''Der Mann, der sich in Luft auflöste'' (“The man who disappeared into thin air”) (Swedish: ''Mannen som gick upp i rök'') is a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

1980 police film about

Martin Beck Martin Beck is a fictional Swedish police detective and the main character in the ten novels by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, collectively titled ''The Story of a Crime''. Frequently referred to as the Martin Beck stories, all have been adapt ...

, directed by

Péter Bacsó Péter Bacsó (6 January 1928 – 11 March 2009) was a Hungarian film director and screenwriter. After high school graduation Bacsó wanted to become an actor and later a theatre director, but ultimately decided to try filmmaking. His first ...

Plot

During the height of a

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...

, a drunken reporter from Sweden disappears without a trace while on a business trip in

Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...

. Meanwhile, the tabloid for which he was writing sounds an alarm, with the Swedish government trying to avoid direct confrontation with the Hungarian police.

, a detective, takes the case, and is sent behind enemy lines as a private citizen, to find the reporter and bring him back to Sweden. However, the official of the homicide commission faces a dilemma: How will he be able to locate a Swedish national in a city of two million? They need to interrogate charming Ari, a Hungarian girlfriend of the missing person, to gather the clues on his whereabouts.

Cast

Derek Jacobi Sir Derek George Jacobi (; born 22 October 1938) is an English actor. He has appeared in various stage productions of William Shakespeare such as ''Hamlet'', ''Much Ado About Nothing'', ''Macbeth'', ''Twelfth Night'', ''The Tempest'', ''King ...

Judy Winter Judy Winter (; born Beate Richard; 4 January 1944) is a German actress. She resides in Berlin. Filmography Film *1970: ''The Sex Nest'' *1970: ' ''(Hard Women)'' *1970: ' *1971: ''Und Jimmy ging zum Regenbogen'' — (based on a novel by Joh ...

as Aina Mattsson *

Lasse Strömstedt Folke Lars-Olov Strömstedt (23 May 1935 in Gävle – 4 July 2009), better known as Lasse Strömstedt, was a Swedish writer who wrote of and about his own life in prison and drug abuse. Strömstedt was born in Gävle in 1935. He was a casual la ...

as Kollberg *Ferenc Bàcs as Major Szluka *Krisztina Peremartoni as Aranka Ari *

Tomas Bolme Tomas Robert Olof Bolme (born 21 April 1945 in Högalid, Stockholm) is a Swedish actor. He is famous for being the Swedish voice of Tintin, and he is also the voice of the anime hero Cobra. As a child, he acted at Vår teater, a children's the ...

as Åke Gunnarsson *

Thomas Oredsson Lars Thomas Ored Oredsson (born 19 December 1946, in Stockholm) is a Swedish actor and comedian. He studied at Calle Flygare Teaterskola and Swedish National Academy of Mime and Acting. Selected filmography *1978 – ''Bomsalva'' *1980 – ''De ...

as Alf Mattsson *

Kjell Bergqvist Kjell Bertil Leonard Bergqvist (born 23 February 1953 in Enskede, Stockholm County) is a Swedish actor. Bergqvist finished the Royal Dramatic Training Academy in 1973 and made his debut in '' En enkel melodi'' and ''Jack''. He has since coope ...

as Stenström *Mari Szür as Mrs Bubla * Sándor Szabó as Sós *

Zoltán Gera Zoltán Gera (; born 22 April 1979) is a Hungarian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He played for Fulham, Pécsi Mecsek and Harkány SE, as well as enjoying two spells at Ferencváros and West Bromwich Alb ...

as Kuti *

Dieter Schidor Dieter Schidor (6 March 1948 – 17 September 1987) was a German actor, perhaps best known for his work in Sam Peckinpah's ''Cross of Iron'', and Rainer Werner Fassbinder's ''Querelle''. Dieter Schidor was born on 6 March 1948 in Bienrode, today ...

as Embassy Secretary *

Helena Brodin Helena Brodin (born 11 June 1936) is a Swedish actress. She appeared in more than 40 films and television shows between 1960 and 2000. Selected filmography * ''Hugo and Josephine ''Hugo and Josephine'' ( sv, Hugo och Josefin) is a Swedish fi ...

as Mrs Beck

External links

* * West German films Hungarian crime drama films Swedish crime drama films Martin Beck films 1980s German films 1980s Swedish films {{1980s-crime-film-stub