The 1982 film is based on Hasse Alfredson's book "An Evil Man." Alfredson directed and played the role of factory owner Höglund who torments the spiteful "idiot", Sven, played by Stellan Skarsgård.
"He's a terrible person, but you have to defend all the characters in some way. You can't just play a pig. You have to see that there's something else there too," says Lennart Jähkel.
He takes his role as Leif Bäckström in "The Hunters" as an example.
He was also a terrible person, cold and withdrawn, but he sang opera. That contradiction, that there was something beautiful in him too, made him interesting. Now Höglund doesn't sing opera, but maybe there's a sense of humor or something else that makes him more than a pig.
“Fun to tour”
The production of "The Stupid Murderer" will premiere in Sigtuna on October 4.
Lennart Jähkel, who has done many tours with the National Theatre over the years, is looking forward to going out into the country again.
It's always fun to tour, to go to other places and meet other audiences, says the actor, who turns 70 this fall.
Sees no end
He recently retired from the permanent ensemble at Kulturhuset Stadsteatern in Stockholm, where he made his debut in 1996. It is a fate that befalls all the ensemble's 69-year-olds. However, Jähkel has no plans to stop working.
I've worked quite a lot in my day, so I think it's nice to slow down a bit. Right now I'm completely free, which is nice. But if I get to, I'll probably work as long as I can. As long as it's fun, there's no reason to stop.
What do you do when you have free time?
I'm trying to do things I haven't had time to do. Cleaning, for example.
Facts: Theatre Autumn at the Riksteatern
"A Heart in Today's Times", script by John Ajvide Lindqvist, directed by Anna Takanen. Premiere 19 September, Rimbo.
"Women and Apple Trees", script by Tora von Platen and directed by Julia Marko-Nord. Premiere October 4, Växjö.
"Landlift", written and directed by Bashar Murkus. Premiere November 6, Hallunda.
"The Stupid Murderer", script by Dennis Magnusson and directed by Dennis Sandin. Premiere October 4, Sigtuna.
"The Phantom of Everyday Life", written and directed by Saara Turunen. Premiere 14 November, Hallunda.
"Aunties on the Run", directed by Lars Otterstedt and Mindy Drapsa. Premiere September 15, Leksand.
"Football dramatics", Riksteatern in collaboration with Sirqus Alfon. Premiere September 19, Norrköping.
"Violetta takes the bus", Riksteatern in collaboration with the opera platform Sad Girls. Premiere 22 September, Boden.
"Filter", script by Emma Broström and directed by Anna Novovic. Premiere October 15, Hallunda.
"Älvarnas biografer", audio work by Christer Lundahl and Martina Seitl. Premiere 18 October, Norrtälje.
For children and young people:
"Destroy this play", written and directed by Emil Nilsson-Mäki. Premiere October 1, Bagarmossen.
"Oh Dorian!", written and directed by Malin Axelsson. Premiere October 1, Hallunda.
