WALLANDER: HAMNDEN
Sweden, 2009, 90 minutes, Colour.
Krister Henriksson, Lena Endre, Fredrik Gunnarson, Jens Hulten.
Directed by Charlotte Brandstrom.
Hamnden is the first in the second series of 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.
In this film, which resembles the story, Faceless Enemies, in the Branagh series, there is a focus on racism and the fears of Arab terrorists in Sweden. It seems that cells of terrorists are targeting officials in Ystad, on the occasion of a Mohammed exhibition (echoes of the controversies about the Mohammed cartoons in Denmark). In fact, the murders are being done by a discontented military man who resents the closing down of the barracks in the town and wants to get revenge on officials, and the nurse who was responsible for the death of his son in hospital. The film raises issues of inherent racism, fear of terrorists and irrational response, including a visit and speech by a government minister.
Wallander seems a much more ordinary person in this film, celebrating his birthday, laughing a great deal more than does his Branagh counterpart. The team is there working with him as well as two young recruits who are assigned to Ystad.
Sveitman is also a constant in the films, on guard when the first murder is done, investigating, responsibility for the death of the perpetrator.
The films are interesting police stories in themselves, as well as Swedish interpretations of the novels by Henning Mankell.
1. The popularity of Wallander as a detective? A personality? The Swedish series? The British series?
2. The Ystad settings, the overall view of the town, on the water, the streets, the countryside, police precincts, official offices, homes? Sense of realism? Musical score?
3. The introduction to Wallander, his age, celebrating with his friends? The alert about the power blackout? His investigations, taking charge? Working with his team? The two young recruits and giving them jobs? Asking the young woman to get his dog – and her reaction? The investigations, the scenes of the crimes? The interviews? With Katarina? With the further murders, the husband of the murdered woman? The visit to the hospital? The pursuit of the murderer? Questions, clues? The terrorist suspects, the interrogations, the military raid? Discussions with the military about their presence? His wariness about special squads and the military invading the town? The clues that it was a military situation? The visit of the minister, his keeping guard, Anders taking him as a hostage, their discussions? Anders as terminally ill? At the water, getting out, Sveitman and his pushing the car into the water?
4. The blackout, the raid? The murder of the official? Suspicions about the Mohammed exhibition? The murder of his assistant? The nurse being shot in the hospital? The same mode of action? The suspicions of the Arabs, the arrests, the interviews and questions? The raid on the cell? The fact that terrorism was being prepared? Public reaction – with the touch of hysteria?
5. The military issue, the closing down of the barracks? Sweden in peacetime? The military man, his resentments? The death of his son? His anger at the officials? His skills as military? Explosives? His terminal illness and the trigger for his murders?
6. Sveitman, guarding the official, the man being murdered, his reaction? Investigations, the information about the cars? The barracks? His going and discovering the truth? His pursuit of the killer and driving the car into the water?
7. The members of the team, autopsies, forensics? Interrogations? The bonds with Wallander? Isabell and her being seconded to the squad? Pontus? His skills with the computers?
8. The subplot with Katarina, friendship with Wallander, moving in, the encounter with her daughter at the end?
9. A satisfying crime reconstruction, detection, solving of the mystery? Swedish themes?
