MORDBRANNARAN/ THE ARSONIST.
Sweden, 2014, 90 minutes, Colour.
Krister Henriksson, Charlotta Jonsson, Christoffer Nordenrot.
Directed by Charlotte Brandstrom.
In the Swedish version of Wallander, Krister Henriksson plays Wallander in twenty-six episodes, the first in 2005, the second in 2009/10. He is a contrast with Kenneth Branagh who portrayed Wallander in six British/Swedish telemovies.
The Swedish film is much more ordinary in its presentation of police work in Sweden, contrasting with the Branagh version where he is a tortured soul and the film focuses on his own personal crises, relationship with his father and his daughter, his anguishing over his work and its implications.
Wallander seems a much more ordinary person in this film, laughing a great deal more than does his Branagh counterpart. The team is there working with him as well.
The films are interesting police stories in themselves, as well as Swedish interpretations of the novels by Henning Mankell.
The Arsonist is a more straightforward story and mystery. it was the penultimate television film for the Swedish series.
On the one hand, Wallander is beginning to forget, showing signs of dementia, concerned about it, going to the doctor, finely telling his daughter who accepts his condition. His working with his daughter in the police investigations along with members of the staff from the previous films. He is also involved with a teacher in the town.
A teenager was arrested for arson and served five years in jail. On his release, the townspeople are against him, fearful, prejudiced. This is true of a teacher who puts posters around the town against him. But it is two young men who are hostile, bashing, setting fire to a kiosk which results in death and blame for Tom. While he is vindicated, he finally sets himself alight.
1. The opening, fires? The husband and wife, putting the fires out? Suspicions of Tom?
2. The title, straightforward? Tom as an arsonist, and not a pyromaniac? As a boy, with the teacher, his getting revenge? The arrest, the five years imprisonment? his getting out, his sister taking him in, her husband being suspicious, the townspeople not wanting him there?
3. Wallander, having arrested Tom earlier, on the case, the interviews, his wanting to support Tom, his suspicions of characters in the town?
4. Wallander and his health, the beginnings of forgetfulness, not knowing where he was, going to the doctor, wary of telling his daughter, his finally telling her, his woman friend, the bond, at the concert, his imagining himself with her, his reluctance because of his condition?
5. The young men, suspicions, their being taken in, questioned, their violence towards Tom and bashing him? Their taking the side of the townspeople,
wanting to get rid of Tom, setting fire to the kiosk?
6. The teacher, the fire, disfigurement, Tom and his attitude towards her? Her being under suspicion, questioned, taken in, watching the fires? Her putting up the posters against Tom?
7. The man in the kiosk, his receipt refusing to serve Tom, Tom and his threats, the fight? The burning of the kiosk, his death?
8. Tom, with his nephew, explaining the flame-throwing, the reaction of the boy’s father? His lying about the fuel?
9. Tom, desperate, with the petrol, with the boy, letting him go, setting himself alight?
10. More straightforward wild understory, solution, but the added pathos of Wallander’s physical and mental condition?
