Wallander

[Rochellita]

Any fans?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallander_(TV_series)

I've always enjoyed the Swedish version of this and now a 3-episode English language one is out with Kenneth Branagh as Wallander.

It's somewhat unusual- set in Ystad, Sweden where the original is set, everything is Swedish, from the landscape to the characters names, however, the cast all act in English. It could have been pretentious, but I don't think it is.

This quote sums up the feel of it

'Branagh describes Wallander as "an existentialist [...] who is questioning what life is about and why he does what he does every day, and for whom acts of violence never become normal. There's a level of empathy with the victims of crime that's almost impossible to contain, and one of the prices he pays for that sort of empathy is a personal life that's a kind of wasteland'

[erske]

Never rely cared for the Swedish films my self, but worth to mention is that Rolf Lassgård comes from and still lives in the beautiful town of Gävle

[Dave Noisy]

I downloaded the first episode, but had to turn it off after 20mins, i found it very uninteresting..

[JP]

we just finished the "season" - just three movie length episodes.

I was very impressed - it goes against everything the american cop series have taught us about a succesful format. It really is about a man tormented and the subtle things like small suggestions, camera work & focus, and so on, build it very well.

I liked it and would recommend giving it a try, but understand its not for everyone.

[Dave Noisy]

Cool. I'm enjoying Survivors, another new UK program... ;)

[Gelert]

Necromancy! Just watching one of the newest series in the UK. I think I prefer the (recent) Swedish one.

I could only follow that through subtitles and pidgin Swedish, but I think it has the benefit of *just* being a cop show set in a small town rather than trying to be a cop show set in what the writer thinks would be the UK audience's expectations of a cop show through a Swedish lens. That contrived-ness blunts it a little. I still like it a lot though.

Plus, while both Branagh and Henriksson play Wallander's torment on a dial turned up to 11, I can't help but feel that Woh-land-ur is just sinking in the weight of the crap thrown at him for almost no apparent reason, whereas I could trace back what was happening to Krister Henriksson's version to the character's flaws a lot more. The dynamic between him and his daughter was more interesting than just plain antagonism too, although I understand why her role is somewhat reduced, given the circumstances.

[erske]

Haha I didn't even realize that they've made another Wallander film series (with Krister Henriksson), But perhaps I havn't missed anything, the first series (with Lassgård) is at least based on the books rather than just written for the screen based on the character...

[JP]

just watched yet another episode of the UK version of wallander and i like it a lot. The torment is almost unbearable, very well acted IMO.

The relationship with daughter is flat in comparison to the swedish one. But hey, i could compare the two a lot, but i know i like both individually so dont really want to dampen the UK version with constant comparisons They work on their own and i can see how a lot of people will like it having never even heard of the swedish originals.

Against UK series, it has a unique touch with quirky details and individual approach, and as such it is a great series.