascinatingportraitofsomeaspectsofmodernSweden,andasteadilyacceleratingnarrativeof…greatverveandbrio…Thisisabookofgreatscopeandveracity,astonishingforafirstnovel’BobCornwell,TangledWeb

‘Anepiccrimestory…[a]tightlywovencrimethrillerthatpushedalltherightbuttons’Buzz!

‘Combinesagoodstorywithhauntingcharactersandcrusadingmessage’

EuroCrime.com

ThisbookisaSENSATION!!!,andwithoutadoubtlikelytobeoneofthetopthrillersofthis-oranyother-year!thisisCLASSICcrimefiction…themysteryenthralstotheveryend.Andit'snotwithoutitsseriousside-thisisalsoanimpassionedsocialcommentaryontheauthor'spartbothofsexcrimeinhisnativelandandthetwistedmoralsofsomeofitshigh-flyingfinancialplayers....Trulyfresh,totallycompelling,TheGirlwiththeDragonTattoodeservestobejustaspopularastheearlyHenningMankell-andthensome!ReadingsBooksReview(Australia)

CAST

MikaelBlomkvistMICHAELNYQVIST

LisbethSalanderNOOMIRAPACE

ErikaBergerLENAENDRE

HenrikVangerSVEN-BERTILTAUBE

MartinVangerPETERHABER

NilsBjurmanPETERANDERSSON

CeciliaVangerMARIKALAGERCRANTZ

DirchFrodeINGVARHIRDWALL

GustavMorellBJÖRNGRANATH

HarrietVangerEWAFRÖLING

HolgerPalmgrenPEROSCARSSON

DraganArmanskijMICHALISKOUTSOGIANNAKIS

AnnikaGianniniANNIKAHALLIN

MalinErikssonSOFIALEDARP

PlaugeTHOMASKÖHLER

JanneDahlmanDAVIDDENCIK

Hans-ErikWennerströmSTEFANSAUK

HaraldVangerGÖSTABREDEFELDT

GunnarBrännlundFREDRIKOHLSSON

ChristerMalmJOCOBERICKSSON

IsabellaVangerGUNNELLINDBLOM

EnricoGianniniREUBENSALLMANDER

MimmiWuYASMINEGARBI

BirgitFalkMARGARETASTONE

OttoFalkCHRISTIANFIEDLER

AlexanderZalachenkoGEORGISTAYKOV

AgnetaSalanderNINANORÉN

PolisiDalarnaEMILALMÉN

ReceptionistLOUISERYME

DomarePALEOLOFSSON

BildredaktörMIKAELRAHM

BirgerVangerWILLIEANDRÉASON

EkonomichefJANMYBRAND

PolismaniskogenLENNARTRSVENSSON

HuliganerCARLOSCARTÖRNROS

ÄldredamBARBROENBERG

MiltonteknikerOLAWALLINDER

KvinnligTVreporterALEXANDRAPASCALIDOU

ProgramledareSIEWERTÖHOLM

UngLisbethTHEILLABLADH

JennieGianniniLAURALIND

MonicaGianniniISABELLAISACSON

GottfriedVangerRICHARDFRANC

PlitMAGNUSSTENIUS

ExecutiveproducersMikaelWallen

OleSøndberg

AnniFaurbyeFernadez

PeterNadermann

ProducerSørenStærmose

LoneKorslund

GunnarCarlsson