Based on the absurd but true 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis in Stockholm that was documented in the New Yorker as the origins of the 'Stockholm Syndrome'.Based on the absurd but true 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis in Stockholm that was documented in the New Yorker as the origins of the 'Stockholm Syndrome'.Based on the absurd but true 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis in Stockholm that was documented in the New Yorker as the origins of the 'Stockholm Syndrome'.
- Awards
- 5 wins & 7 nominations
Thorbjørn Harr
- Christopher Lind
- (as Thorbjörn Harr)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe real Swedish robbers' list of items to be brought into the bank is a classic part of Swedish crime history. The list included: "Boxes of Prince cigarettes!", "WHISKEY!!" (almost etched into the paper & underlined twice), "calming pills.. for the ladies if they get nervous!", a T.V. with an oddly specific sized screen, and specific amounts of toilet paper and vegetables and so on.
- GoofsThe massive television set in the prime minister's office is American, as are the power outlets on the wall. European television sets don't have trims covering the edge of cathode tubes as American versions do. The type of rabbit ear antenna as seen in the prime ministers office has very rarely been used in Europe; rather TV sets were connected to big rooftop antennae. Also, the power outlets in Sweden are Type C European (CEE 7/16 Europlug) or Type F German (CEE 7/4 Schuko).
- Quotes
Lars Nystrom: Do I look like a rapist?
Featured review
More laughs than learning in this fictional spin on the events that gave shrinks a new diagnosis
Did you ever wonder about the origin of the psychological condition known as "Stockholm Syndrome"? The title of this rather comical account of a bank robbery turning into a hostage situation telegraphs the answer. Although the script is fictional, it is based on the actual 1973 events that added one term to our vernacular, and one section in pertinent psych texts. Good thing. As this ordeal plays out, it would have been too absurd to make up from whole cloth and successfully pitch to any studio.
Ethan Hawke is the solo robber at the beginning. But instead of grabbing the cash, he keeps a few hostages and demands the release of a prisoner (Mark Strong), among other terms. This goes on for a couple of days with more ups and downs and zany mishaps than one finds in any of Elmore Leonard's delightful comic caper novels or the movies they spawned. Not easy to do, unless you're the Marx Brothers. True to the premise, one of the hostages (Noomi Rapace, looking more prim and uptight than her norm) becomes the first to develop the symptoms. Another novelty is seeing the invariably-bald Strong sport a full head of lanky hair. Not his best look.
The film drags on a bit too long for the claustrophobic setting, as nearly every shot we see occurs within the bank. That cost it one of the potential stars, above. Hawke's edginess is amusing for a while, but grows tedious as he loses his cool over so many setbacks and complications. Even so, it's a generally amusing and entertaining diversion. Expect a fairly farcical variation on Dog Day Afternoon to watch it in the right frame of mind.
Ethan Hawke is the solo robber at the beginning. But instead of grabbing the cash, he keeps a few hostages and demands the release of a prisoner (Mark Strong), among other terms. This goes on for a couple of days with more ups and downs and zany mishaps than one finds in any of Elmore Leonard's delightful comic caper novels or the movies they spawned. Not easy to do, unless you're the Marx Brothers. True to the premise, one of the hostages (Noomi Rapace, looking more prim and uptight than her norm) becomes the first to develop the symptoms. Another novelty is seeing the invariably-bald Strong sport a full head of lanky hair. Not his best look.
The film drags on a bit too long for the claustrophobic setting, as nearly every shot we see occurs within the bank. That cost it one of the potential stars, above. Hawke's edginess is amusing for a while, but grows tedious as he loses his cool over so many setbacks and complications. Even so, it's a generally amusing and entertaining diversion. Expect a fairly farcical variation on Dog Day Afternoon to watch it in the right frame of mind.
- lotekguy-1
- Apr 17, 2019
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- The Captor
- Filming locations
- Stockholm, Sweden(Exterior scenes)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $9,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $302,085
- Gross worldwide
- $1,139,481
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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