Stieg Larsson's Trilogy

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is the last book in Stieg Larsson’s Trilogy. The second book, The Girl Who Played with Fire, ended in a bloody violent confrontation. Lisbeth’s father tried to have her killed by her half brother. She was even buried alive. There even points where it seems she may be revealed as a super hero with super powers. In the third film and book, Listbeth’s humanity comes through.

In the first and second parts of the trilogy Lisbeth Salander is gritty, and hard. She trusts no one and as a result is profoundly alone. The only emotions she seems able to express are anger and rage. It doesn’t matter if she is clubbing a serial killer with a golf club or attacking members of a biker gang, she seems nearly invincible. She is preyed upon by an evil man who is in a position of authority over her. Noomi Rapace, the actress who plays Lisbeth, manages to convey Lisbeth’s rage just under the surface. Lisbeth is in control, and Rapace gives her stillness, and an ability to move quietly. This may seem counterintuitive. It seems that people with anger and rage are usually played exploding all over the screen.

This quietness and stillness are on display in this third installment. In The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest Lisbeth is given few action sequences compared to the last movie. All the horrible events of the second movie are exposed, as well as secrets Lisbeth has been holding onto that were portrayed in the first movie. Her struggle is now internal, and she has no choice but to turn over her fate to her lawyer and the court.

At the beginning of the movie Lisbeth’s fate is also taken out of her hands as doctors struggle to save her life and help her recover from the vicious attack of her father and brother. Lisbeth is forced to trust strangers and the system of society at large, which she despises. In the end her trust is rewarded and the truth is revealed. Punishment is meted out appropriately, and Lisbeth is free. There are moments when such a neat tidy ending seem disingenuous, but given the scope of Stieg Larsson’s Trilogy it makes sense. By revealing Lisbeth’s humanity, Larsson saves his story from becoming a comic about, and Lisbeth from being a superhero. It is the humanity of the book that grounds it, and makes it so appealing to audiences worldwide.

By: John McElborough

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John writes articles about movies and cinema. Buy The Girl who kicked the hornets nest DVD online or find ouot more about Stieg Larssons trilogy here