In 1931, the smokestacks were empty at many of Adalen's factories. Sympathy
strikes had been initiated for the workers in Marma, whose wages had been
lowered by 4 ore per hour. During the following demonstration, five
workers were killed by the military. This film is dedicated to them.
Stop blowing!
- Here we go. - Here we go. Where did we begin?
There.
- Are you clean, boys? - Yes.
- Your ears? - Mm.
- Aren't you late? - No, I'll make it.
Stop blowing, I said!
Don't fight, boys.
You know how easily the buttons come off.
Stop fighting, boys. You'll just get hungry and eat more.
Harald, your shirt!
Bye.
And the other ear, Ake!
OK. Bye.
Bye.
She can be fooled. I showed the same ear twice.
Look how dirty the other one is.
This will come in handy.
Good morning.
Good morning, Kjell.
As long as your mother can afford a dab of soap, Martin, we're not sorry.
As long as we can keep things clean.
Clean floors, and walls...
And clean boys!
Bye.
So good to be home again!
Jump!
Yaw. Crab.
You're not getting far.
Come on! Hurry up!
Stretch for it, Solve.
They've endured a long time but now they're softening.
Sometimes I think they've been admirable.
Am I there soon?
It's lying in the sun, Solve. It's getting hot.
You can reach it.
Bastards! Fucking pricks!
That was water...
I think I have a sip at home. Come.
He sure was thirsty, guys!
- Do you recognise it, Anna? - Oh, it's so nice to be back.
What a summer we'll have!
It's no use trying!
There's not a chance!
Because this puppy here, he only practises jazz.
He's not learning properly, he can't hold a clear note.
Kjell, you play jazz at home, don't you?
Yes, Kjell, you have to step it up a notch if you're going to play with us.
Once more from the beginning and I'll count 3, 4 before we start.
Cheers.
You're too kind, Harald.
You need it more.
Yes, I sure as hell do.
- What day is it today? - Thursday.
But if it was Sunday, it would have been a beautiful day.
Nice weather...
And the Sunday suit on.
- How long have you been striking? - 93 days.
- And you? - 112.
But in Marma they've been holding out 25 weeks more than us.
Think about that...
Spin it more!
I think his leg is broken!
Ake, what happened?
Did you ju... did you break your leg?
Do you know what a broken leg costs?
- How the hell can you be so stupid... - I was flying!
Where is the lid now?
The bass.
Baritone sax.
Final trumpet solo.
Everybody!
I'll show you something, guys...
- isn't she lovely? - Are they allowed to show that much?
- Look how smooth she is down there! - Is she shaved?
- How does she do that? - It must be with a brush and soap...
Not a hair left!
A couple more, guys.
The light comes down through the branches.
Here, look.
See how different they are?
It's the same scene, but that one is much richer.
The light comes down in different ways.
- Yes. - See?
- It's by two different painters? - Yes, Monet and Renoir.
They dedicated their whole lives to finding a way of capturing the light.
Look at this one.
- Is that Renoir? - You don't pronounce it like that.
Burred R.
"0" instead of "E"?
Not "o", but...
- it's hard! - Yes, it is hard, but try.
- Can you speak French? - Yes, a little.
You can learn too.
Yes, that's it!
Look at this, it's lovely. They're eating.
If you knew how much I long to go there.
They're not eating to get filled up. They take pleasure in it.
They've got wine, and fruit salad...
- That's Renoir again... - Say it once more!
Hi.
You're late.
I stayed and talked to Hedvig.
You could have stayed there altogether.
Have they...
reupholstered the sofa in the music room yet?
- How did you know? - Elin does laundry there.
Yes, they have.
Is her playing beautiful?
Yes. Very.
Are her hands beautiful?
Is there anything I can hang up right away?
You can take the rugs.
OK.
- Did you get ahold of a paper? - Sure.
- "Frankenstein in London". - Horror movie? - Mm.
- No. - Yes!
You can see how they've done it.
