Daniel Brodén

Something Happened, but What?

The narrative about the Swedish welfare state developed by internationally renowned filmmaker Roy Andersson is one of the most iconic and pessimistic variations on the “Sweden Unparadised”theme. As the introduction of this book clarifies, the critical investigation of the welfare state in Sweden has, for a long time, been a major theme in Swedish film and literature. But few, if any, filmmakers have scrutinized the development with the same depth, consistency, and zeal as Andersson. Although not as internationally well known as Ingmar Bergman, Andersson is a strong contender for the title of not only the most original auteur of Swedish cinema but also the famed critic of the state of the welfare state. In fact, a closer look at his oeuvre reveals a critical perspective that is as relentless as it is broad in scope.