«Millennium: What Doesn't Kill Me», already a classic

Cinema Wednesdays - Virginia Eufemi

Millennium: what doesn't kill me is a thriller-by Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Alvarez. Based on the novel What doesn't kill me by David Lagercrantz, who took over the trilogy Millennium by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson, this feature-length film is rich and complex, without being complicated.

An eminent scientist (Stephen Merchant), commissioned by the CIA, creates a program to control all the world's military missiles. Realizing how dangerous his work is, he calls on criminal hacker Lisbeth Salander (Claire Foy) to steal the program and destroy it. But she's not the only one who wants to get her hands on «Firefall»; a fearsome criminal organization, the Spiders, intends to seize this power.

The plots of thrillers are particularly difficult to follow, with too many characters, time jumps and implicit stakes. The screenplay of Millennium: what doesn't kill me is clear and effective. As the story is easy to follow, the viewer can appreciate the film's many other qualities, without being too caught up in the attempt to illuminate the screenplay. At the risk of upsetting fans of the eponymous Swedish novels, we will analyze this American-Swedish production from a purely cinematic point of view, as a work in its own right. And from that point of view, it's a no-brainer. Starting with Claire Foy's performance, very convincing in her role as a tough woman with a soft heart. Like Batman, this heroine doesn't kill, she intimidates, dissuades and, above all, stands up for women who have been beaten and abused by men. Lisbeth Sandler's character is endearing because she's not indestructible; sometimes she fails, but her strength of spirit and determination see her through.

Secondly, music plays a very important role in a thriller as it adds to the tension of the scenes. The original music by Spanish composer Roque Baños contributes greatly to the suspense of the story and lends an elegance to this film, which is very classic in many respects. First of all, the characters: the kindly agent, the corrupt one, the ruthless criminal organization and the solitary hero supported by his friends. Then there are the chases, the explosions, the fights and so on. But all these elements are very well balanced and make Millennium: what doesn't kill me a classic of the genre. The story is fast-paced, with no slack or slow moments, and the bluish tones of the image reproduce the icy cold of Sweden. The color codes support the scenes: the brunette dressed in black, the blonde whose red clothes stand out against the whiteness of the snow.

For fans of action cinema, this film, with its timeless quality, is a must-see. Because it's not all empty tension and pointless chases. Lisbeth Salander's tragic childhood, which explains her commitment to the protection of women, gives great depth to this complex and touching character, a modern heroine whose only superpower is her love of justice.

Write to the author: virginia.eufemi@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © Sony Pictures Releasing Switzerland

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