"If I Were King". it's in sound! or "Spanish Nights".
No, it isn't. How do you know?
"A movie from the land of serenades and castanets"... it's in sound!
No, let's see Frankenstein.
- Will it be scary? - Of course, it's a horror movie!
Well, well...
You know, I'm going to see "Frankenstein in London"...
Are you troubled, dad?
Dad?
Is something troubling you?
Yes... pulp.
There's a cargo of pulp down on the dock.
We have a boat that can ship it to America.
But...
But the boat has to be loaded and nobody wants to do it.
Is it about money?
It's always about money.
What will you do?
I don't know.
What was that thing about the zones?
What zones?
The ones you talked about.
- Erogenous? - What?
I've already told you.
Some parts of the body are extra sensitive.
The hands, for instance. If you shake hands...
Don't grab the hand too hard, but be gentle.
Then you can rub your hand like this.
- That makes them horny? - Sure!
- The hand? - Do it like this...
Then there's this.
The crook of the arm.
The collar bone.
The ear.
- That's good. - Yes.
And the crook of the knee.
- That's it? - Yes.
- What was it they were called? - Erogenous zones!
I'll start with the palm of the hand then!
Yes, but. . you start when you first shake hands!
- Yes, of course. Goodbye. - Goodbye.
- Hi. - Hi.
How is Frankenstein doing today?
Fine, I guess.
- Look. - We'll take it!
Then maybe the fish will eat them. And then we get fish.
- That's enough! - Enough? - Yes.
Doesn't look too good here.
Yes, that's plenty enough.
I'll get the fishing rod.
There are nettles here. I'll lift you.
- Should we go then? - Yes.
- Going fishing! - Going fishing.
- Do you feel anything? - Not really.
- Here! - I don't know...
- You're chewing all the time. - I'm hungry.
- Do you feel it? - Sort of.
- Nothing? - A little.
- Not at all? - No.
- This feel good? - Yes.
- That's not right. - Why?
Never mind.
- Isn't this nice? - No.
- This? - No.
Somethings wrong...
- But this! Even a little? - No...
- Just here? - Mm.
Stupid Kjell...
Look, look at the float!
- Should we wait for Kjell? - He'll have to suit himself.
We'll eat while it's hot.
It looks very tasty.
And then it swallowed the bait... and that's the fish!
It bit twice.
Hands up!
- What the hell is that? - Bread!
Bread? You must be kidding!
It sure as hell is bread!
Where did you get it?
Give me one metre of bread!
- How did you get it? - I picked it up.
Tell us now!
He's a sly (109!
- Which breed would you prefer? - Not the Pekinese!
It's the only breed worth considering.
A soft, lovely, English setter with unruly hair...
But poodles?
Be ready now!
Cheers.
It was strong.
New!
Nisse, dance with Elin!
And this was bound to happen with the recent development,
it becomes clear that it's not just us industry owners who
have to be loyal.
The workers must participate too.
Yes, both parts must share the responsibility.
Without question.
We must definitely raise our prices.
And then we must get the employees jobs on ships.
How could we be responsible for that? We also have general meetings and...
And the shareholders, not least.
All the little shareholders...
we have to think about their welfare, so I can't see how we could...
I can't see any other solution than to raise the prices.
Those 4 ore can't be worth arguing about?
- What does 4 ore get you? - 4 ore is nothing...
- Hedvig is playing, it's Chopin. - Chopin!
The boys could be awake...
it's creaking...
We'll get down on the floor!
No, no...
We can't afford it.
I can hold back.
Don't worry.
We're drunk.
Relax with your whole body...
Sit peacefully and still.
Your limbs are getting loose, and heavy, the body is heavy...
Your eyelids are heavy, heavy...
Heavier and heavier...
I'm starting to control you.
I'm putting my thumbs on your eyelids.
And counting to 10.
Then you will... at 5 you will be unable to open them.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
When I let go
you can't open them, not with all your power and strength.
I have control of you.
