Záhada zamčeného pokoje

A decent TV detective story with strong support from a quality literary source. The author duo of Per Wahlöö and Maj Sjöwall are valued creators of detective novels on an international scale, and such a good story is a solid starting point for a television dramatization. The casting is strong as well, so the only, but significant, criticism remains the distorted portrayal of the country where the detective story takes place. Sweden, which at the time of the film's creation was one of the wealthiest countries in the world with a high standard of living, is depicted as a place where retirees eat pet food, there's dirt everywhere, and obvious signs of scarcity. The investigator's office looks like the small office of a warehouse manager in a 1970s Czech factory, and the exterior scenes were filmed somewhere in a sprawling freight yard. Overall impression: 60%. (14.08.2008)