Call Girl review

Director Mikael Marcimain makes an auspicious debut with this chilly drama based on a real-life prostitution-ring scandal that nearly brought down Sweden’s government.

An indomitable madam with a high-class clientele, Dagmar (Pernilla August) lures in girls’-home escapees Iris (Sofia Karemyr) and Sonja (Josefin Asplund) with easy money and glam perks – though it’s not long before they’re wanting out.

Marcimain hooks us with a meticulous recreation of ’70s disco-era Sweden’s seamier side, aided by hard-edged yet brittle turns from his talented young leads.