You feel the suggestion.
You're getting sleepy.
Your eyes are firmly closed and you cannot open them.
You're falling into a state of deep sleep.
When you wake up, you won't remember anything.
Your memory of this will forever be lost.
The memory will be lost.
Sleep deeply.
What is it?
Don't look down, Anna.
It's not ugly.
I think it's beautiful.
It's growing in my hand.
It's because of the blood rush...
Blood is rushing...
You can read about it in any medical book...
But isn't that supposed to happen?
Yes.
- Good day. - Good day.
A pack of Bronway.
- There you go. - Thank you.
Looks like we have a special quest in Adalen!
You don't have to worry about that stuff.
You had the measles when you were five.
"Please contact the County Governor. - The County Administrative Board in Harnosand."
What happened to the damn boat that we're loading?
And they have the police to protect them!
- Who are these men in here? - I'm not revealing any information.
I asked a polite question. What kind of people is it? Why are they here?
They live here but I have no reason to say anything.
Where are you from?
Strike-breaking scumbags. Go back home!
Come out!
Cowardly bastards!
Get out!
Watch out when you go to work tomorrow!
We're honourable workers, we have the right to stay here!
We have been placed here!
Not quite right.
Go on.
The h isn't quite right.
Can you improve it?
That's good enough.
By methods of starvation, he has tried to force the Marma workers to concur!
And agree to his unreasonable demands!
But he has failed!
Our comradesjobs in Utansjo and Sandviken
have been forced upon his office personnel!
Now he has gone even further!
He has sent professional strike-breakers here
to take our dockers jobs!
I'm asking you all:
Should we let the strike-breaking scumbags take our jobs? Yes or no?
No!
Should we demonstrate for our rights and march to Sandviken? Yes or no?
Yes!
Let's go then!
Four and four, in line!
"For victory of the Marma workers!"
Break them with violence!
You fucking creeps!
Swing him!
Throw him on board!
How can you be sure?
I threw up this morning, and I looked in our medical book.
Did you throw up?
It's because... because we have different blood types.
Up in the air with the fucker!
Let him hang so we can see his face!
I didn't do anything!
- Yes? - May I talk to the manager?
The manager is very busy.
- It's urgent. - It doesn't matter.
He mustn't be disturbed.
If there's just a little soup left,
don't tilt it towards you, but away from you.
I think you know this already.
You may not care about etiquette, but it's just to help people.
Mom? Can I talk to you?
Of course. I'm here.
You see, I...
- I looked in that book... - Which book?
I'm pregnant.
Have you told your father?
- Not yet. - Don't do it now.
Don't worry him.
I'm thinking that... we'll put the flowers on the table.
Then you can begin with the glasses.
Where are you taking him, Harald?
You'll regret this, Harald!
Marianne? Anna and I are going to Stockholm a few days.
We're visiting grandma.
So you will take care of the manager. Make sure that there's food.
I will.
It's nice here.
I like the wallpapers.
A big, strong guy dragged me out of the box.
He was also bleeding.
Then he kicked me and dragged me off the boat.
Do you know where my friend is? Do you know where they took him?
No.
One has to make money.
My wife has a heart disease.
Do you know what digoxin treatment costs?
Who will take care of the masses if we don't? We can't just lie down and die.
The industry must keep rolling.
Get him out!
Where is the creep?
Did you look in there?
Under the sofa.
He's not here, the bastard!
- He was here. - I know.
So what are you saying?
- He's a strike-breaker. - So he should just bleed?
- What were you going to do to him? - What do you think?
- Take him to Kramfors and show him? - He's stealing our livelihood!
The money that we're supposed to live off. What do you think we do with people like him?
You were going to show what it looks like in Kramfors. And what good will that do?
- What do you think happens? - How long have we been here?
- Without work! - I know we've been waiting a long time.
But if we wait a little longer...
- We should wait and talk. - Talk?! Who speaks for us?
- There are those who do. - Really?
