Wallender

[poliphilo]

I seem to be writing a lot about TV right now. Two reasons. 1. It's winter and a lot of new shows are coming on line. 2. It's winter and I'm not getting out much. Oh look! It's just started to snow.

Last night's new show was Wallender, starring Kenneth Branagh. Wallender is the hero of a series of Swedish detective novels written by Ingmar Bergman's son-in-law. I wasn't disappointed. I've not always been a fan of Branagh's screen acting; he can be too assertive, too stagey, but this performance was pitched just right-  muted, frequently on the brink of tears- with the odd, brief, crinkly smile. He's a damn good actor. The story was generic- involving a serial killer and a paedophile ring- and I spotted the killer a little before I would have done if this had been Agatha Christie, but no matter; it was as much about wayward fathers as crime. Wallender's own father- a stuckist painter in the first stages of Altzheimers- was played by David Warner- once the greatest Hamlet of his generation, now enjoying an Indian summer after a blighted  mid-career. I love David Warner. The landscapes were bathed in lovely, low-wattage, Swedish light and there was a stunning pre-credits sequence in which a girl set herself on fire in a field of yellow rape. After that you really had no choice but to go on watching.

Comments

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

I didn't get home from Germany until halfway through, so I hope there will be a repeat. I have to say I was first disappointed when I heard what Branagh was doing - I have seen the Wallender series done with Swedes, of course, but he chunked up to be able to be a good Kurt Wallender. No Swedish actors appeared to have been used, which is rather strange as there are so many good ones who speak perfectly clear English, but perhaps that would have pointed out that Branagh himself was not a Swede, I don't know. I look forward to seeing next Sunday's offering all the way through. I have been a great fan of the books.

[clindau.livejournal.com]

David Warner- once the greatest Hamlet of his generation, now enjoying an Indian summer after a blighted mid-career

What a wonderful image.

[mamadar.livejournal.com]

I love both Branagh and Warner. Branagh seems to have lost all his prettiness, but there's no denying he has the craft.

[nostoi.livejournal.com]

Kenneth Branagh playing a TV detective.

I'm still struggling with this concept; it just doesn't go...

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

I've always admired Branagh (his Frankenstein aside)and, though I have neither read the books, thought Wallander very good. I thought the camera work really added to the mood - almost shot like a European film.

A Clerihew

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

Kenneth Branagh
and his erstwhile wife Emma
after all their on-screen huffin' and puffin'
agreed it was much ado about nothing.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

I hope they syndicate the show to PBS in the States. I admire most of Branagh's work, and would really enjoy seeing this side of him.

BBC4 Tonight 21.00

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

Programme on Wallander followed by Swedish adaptation - thought you may be interested if you we not already aware.
Cheers.