The story takes place in 1930s
Skåne,
Sweden, and focuses on Sven, who is
hare-lipped and thus cannot speak correctly. Most people consider him
stupid, and call him an
idiot. The film begins with Sven and a woman, who we later learn is called Anna, driving a Rolls Royce across the landscape. The sun is setting, and in the sky Sven sees three
angels. He and Anna hide in an old house, and while Anna makes herself comfortable, Sven throws a huge, bloodstained blade into a
well. He lies down beside Anna and starts his inner monologue about how it all began. When Sven's mother died, he was "taken care of" by Höglund (
Hans Alfredsson), an evil, rich factory owner who is a member of the local
Swedish Nazi party, and lives on a farm. Sven must work on Höglund's farm without payment, and sleep among cows in the stables, where he is tormented by a
rat. Being very goodhearted, Sven cannot make himself drown the animal once he has caught it, because he simply can't take another life. Having read the
Bible, a gift from his sister, Sven imagines he is visited by three angels from time to time, whom he speaks to in a clear voice, making it clear that this dialog takes place in his own mind. One day he meets the
wheelchair-using Anna (
Maria Johansson), whom he falls in love with, and having been mistreated at Höglund's, Sven escapes to Anna's family, who gladly take him in. At Anna's house, Sven is finally treated as an adult. He is given a real bed, gets to work at their own farm, and is paid by Anna's father, Mr. Andersson (
Per Myrberg), "in real money", as he points out when Höglund comes and wants to take Sven back to his farm. Although Andersson wins the argument, Sven faints from fear. Sven decides to buy himself a motorcycle, a real
Indian. But Höglund, now out for revenge, pulls some strings and uses his contacts to ensure Sven can't get a
driver's license. After a long media battle arranged by Andersson, Sven gets his license and starts riding his motorcycle around town. Höglund, however, does not surrender that easily. The Anderssons' farm is thrown in financial crisis, and Höglund's new chauffeur (
Gösta Ekman) steals Sven's motorcycle and destroys it. Anna starts to scream at Sven, in her desperation blaming him for all that has happened. Sven angrily pushes her out of her wheelchair, but immediately regrets it. Furious at Höglund, and all the pain he has put Sven and his loved ones through, Sven takes the blade from Andersson's
chaff cutter, and marches off to Höglund's factory, followed by the three angels singing Verdi's
Requiem. Attacking Höglund, Sven steals the evil man's car, then picks up Anna on the run, taking her to the deserted house where the movie begins. It begins to dawn and police start to surround the building. The Anderssons beg for Sven's life. A couple of shots are heard, and the film ends with a picture of the sun rising over the southern Swedish landscape. ==Cast==