- Don't we have a trade union? - Yes, in Stockholm.
- But we have one here too. - And how long should we wait?
We're starving!
You'd better watch out.
You sit here and tend a fucking strike-breaker...
- You're one of us, right? - Yes.
And still you say that we have people who are speaking for us. - Yes, because...
I said that I think it's damn unneccessary to show the others...
That we cause this sort of trouble, because it just starts a lot of fights.
- And we don't know where that ends. - Who speaks for us?
You're just trying to elude everything, isn't that right?
Yes!
I want to have a good life. Don't you?
Yes!
- What did you want? - A good life. With bread. And money.
And you think I don't?
No, because you have a strike-breaker here.
- So that means that I don't want a good life? - No. That creep could have taken care of himself.
- Are you one too? - What the hell do you mean?
- Are you a strike-breaker? - I'm striking!
- And you think I'm a strike-breaker? - Are you striking?
You must know that I, Harald Andersson, am in strike! Are you that stupid?
- So why did you help him? - I've explained it many times...
- Tens of times, and I'll do it again... - Yet you say...
that they should speak for us!
And we should speak for ourselves! But not with rocks in our hands.
They are being sent here by others!
And how are we supposed to get at them?
You think we can't?
It's not just the strike-breakers that we should fear. There are people who send them to us!
That might be true. But how are we going to solve that?
- With negotiations. - Negotiations?
We've been negotiating and we will keep working with it. - How long?
I know it takes time!
- But there are possibilities. - Possibilites, haha...
While we starve to death.
- I think we can manage one more week. - One week, yeah...
One week that turns into one month, and then we're already dead.
If this keeps going, I just have one thing to say: Something devilish will happen.
Do you know how many people in Adalen
are unhappy with their lives?
- Yes. I know that it's many. - Do you?
Then why help him?
Anna... the train leaves in an hour.
It hurts, mom.
No, dear.
It's just a routine check.
We must have facts.
It's outrageous! They're up on the cairn now.
Oh, lord.
We must block the road by the barracks. They can't get there.
Are we treating them so bad?
Could we pay better?
They have no education.
It would be a mockery to those who are educated.
Olle, damn it!
Don't you want to decide who will operate your machines?
They're trying to rob us of that right!
Sune!
You have three phone calls to make.
The County Administrative Board.
Solleftea.
And Stockholm.
Harnosand?
Give me the County Administrative Board.
Here comes that fucker!
- When's mom coming home? - We'll make it in time.
Look how they behave.
A relief to get away.
"This is the final struggle
Let us gather, and tomorrow
The Internationale Will be mankind!"
Detachment, forward, march!
She has great thighs. But you'd better watch out, you know...
Idiots!
Get those pricks!
- Have you seen the washboard, Martin? - No.
I'm coming to help you.
- Do you have the mirror? - Yes.
Let me have it.
Go to hell!
Go to hell, now!
We won!
Oh, lord...
Look what they've done!
Even worse!
Is there more?
The question is: how much should we tolerate? They have sent strike-breakers, and when we
protest, they send military troops to protect them.
We have already turned the other cheek. There are no more cheeks to turn.
I know that the board of the trade union is having discussions as I speak.
But to make it clear to them where we stand - I know, we have no decisive
rights until they have finished their discussions -
but nevertheless I suggest a close-down of all work in Adalen
until the strike-breakers and their military lifeguards have been sent away.
- Is that the decision of the meeting? - Yes!
Let's march to Lunde!
- Is it the decision of the meeting to march to Lunde? - Yes!
Let's go then.
Nisse isn't here, what the hell is he doing?
Kjell, go fetch Nisse.
Nisse! We're marching to Lunde! The orchestra needs us!
- Now? - Yes, now. Hurry.
Why the hell are you never on time?
For enforcement...
of...
order...
in...
Harnosand.
Sheriff Pahlman, Lunde.
