Coming to Blu-ray this week, Radiance follows up last year’s release of Bo Widerberg’s 1976 cult classic Man on the Roof with another masculine-sounding policier from the director: 1984’s The Man from Majorca. Like the previous effort, it’s a distinctly Scandinavian take on gritty New Hollywood cop movies, such as Widerberg’s beloved The French Connection. The film stars much of the same cast, including Sven Wollter, Håkan Serner, Thomas Hellberg, Ingvar Hirdwall, Karin Bergstrand, and Johan Widerberg. It also shares a composer, Björn J:son Lindh.
As with Man on the Roof—an adaptation of The Abominable Man, the seventh novel in Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö’s Martin Beck series—The Man from Majorca is based on a novel: Leif G.W. Persson’s 1978 book Grisfesten (Pig Party in English). The title’s reference to “pig” as slang for police sets the tone for Persson’s exploration of Swedish society’s fault lines through crime drama. Persson brought a unique perspective to the story, having worked at the Swedish National Police Board before blowing the whistle on the Geijer Affair in 1977—a political scandal akin to the Profumo Affair or Watergate. Justice Minister Lennart Geijer was implicated in frequenting a brothel run by Doris Hopp, whose sex workers often came from the Eastern Bloc, raising national security concerns.
When investigative journalist Peter Bratt revealed the affair, public outrage ensued, questioning why no action had been taken sooner. Persson, who had confirmed the classified details, lost his job and even attempted suicide as a result of the fallout. He later recovered, became a lecturer, and channeled his trauma into writing Grisfesten, which introduced his detective duo, Bo Jarnebring and Lars Martin Johansson.
Though the film discards the novel’s original title, The Man from Majorca faithfully follows Persson’s story, echoing the Geijer Affair. Sven Wollter stars as Jarnebring and Tomas von Brömssen as Johansson, two vice detectives seen as bottom-rung at Police HQ. While staking out a brothel on St. Lucy’s Day (13th December), they hear reports of a nearby post-office robbery and quickly respond. The culprit is calm and efficient, escaping after a gripping foot chase. Soon after, a young witness dies in a car accident, and another, an aging alcoholic, is found dead on Christmas Eve.
The investigation reveals a connection between the robbery and a package holiday to Majorca involving two witnesses and Hedberg (Rico Rönnbäck), an arrogant police officer from the Swedish Security Service who despises Jarnebring and Johansson. Authorised by their inspector (Håkan Serner) and the chief of police (Ernst Günther), the detectives begin tailing Hedberg. They discover suspicious activity: Why does Hedberg deliver a dog leash to the Justice Minister (Hans Villius), who doesn’t own a dog? Why does the Minister visit an apartment tied to sex work? As Jarnebring and Johansson dig deeper, they uncover a political conspiracy, but Hedberg’s boss (Thomas Hellberg) always seems a step ahead.
The Man from Majorca remains a razor-sharp critique of corruption, where the line between justice and moral compromise is chillingly blurred.
As with Man on the Roof, Widerberg delights in subverting Hollywood buddy-cop conventions by giving them a Scandinavian twist. In one scene, Jarnebring swaps their Volvo for a Ford Mustang, echoing Steve McQueen’s Bullitt. While Jarnebring enthuses about its horsepower, Johansson argues there’s no use for such speed in Stockholm’s built-up streets. This sets the tone: it might look like an American cop movie, but it won’t abandon realism.
Later, the duo grabs a takeaway. Jarnebring prefers a Big Mac, but Johansson refuses to support “international capitalist monopolies.” He insists on a locally sourced hotdog instead, prioritising Swedish culture over imported trends. Their meal banter illustrates their chalk-and-cheese dynamic while revealing Johansson’s socially conscious ethos—something Hollywood rarely explores. Despite their differences, their partnership shines through their camaraderie and mutual respect.
The success of any buddy-cop film depends on its central duo, and The Man from Majorca excels thanks to Wollter and von Brömssen’s performances. Jarnebring is a confident, easygoing bachelor, while Johansson is a hapless divorcee who hesitates to approach a fellow commuter he fancies. Their contrasting personalities make them relatable everymen, and their incorruptibility and wit endear them to the audience.
Widerberg’s storytelling is masterful, weaving a complex conspiracy thriller with effective pacing. The seemingly unrelated characters and events introduced early on come together in a satisfying, logical manner. The film’s procedural elements build intrigue without dragging, and its chase sequences—on foot and by car—are gripping. These are protagonists you genuinely root for, and as with Man on the Roof, you wish Widerberg had made more films with them.
With its Christmas setting, this is a timely festive release from Radiance. Extras include archival materials, such as a brief on-set report and a 1984 interview with Widerberg, alongside new interviews with assistant director Harald Hamrell and crime genre expert Barry Forshaw. There’s also a trailer, galleries, and a limited-edition booklet featuring new writing. The Blu-ray boasts a beautifully crisp HD transfer from Svensk Filmindustri, uncompressed mono PCM audio, and improved English subtitles.
The Man from Majorca is out now on Radiance Films Blu Ray
Mark’s Archive – The Man from Majorca (1984)
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