The Girl Who Played with Fire

Last night I watch the DVD of The Girl Who Played with Fire. As with the first film, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I found Lisbeth Salander (played by the brilliant Noomi Rapace) compelling and complex. Her intelligence and daring are to be admired while her flaws help to make her not perfect and therefore an engaging character. As someone who spends a lot of time doing research, I also like how she’s known for being a top researcher, able to uncover dirt on anyone. Although both films were filled with enough plot lines and details to remain interesting and the supporting cast gave subtle, suitable performances, what I loved the most about the second film is Lisbeth’s new flat.

Lisbeth assembling one of her Ikea purchases.

Located on the top floor of a building with stunning views, Lisabeth lives here under the name V. Kulla (a reference to Villa Villekulla, Pippi Longstocking’s house). The flat is full of beautiful moldings, hardwood floors, and window seats (unfortunately, the photos here don't do it justice). Although there is tons of space she only bothers to furnish a few rooms, minimally, with items she gets from Ikea. It is the type of place that New Yorkers dream about (Actually, most of us dream about having a place that’s the size of her living room let alone the whole flat).

I look forward to watching the third film and seeing if the same flat makes a reappearance. By the way, I haven’t read the books and refuse to do so until the rest of New York has finished reading them. Seriously, last year it was the only book you ever saw on the subway.

Photos by Knut Koivisto/Music Box Films.