The cultural sector's share of the state budget is down to 0.65 percent, the lowest in many years, according to Magasin K and during this year's Guldbagge gala, jokes about the government's policy were rampant.
The week after the opening speech, Parisa Liljestrand spoke at the Draken cinema. Former culture ministers have presented themselves as the industry's "best friends", said Liljestrand. But she does not see it as the task of politics to demand "more and more tax money from citizens because one cannot stand up for one's own priorities".
It happened after the Guldbagge gala, where the entire industry took the first step in a conflict against her. It did not increase her willingness to be diplomatic, says Andreas Johansson Heinö, political scientist and publisher at the market-liberal publishing house Timbro.
Jenny Madestam, associate professor of political science, also sees the speech as a response to the Guldbagge gala:
We live in a highly politicized time where very much is taken personally. She perhaps felt that she and the government were being ridiculed and wanted to show where they stand. If you get a scene as a politician today, you use it.
Classic M-politics
Andreas Johansson Heinö, on the other hand, sees nothing new in Liljestrand's policy, which he considers an old-fashioned question, unlike, for example, the Sweden Democrats' Swedish cultural canon.
This is a speech that really emphasizes that film is and should be a commercial industry. It is, after all, The Moderate Party's main message here – and it is based on what one actually thinks.
The film industry has not previously been a friend of Liljestrand's policy, emphasizes Andreas Johansson Heinö.
She was aware that her speech would reach a wide audience, he believes.
And there are many who agree and think that this is a sensible discussion about prioritizing tax money, versus what, in her opinion, is a cultural elite that only demands more and more and boos.
Crisis Industry
What happens now? On February 28, the government's investigator will present the investigation on a new state film policy to an industry in deep crisis. Does the culture minister's confrontational opening speech represent a turning point? Possibly when it comes to the tone, believes Andreas Johansson Heinö.
I do not think we will see a revolution in this area politically, but it is great if it brings a bit more edge to the debate.
On Tuesday, Parisa Liljestrand speaks out for the first time after the speech at the Göteborg Film Festival, saying that "it is exciting that it has become such a huge debate".
I think that when you ask a politician to come and hold an opening speech, you are of course interested in the political content. And that was what I presented, the bourgeois and moderate cultural policy, says Parisa Liljestrand to the newspaper.
Film critic Hynek Pallas in Göteborgs-Posten:
"A display of total ignorance of the prevailing situation in the Swedish film industry – which is bleeding from all holes".
Film critic Helena Lindblad in Dagens Nyheter:
"... the real elephant in the room is and remains the Kristersson government's stingy view of culture. That Sweden's culture minister in this pressured situation chooses to basically start a war feels not very constructive – and childish."
Simon Norrthon, chairman of the Scen och Film union:
"When the minister accuses Swedish film of not being interested in commercial success, it's like accusing a cyclist with a puncture of not being interested in cycling fast. I don't know a filmmaker who doesn't want to reach a large audience, but a small language area needs incentives and support to attract capital."
Editorial writer Amanda Sokolnicki in Dagens Nyheter:
"A cultural elite that boos a minister who talks about restraint with tax money, it's not a bad scene for The Moderate Party. They were very pleased."
