BEFORE THE FROST: WALLANDER

UK, 2012, 90 minutes, Colour.
Kenneth Branagh, Sarah Smart, Richard McCabe?.
Directed by Charles Martin
Before the Frost is the first in the third series of Kenneth Branagh’s Wallander films. He proved himself as an interesting incarnation of Henning Mankel’s detective character. His gloom and pessimism are in contrast to the style of Wallander in the Swedish series.
The film is interesting in its presentation of weird religious beliefs, apocalyptic in tone, the power of the sect and the sect leader, especially in instilling in his followers a sense of sin, even leading to suicide for repentance.
But the film also has a personal tone with Wallander’s daughter Linda, her reconciliation with her father, her pregnancy, and the final scenes with the ultrasound, and the more personalized experience for Wallander.

1. An interesting addition to the Wallander films? The role of Kenneth Branagh? The murder mystery? Swedish background? The religious cult?
2. Swedish settings, the city, police office, the countryside, the cult? The musical score?
3. The title, nature, madness and murder? Religious overtones?
4. The swans, burning, the woman observing, the brutality of her death, the discovery? The identification? The institution? Sanity? The search?
5. Wallander and his character, age, experience, weary, preoccupied with his cases? His relationship with Linda? The past, his marriage, divorce, her growing up, tensions? Pregnancy? Change for him, being present with her and its effect?
6. Anna, her visit, distant? Wallander as concern? Her talk, behaviour, relationship with him, with the leader?
7. Wallander and his staff, their expertise, detection, their personalities, collaboration with him? Ann-Marie?
8. Wallander and his house, living alone, past relationships, Linda’s visit?
9. The sect, the religious background, apocalyptic, the tenets of belief, Biblical, the range of disciples, the meetings?
10. The personality of the leader, his offer of help?
11. Anna, her character, behaviour, her father? Her mother and the visit? The lies, the truth?
12. The suicides as confessions? The nature of the scenes? The places for death? The tapes?
13. The truth, the father, the past, religion and the bible, beliefs?
14. The table, the gun, Anna and her decision, Anna and death?
15. A positive ending for the film, the experience of the ultrasound for Linda and for Wallander? Hope?