WALLANDER: ONE STEP BEHIND

UK, 2008, 90 minutes, Colour.
Kenneth Branagh, Nicholas Hoult.
Directed by Philip Martin.

The Wallander series is based on novels by Henning Mankell. They were made into Swedish telemovies and films but this is a British production with Kenneth Branagh as Minkle’s detective, Kurt Wallander.

Branagh’s Wallander is a morose man, full of stress, overworked, not noticing people around him, feeling a failure because of his lack of support for his daughter in the past, the separation from his wife, the death of his partner who claimed him as his best friend?

The film focuses on a killer murdering a group of young people celebrating midsummer in the woods. It appears that the detective friend of Wallander was investigating, but he too is killed. Wallander follows various clues and discovers that the killer is a transvestite with whom his partner was having a relationship. The film builds up to detection, a final confrontation when the killer has Wallander’s daughter as a hostage.

The film is effective as a murder mystery and an investigation. However, with Branagh playing Wallander as if he were playing Shakespeare, the performance is intense, the character study is very strong.

Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy) is the villain.

1.The popularity of Henning Mankell’s novels? Kurt Wallander as a detective? Adaptation to the small screen? By a British company, in English? Swedish locations?

2.The atmosphere of the film, Sweden, morbid and morose? The city, the towns, homes, islands, the countryside? The musical score?

3.The strength of the murder mystery, the initial killings? The investigations, the discoveries, the clues? Tracking down the killer in Copenhagen? Following further clues, the connection with the post, the final confrontation?

4.The motivations for the murders: the character of Louise, the transvestite? The relationship with Svedburg? Feeling put down and hidden? Getting Svedburg’s attention by killing the group in the forest, making Svedburg investigate, killing Svedburg? His escape from Wallander in the club? The further murders? His own secrets, invading other people’s secrets through the post? The murders on the beach? The postcard from Linda? Holding her hostage?

5.The character of Wallander: his age, experience, his separation from his wife and her remarriage? Alienation from his daughter, the reconciliation? His appearance, stubble, dishevelled, not washing? His team, Martinsson, the woman on the team? His superior officers? His relationship with Svedburg, the opening, the numberplates, his weariness? Inability to hear Svedburg? The impact of his death? Discovering the body? The investigations, the frantic mother? Discovering Svedburg was investigating? His room, the clues, the photo and the letter? Wallander and the discussions with his cousin at the hospital, with his professor cousin (and having to jog)? The tracking down of Louise? Discovering the young woman who was ill and not murdered? The interrogations, the discussions about his daughter, her perceiving that Svedburg was gay? Pursuing her to the island? Their talks, her family, the impact of her death? The connection with the post? The final confrontation, the shooting? The funeral and the sadness of the group at Svedburg’s burial?

6.The team, Martinsson and his youth? The woman on the team and her collaboration, concern for Wallander, urging him to rest?

7.The incidental characters and their contribution: Svedburg’s cousin at the hospital and the information, the professor and his arrogance, jogging? Anna and her kindness at the restaurant, giving him the room to rest? The postman giving him the information? The manager of the boats?

8.Issa, her suicide attempts, alienation from her family? The hospital, the flight, her discussing things with Wallander, her death?

9.Linda, family, her relationship with her father, discussing family matters, her concern about his health, going to get his shirt, hostage?

10.Satisfying ingredients for a murder mystery, its solution – as well as a character study?