Wallander

Wallander
based on books by Henning Makell [DVD Wallander]

This gritty, atmospheric series, starring British actor Kenneth Branagh as Kurt Wallander, aired in the UK in 2008 and then on PBS' Mystery series in the US. These are somewhat faithful adaptations of some of the novels written by Swedish author Henning Mankell, which have only recently been translated into English. The setting (Ystad in southern Sweden) and production values are unique, and the performances, particularly by Branagh, are amazing. However, this series is not for everyone. The tone is very dark, and Wallander the character is a driven, obsessive personality with numerous depressing flaws. If you like dark, gritty police procedurals, especially with a foreign setting, this is worth your time. If you prefer your sleuths and settings to be more in the vein of Murder She Wrote, you'll probably want to avoid this one! [If you enjoy this, you may wish to try the books by Henning Mankell. There were 10 novels to feature Wallander, and an 11th that focuses on his daughter, with him as a supporting character. His story arc -- he ultimately recognizes the signs of Alzheimers in himself -- is depressing. But the books are masterful mysteries.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available: Season Two.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

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