The Island of Sea Crow: The Smugglers – Skrållan, Ruskprick och Knorrhane (1967)

Directed by: Olle Hellbom | 94 minutes | family | Actors: Hans Alfredson, Kajsa Dandenell, Tage Danielsson, Louise Edlind, Bengt Eklund, Siegfried Fischer, Manne Grünberger, Kristina Jämtmark, Maria Johansson, Stephen Lindholm, Eva Stiberg

‘Zeekraai Island: The Smugglers’ is the fourth and final film about the children who live on the island of Zeekraai, just off the coast of Stockholm. Mops, Stina, Pelle and his niece Skrållan go by boat to an aunt for a week’s holiday, but upon arrival it turns out that she is in hospital with a broken leg. The telephone does not work and the children are left to their own devices. The boat that will take them back home will not arrive for a week, and Auntie lives alone on the island in question. The children do not give up, but sail back themselves. Unfortunately, the engine soon breaks down and they arrive at a seemingly deserted island. As a parent, you should not think that your child of less than ten has to take care of himself for a few days with friends, but hey, in the world of Astrid Lindgren everything is possible and the sixties atmosphere is clearly recognizable: the carelessness of the motto ‘freedom, happiness’ radiates from everywhere. When their boat floats away thanks to an action by Skrållan, the children remain quite laconic. Even when the foursome gets hungry, their attitude is still quite calm.

Meanwhile, the public has become acquainted with two smugglers, who reside on the same island and carry a load of cigarettes. The two are constantly at odds with each other. It soon becomes clear that the villain does not excel in cleverness. It is therefore no surprise that after the first meeting the children realize what the gentlemen have to hide. The Swedish title, by the way, refers to the friendship that little Skrållan makes with the two smugglers, especially the goofy “Knorrepot” has a soft spot for the cute toddler.

“Memenerik” does not like the attention Skrållan gives to the two, because he is afraid of being exposed. The many scenes with the two (amateurish-appearing) smugglers in the lead role throw the film off balance. The focus is sometimes too much on the mutual disagreements and ridiculous actions of the duo. So they are dead to the good-natured Saint Bernard Boatswain’s dog. This is probably meant to be humorous, but these scenes are bland and even the target audience won’t see the fun in this. The strength of the better ‘Sea Crow’ films lies precisely in the natural play of the children, but because the attention is regularly drawn to the two petty thieves, the film is simply less fun to watch.