WALLANDER: THE TROUBLED MAN
UK, 2015, 89 minutes, Colour.
Kenneth Branagh, Terrence Hardiman, Jeany Spark, Ann Bell, Christopher Fairbank, Kitty Peterkin, Harry Hadden-Paton?.
Directed by Benjamin Caron.
The Troubled Man is the last in the series of novel into television films with Kenneth Branagh. They began in 2008 and concluded in 2015, three films in each of the four series.
This film is significant for the health condition of Wallander, the bouts of dizziness and loss of memory, loss of a sense of place, not recognising people – seen here in several circumstances. The doctor has given a prognosis and, by the end, while Linda seems to be accepting of his condition – with a vision of his father, David Warner reappearing, a reconciliation with his son-in-law and the love of his daughter and granddaughter.
There is a final mystery to be solved, the father of his son-in-law walking out and disappearing, revelations about Soviet submarines in Swedish waters, a Soviet link, issues of betrayal – which involved the father and his wife.
Wallander is his usual self, with his work, but also with his deteriorating condition – a cheerfully sad ending for the series and a dedication to novelist, Henning Mankel, who died in 2015.
1. The last of the series? Audiences and their interest in Wallington, character, detection, variety of cases, Swedish setting? Kenneth Branagh’s presence and performance? Wallander’s personal life? Relationships, father, wife and divorce, women, daughter, granddaughter?
2. The Swedish setting, the city, the coast, homes? The musical score?
3. The introduction of the case,Akan, introduced in the previous film, Linda’s father-in-law, friendship with Kurt, the morning, going out for his walk, disappearing?
4. Wallander himself, getting older, the turns, Alzheimer’s and the onset, his bewilderment, loss of recognition of people? Recovery? The doctor and the prognosis? His having to go to the internal affairs meeting?
5. Linda asking him to go to look for Akan, the interview with Louise, the search of the house, the desk, the tape? The issue of the submarines, the commands, possible traitor? The revelation about the daughter and Kurt’s visits to her? Kurt finding the scrapbook? Implications for Akan, Louise? Louise found hanging?
6. Kurt and the connections, the friend and the discussion about boats, his loyalty to Akan and Louise? The official, the sinister touches, the revelations, the second meeting, the information, for finding Akan, and the scandal?
7. Hans, borrowing money, Kurt and his fierce accusation about stealing?, The concern, and his not knowing about his sister, puzzling about his parents? His devotion to Linda and Clara?
8. Kurt, going to find Akan, the abandoned location, on the boat, Kurt distracted, Akan going into the water, his death?
9. The funeral, the verses and their themes?
10. Curtain hounds, reconciliation, watching Linda and Clara? Curtain of the beach, the vision of his father? Is acceptance of his condition – and happily walking on the beach with Linda and Clara?
11. An appropriate ending to the film and its series? And the dedication to Henning Mankel after his death in 2015?
