In May 2022, streaming platform Netflix brought us another series based on historical facts, the miniserie called ‘Clark’. The tagline: “The incredible story of the most known Swedish gangster, who thought us the Stockholm syndrome.”
And yes, this Swedish man called Clark Oloffson was a known, and very bizarre, gangster during the decades of the 1960-1970-1980. He did learn us what the Stockholm syndrome is. But is the Netflix serie Clark worth watching? Find out in my review below – no spoilers-.
Who was Clark Olofsson?
Let us first talk about the main character in this Netflix miniserie: Clark Olofsson.
Clark Olofsson was born in 1947 in Sweden, Europe. The story of his childhood is not very clear, but it is obvious that he and his sisters grew up in a traumatic home. His father was an alcoholic and his mother ended up in a psychiatric ward.
Olofsson would quickly grow up to be a troublemaker. Burgling, minor theft, vandalism…up to the point where he started to rob banks. Which he did in a most nonchalant way, a lifestyle what ended up to be his trademark.
You could argue that he liked to get caught so he would be in the safe space that prison can be. But then you see him escaping prison over and over. Meanwhile he seduces every woman he can.
Is his troubled childhood an excuse for his misbehaviour as a grown-up? That is for psychiatrists to decide. But you can conclude that Clark Olofsson lived a bizar life. He became the most known Swedish gangster, and maybe one of the most known gangsters in our history. Not that we remember his name, but he introduced the Stockholm syndrome.
What is the Stockholm syndrome?
The Stockholm syndrome was first described during one of Clark Olofsson his biggest stunts. During a bank robbery, the police got him out of jail to go into the bank and talk to the robber. They knew each other pretty well.
Clark Olofsson did this during several days with so much nonchalance, bravery and show, that the female hostages all developed feelings for him. While he was actually working together with the robber to get as much as money out of the bank while they can while making himself the hero.
But why did all the women (and even men) started to befriend Olofsson and even catch feelings for him. Well, this is where the Stockholm syndrome comes into play. This is actually a psychological coping and defense mechanism, which makes us feel positive emotions during a traumatic experience. In this case the robbery and an attractive bank robber. It would not be the first or last time Clark Olofsson seduced women during one of his criminal acts.
Review: the Netflix serie Clark
Now that we have some background information, let us start with the review of the Netflix serie Clark. Is it worth watching? And if so, does it teach us something about the history of Clark Olofsson and – or the Stockholm syndrome?
Well, for starters: the Swedish cast is impressive. Especially the main character, played by actor Bill Skarsgard. You may also know him as the actor who portrayed the killer clown in the movies IT. And also this miniserie Clark, that is 6 episodes of each around 1 hour long and spoken in the Swedish language, shows that Bil is yet another great actor coming from the Skarsgard-family. Like the other acting family members, Bill shows that they are expert in portraying bizar characters. Put this fact in a mix with a quick montage and modern camera angles, and you can imagine that this serie is not another documentary, but rather an entertaining fiction serie based on true stories.
The dissapointing part of this serie is the promised angle of the Stockholm syndrome. The robbery during which psychologists started to describe the syndrome is part of the series. But it does not contain much explanation or a (psychologist) analysis of this coping process. You can rather call this serie a bizar roadtrip through the life of this Swedish gangster.
You also don not learn much about Clark Olofsson himself. Some well chosen flashbacks show his miserable youth. But the story itself creates confusion about what is true or not, and what can be a reason for his adult behaviour or not. Besides this, the serie also takes a lot of freedom to describe the facts it chooses. Several parts of his life our left out. Which was expected, but it changes the story a bit. Because for example, you do not get to know much about the end of his life, living in Belgium.
The life of Clark Olofsson is very entertaining: humour, bizar situations, a womanizer who can talk himself out of very confrontation with the police…this Netflix serie has it all. While showing the chaotic and free decades of the sixties and seventies.
Conclusion: review of the Netflix serie Clark
Can I advise you to watch the Netflix serie about Clark Olofsson? I think this is connected with the expectations you have or what you like watching. Do you expect an historic serie telling you how it was? Or do you like an amusing serie based on some true facts?
If you like many of the true crime docuserie or movies on Netflix, or the more serious thrillers like se7en or Gone Baby Gone, then in my opinion Clark will not be your thing.
Do you like some more entertaining, bizar and chaotic way of depicting the life of a, you can call him crazy, gangster during the free spirited sixties? Then yes, you should watch this.
Have a nice viewing!
Sources:
Netflix
Wikipedia Clark Olofsson
Stockholmsyndroom
Picture Clark
Picture robber
