The Dialogue Police

When protests threaten to turn violent, the dialogue police are called in. This Swedish film reflects the dividing lines of the 2020’s and shows how everyday conflict resolution works.

The Gothenburg EU summit held in June 2001 is remembered for a three-day protest critical of globalisation that turned into a riot. The police shot three people and used excessive force. The aftermath gave birth to the dialogue police: a special police unit trained to resolve conflicts through discussion and mediation, while guarding the freedom of expression essential to democracy.

The film, which is somewhat reminiscent of the television series Tunna blå linjen, follows the group’s work in the 2020’s. The topics of the protests have changed to current increasingly divided opinion differences. Danish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan, who has made a name for himself by burning Korans, self-victimises even at the slightest attempt to curb the risks of his provocations. Negotiations are underway with the activists of Extinction Rebellion to determine how long traffic can be stopped without charges. The Iran protests are bringing to the surface the country’s deep political divisions and the human lives intertwined in them. The calm-keeping dialogue police are perceiving their own role as protectors of freedom of speech. But some of the work is still picking up the pieces left by other police units.

There is no dialogue police in Finland, and preventive work was personified by the long-time award-winning Helsinki Chief Inspector Jari Taponen. Taponen left his job in the spring of 2025, when he felt that politicians’ ideological views of perceived threats were increasingly influencing police operations.

From this perspective, among other things, the film would also be recommended for decision-makers who are key to the topic. It’s no wonder it won the Journalistically Important Film Award at the DocsBarcelona festival.

Matti Ylönen (translated by Kati Kiviniemi)