For enforcement of order and safety, the County Administrative Board finds it necessary
to prohibit the in Lunde lodged strike-breakers from undertaking loading work in Sandviken or
elsewhere in Angermanalven until further notice.
The County Administrative Board in Harnosand.
- Do you think they're coming? - Hell no, they wouldn't dare.
Halt! The road is closed!
Calm down, they're just firing blanks!
Come on! Just come on!
Forwards! We're coming through!
He's hit in the stomach.
Comrades, ahead!
Halt! In the name of the law, stop!
Or I will fire live ammunition!
March over the bastards!
Halt! In the name of the law, stop!
Or I will fire live ammunition!
Fire!
He's bleeding to death!
We need help!
Do you know what you did?
Get them to the house!
More sheets!
Now you see what we're dealing with.
Doctor, is there a doctor?
We need room for more wounded!
- Who else? - Nisse is dead.
Harald Andersson is dead.
Five wounded.
Sven Johansson is wounded.
We're putting the whore of Adalen to strike!
Get them down from the horses!
- We're going in. - But I'm peeling.
- Out with it now. - You see...
- Mother? - Yes? - it's...
What are we supposed to do?
What can you do?
Grandma would have known...
I've never thought this far. I thought we were so young.
Should we take his shoes off?
I have to take them off.
There's a hole in his sock.
He didn't have to, he could have taken...
I had other socks here.
"Specialized in female diseases"
We'll make sure you get to rest before we visit grandma.
Do you know what you are, mom?
You'll understand this later.
So much people...
Must be a huge fire.
National paper: "Shootings were initiated by the masses."
Local paper: "Four dead, five wounded when military fired."
They've killed our comrades!
I can't sleep in there.
So tonight it isn't fine, but yesterday it was!
I've always been told that I'm not musical.
But I recognise the sound of gunshots. And I don't like it!
Yes, it was us who fired. But who paid for the bullets?
Have you asked yourself that? Fucking civilist!
Where is she?
She's not here. You must believe me.
But I just saw her in there.
- She was there! - Let me see your hand.
She just phoned me from Stockholm.
There is no baby anymore.
I had no idea.
I didn't know anything until now.
I found out much too late.
I didn't know.
Hi.
Did you see Bergstrom?
Oh yes. I saw your dad too.
Do you know what he said? He said "talk".
And what did he do now?
Did he talk?
So your dad was innocent?
Answer me.
No?
Was he innocent?
Well..
What time is it? Do you know?
Almost morning.
What's your name?
Kjell.
Kjell, do you know what all this is about?
Is it so that you just want to
avenge your father's death?
Or do you get the big picture?
Do you?
A lot of people are on our side. This is what they call a general strike.
Everyone's with us. But before, they had doubts.
Did you? Look at me, for God's sake!
Don't you like me? We're fighting for the same thing.
Now that the strike has just begun,
everyone's together. Can you hear? All the whistles are blowing.
I think there are thousands. I wish there were thousands, over the whole country.
Do you?
Help me! You're sitting here, dammit!
We must read, too.
We have to get knowledge.
We'll need knowledge when we get the power.
We must read.
It's quiet in this house.
Does it have to be like this when you grieve?
Mom?
Does it?
We can talk even though we're grieving.
It looks like shit in here, have you seen the windows?
They're covered with mud.
Did you see Martin's socks? There are holes in them!
This won't do.
Weren't you supposed to do laundry at Berglund's yesterday?
We can't afford to grieve like this! We need to get money.
We can't afford it.
We have to start working and earn money. I'll get a job.
That old shirt...
with dad's blood on it. How long will it hang here?
It can be used!
Don't just let it hang!
It can be put to good use.
Can't it? It doesn't need to hang.
Here.
Lift it up. Get the bed out.
Pull away!
Let's get going.
The wheels started spinning once again in the factories in Adalen.
The shots in Lunde caused the Conservative government to fall.
Since then, the Social Democratic party has been in power almost continuously.
Sweden has become a welfare state,
but equality has not yet been achieved.