Zero Tolerance - Witnesses in Fear

Movie
German title	Zero Tolerance - Witnesses in Fear
Original title	Noll tolerans
Country of production	Sweden
original language	Swedish
Publishing year	1999
length	108 minutes
Age rating	FSK 16
Rod
Director	Unlike Nilsson
script	Not so Nilsson ; Joakim Hansson
production	Björn Carlström ; Joakim Hansson
music	Bengt Nilsson
camera	Jacob Jørgensen
cut	Darek Hodor
occupation
	Jakob Eklund : Johan Falk; Peter Andersson : Leo Gaut; Marie Richardson : Helén Andersson; Lennart Hjulström : Ola Sellberg; Jacqueline Ramel : Anja Månsdotter; Mats Blomgren : Johan's lawyer;

Zero Tolerance - Zeugen in Angst (Original title: Noll tolerans ) is a film by the Swedish director Anders Nilsson from 1999 and the first part of a trilogy that includes Executive Protection - Die Bombe tickt (2001) and The Third Wave - Die Konsprakt (2003 ) was continued. The subject of the films is the work of the Swedish police commissioner Johan Falk, played by Jakob Eklund .

The film ran in 2001 under the title Zeugen in Angst on ZDF and is available on DVD through Sunfilm's distribution.

action

In Gothenburg snow showers go down and Police Commissioner Johan Falk celebrates sad Christmas. He hasn't found his way back to life since the accidental death of his pregnant girlfriend. His relationship with colleague Anja is increasingly frustrating for both sides, and to top it all, Johan Falk witnesses an armed robbery of a jewelry store with a fatal outcome. Falk takes up the pursuit, shoots one of the two perpetrators in self-defense, but cannot prevent the other from escaping after murdering a father dressed as Santa Claus.

The shooting in downtown Gothenburg late on Christmas Eve has dramatic consequences, as three witnesses recognized the fugitive. All three identify the criminal Leo Gaut in the file of the police authorities, who has made it considerably prosperous through illegal business with tax subsidies. The murdered jeweler had done the money laundering for Gaut and tried to do the business in his own pocket.

Behind the facade of a wealthy businessman, Leo Gaut proves to be extremely unscrupulous. Provided the addresses through a contact with the police, he went to the witnesses without wasting time on the night of the crime and intimidated them so brutally that they revoke their statements.

Thereupon he carefully tries to take out Johan Falk. In doing so, Gaut takes advantage of the fact that the headstrong inspector, contrary to service regulations, investigates on his own and shows up in Gaut's apartment. Allegedly beaten up by Falk, Gaut files a complaint and plans to kill Falk in prison. Since initially all the evidence speaks against Falk, he is convicted and should actually be taken into custody. But Falk evades his colleagues by jumping out of the window.

Now a multiple persecution, skilfully staged by director Anders Nilsson, begins. Johan Falk is hunter and hunted at the same time and is not exactly squeamish when choosing his methods against Gaut and his followers.

Finally, there is a showdown in the apartment of the witness Helén Andersson. The policewoman Anja Månsdotter is seriously injured by a bullet. Falk joins them and can just prevent Gaut Helén from suffocating with a pillow. A police team also appears shortly afterwards. One of Gaut's people is killed in the shooting, and Gaut himself is arrested.

Under the impression of the events, Helén and the two other witnesses decide to testify against Gaut. At the hearing, the presiding judge stated that Gaut was guilty of one of the most serious crimes in a democracy: violence against witnesses.

Reviews

The film critics and the audience welcomed Zero Tolerance - Witnesses in Fear .

"Although the plot of the crime film is well-known, the rapid staging, good timing and perfect actors raise the Swedish prestigious production above average and make it a remarkable city crime thriller."

- Lexicon of international film