The “Breakthrough” on Netflix dramatizes a chilling double homicide that had remained unsolved for over 16 years and captivated the audience with its gripping depiction of the case.
Released on January 7, 2025, The Breakthrough is a Swedish crime drama that recounts one of the most extensive criminal investigations in Swedish history. The story was inspired by a true-life double homicide of an 8-year-old boy, Adnan, and a woman named Gunilla in the city of Linköping in Sweden in 2004. After multiple fruitless efforts to crack the case, the investigation was stalled, leaving families without any closure for years.
Set in the early 2000s, the narrative begins with brutal killings that had the local community reeling. The case leaves the police with no leads or motives to find a lead for investigation, with only a witness in the name of Karin, who fails to identify the murderer. It slowly drifts into a cold case that haunts families and investigators alike.
Things just take a totally dramatic turn at the climax stage when a professional genealogist, Per by name (played by Mattias Nordkvist), utilizes incredible DNA analysis where traces of the unknown killer’s heritage are finally recognized. It now becomes possible with this newfound fact about the identity to finally close an investigation with remarkable justice.
Directed by Lisa Siwe (The Bridge), The Breakthrough explores themes of persistence, compassion, and the emotional toll of unresolved trauma. It underlines the importance of the victims and the pursuit of truth rather than focusing solely on the perpetrator.
The gripping storyline of the show is accompanied by a great cast, including Jessica Liedberg, Annika Hallin, and Jonatan Rodriguez. The Netflix series provides viewers with an opportunity to dive deep into one of Sweden’s most remarkable criminal investigations.
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