WALLANDER: SIDETRACKED

UK, 2009, 90 minutes, Colour.
Kenneth Branagh, David Warner, John Mc Enery, Nicholas Hoult.
Directed by Philip Martin.

Wallander is one of a series of television movies based on Henning Menkel’s celebrated detective, Kurt Wallander. The novels have been translated and published all around the world. They have a certain grimness about them, the rather world-weary character of Wallander himself, his relationship with his father, an artist who is experiencing dementia, alienation from his wife, the difficult relationship with his daughter. These elements all appear in this film.

The novels also have grim murders – as is evidenced by the burning suicide of the young girl at the opening of this film. The films are also critical of Swedish society – and there is a range of victims in this film, all corrupt ranging from the political world to the art world as well as to thugs and corrupt police.

The film uses Swedish locations very effectively and creates the mood of Scandinavia. Kenneth Branagh is very good in the role, one can empathise with him and his feelings of depression, being overwhelmed, his relationship with his family, the difficult work of being a policeman and detective. There is a strong supporting cast including David Warner as his father, John Mc Enery as an alcoholic journalist who supplies information and Nicholas Hoult strong in an important role.

1.Popularity of detective stories, the police stories? A Swedish version? The novels of Henning Menkel?

2.The British production, locations in Sweden, the authentic feel?

3.The complexity of the plot, the title? The opening with Dolores in the field, the horror of her suicide? The range of murders? Linking them together?

4.The focus on Wallander, Kenneth Branagh’s screen presence and performance, in himself, his age, world-weariness, twenty-five years on the job, separated from his wife, the visits from Linda and their discussions, avoiding visiting his father, the birthday and Linda’s gift, reaction to his father, the discussions, worrying about his mental health? His father’s arrest and talking with him? Discussions with him at the end – and the possibility of a visit to Rome to see the art?

5.The family, Linda and her life, relationship with her father, love for her grandfather? The father, his age, his skills as an artist, the past, his mentally breaking down, fighting, outbursts, the arrest? His relationship with Gertrude and her care of him? His final discussion with his son, acknowledging that one can only do one’s best picture? The prospective visit to Rome? His coping with his mental deterioration?

6.Wallander at work, weary, his seedy look? The impact of Dolores’ death? Searching for her in the field? Seeing her face? The investigation, the research to find her identity from the initials? The succession of murders, examining the scene, working with fellow officers, his ways of treating them, the interaction with the profiler? The press? Interrogations, the family, the mother and Erica and Erica fighting him? The thug’s family, the wife, the teenage son, the sympathetic response of the son? The corrupt policeman and the visit? The meetings with Lars, the vodka, getting the information and revisiting him? Building up his case?

7.The range of murdered men: the politician, watching himself on the television, self-satisfied? The artist, the social, flirting with the young woman, his wife and daughter, the portrait of his daughter? The fence and his murder? The thug, the attack on his eyes? The policeman and his being on the list? The revelation about the girls, social hypocrisy, the revelation of sexual abuse? The lead to the policeman’s house, finding the imprisoned women? Dolores and her fear of the police because of this and her killing herself?

8.Erica, her reaction to her father’s death, the attack on Wallander, physically fighting him? The picture, her mother? Attempted suicide? Telling the truth? Her relationship with the young man?

9.The young man and his family, his reaction to his father’s death, the profiler’s version of sanity and insanity? His brother’s eyes and the lead about the murders? His interest in Wallander’s father? His motivation, the myths, the warrior, North American traditions, scalping, the hatchet, freeing the soul, freeing Erica?

10.The profiler and his work, Wallander’s treatment of him, his contributions?

11.Setting the corrupt policeman up, the young man coming to his house, with Erica? The confrontation, Wallander and the gun?

12.The world of crime, police work, grim picture of society?