"Everybody loves me." This is how Mette introduces herself to the viewer, while she is taking a bubble bath and playing with a cute little frog squeaky-squeeze bathtub toy. The camera provides close-ups of her pretty face and expressive eyes, as it frequently does throughout the movie. The very large swastika tattooed on her right shoulder is not visible, so we do not immediately see what she soon confesses: that she had become a Nazi when she was 13 years old (but what that means to these young Swedes is not clear). And we all have good reasons to hate Nazis, right? So how can someone, anyone, love her? She is butch, wears boots and frumpy masculine work clothes, and walks like a husky man. But her voice is sweet and feminine, and she is rather beautiful. She is a Nazi, but she cares for very difficult and obnoxious old people with patience, humor, and compassion. In fact, she seems to welcome the extreme cases that other care workers do not want to touch. Mette is evolving. Her new family of "nasty old people" is gradually replacing her old family of nasty young Nazis.
Mette is an enigma, a conundrum. Some might wish at first to categorize her with an epithet: "dyke!" And indeed, Mette is living with a very pretty young woman, a fellow Nazi, who idolizes Mette's strength and self-assurance. But we later see that Mette is able to tentatively establish a romantic relationship with a bearded gardener (whose arm she earlier injured in a brutal stomping in defense of her pretty partner). She seems generally wary and unsure of her own sexual inclinations.
"Nasty Old People" depends upon character much more than plot. Indeed, while the plot has some weak moments, the characters are vividly realized, and some are unforgettable. In addition to Mette, the four "nasty old people" that become her "family" are all brilliantly brought to life by the director and the actors. And, of course, Febe Nilsson as Mette is triumphant.
"Everybody loves me." And perhaps, by the end of the film, you may love Mette also. Or at least you will probably like and respect her. Hanna Sköld, thanks for the unforgettable characters. You've made a very fine movie, and I am looking forward to your future projects!
