Wallander
- Thread starter gary r
- Start date
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- Location
- Next door to Mr Benn at No 54
Excellent TV for a Saturday night. They have already shown the series once on BBC4, and I am enjoying the repeats. 
I did not think I would like the subtitles, but got used to them fairly quickly. I much prefer the Swedish one to the British one.
I did not think I would like the subtitles, but got used to them fairly quickly. I much prefer the Swedish one to the British one.
slugonabike
New Member
- Location
- Bournemouth
I prefer the British one (and so, I have heard, do many Swedes).
swee'pea99
Legendary Member
I think they're both really good. Isn't that nauseating?
- Location
- Next door to Mr Benn at No 54
'Spose I am biased. I prefer Krister Hennikson to Kenneth Branagh. 
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Yes, saw both series and enjoyed both.
But preference is for the swedish version, I suppose I like the dark melancholia of it all. And probably because of that, enjoyed it more during the winter months!
But preference is for the swedish version, I suppose I like the dark melancholia of it all. And probably because of that, enjoyed it more during the winter months!
Flying_Monkey
Recyclist
- Location
- Odawa
I've only seen the Branagh ones and loved them. If the Swedish ones are as good then I'd be majorly impressed.
I love the slow sombreness of it. The willingness to let the camera linger on a scene, on a face. The silences. It's excellent tv, almost daring in an age of plot thin action biased dramas.
I think it's a superbly measured performance by Branagh too; he can have a combination of pain and depression etched across his face, an empty haunted look in his eyes, but then register an earnest desire to discover the truth. It's remarkable imho. I read a review that said the problem with Branagh's interpretation is the he makes Wallander too interesting! Having never read the books, I can't comment!
I love the slow sombreness of it. The willingness to let the camera linger on a scene, on a face. The silences. It's excellent tv, almost daring in an age of plot thin action biased dramas.
I think it's a superbly measured performance by Branagh too; he can have a combination of pain and depression etched across his face, an empty haunted look in his eyes, but then register an earnest desire to discover the truth. It's remarkable imho. I read a review that said the problem with Branagh's interpretation is the he makes Wallander too interesting! Having never read the books, I can't comment!
mangaman
Guest
I prefer the Branagh ones myself - more interesting and true to the books
I love the books - well worth checking out. Somehow, the brooding tension that a really good police novel needs fits perfectly with the lifestyle of Wallender and his team.
I think too often English/US detective writers have to give their charactors a quirk to make them stand out. (eg alcoholic / into unorthodox police methods / spending night after night awake listening to music and listening to music etc)
Wallender and his team in the books just slowly live their lives in a strangely solitary but believable way, in an already brooding, foggy land. They never even seem to socialise properly - even invite each other round for a meal - despite getting on well at work.
I find the books fascinating - and I think the Branagh version gets closer.
I love the books - well worth checking out. Somehow, the brooding tension that a really good police novel needs fits perfectly with the lifestyle of Wallender and his team.
I think too often English/US detective writers have to give their charactors a quirk to make them stand out. (eg alcoholic / into unorthodox police methods / spending night after night awake listening to music and listening to music etc)
Wallender and his team in the books just slowly live their lives in a strangely solitary but believable way, in an already brooding, foggy land. They never even seem to socialise properly - even invite each other round for a meal - despite getting on well at work.
I find the books fascinating - and I think the Branagh version gets closer.
Dayvo
just passin' through
- Location
- 59° 50′ 5.55″ N, 10° 47′ 41.89″ E
mangaman
Guest
You try living in Sweden for 14 years and you'll understand!
That's what I like Dayvo - the little details of Wallender's life in the books.
He never seems to eat a nice meal / appreciate a nice bottle of wine / have some friends round.
He lives in an apartment where he seems to have to prebook a laundry machine in the basement to even get his washing done.
I love all those tiny details and they fit perfectly with a detective I think.
And thanks, but no thanks - I can't think anything worse than living in Sweden.
Denmark I couls stand - how's Norway?
Bill Gates
Guest
- Location
- West Sussex
Yeah I watch them as well. Prefer the swedish version as I find Branagh over the top. But there again I lose interest in anything that is overly dramatic, just can't watch it.
Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
I like both too.
Both versions seem to capture well the gentle way of life in that part of Sweden. Having lived close to there and loved every minute of it, I long for the landscape, the light, the gentle but constant wind, the clear summer days, the dark brooding brackish waters of the Oresund, fishing off the harbour walls and the long thin strips of beach.
Marvelous.
Both versions seem to capture well the gentle way of life in that part of Sweden. Having lived close to there and loved every minute of it, I long for the landscape, the light, the gentle but constant wind, the clear summer days, the dark brooding brackish waters of the Oresund, fishing off the harbour walls and the long thin strips of beach.
Marvelous.
Proto
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Devon/West Dorset
If you enjoy Wallander, you might care to read the 'Martin Beck' series of books by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. I've just finished number seven (of ten), The Abominable Man.
Thrillers of sorts, very low key, plodding police procedurals, but great writing and very interesting for their insight into the flawed character of Swedish society. Written in the sixties and seventies but in no way dated.
Highly recommended
Thrillers of sorts, very low key, plodding police procedurals, but great writing and very interesting for their insight into the flawed character of Swedish society. Written in the sixties and seventies but in no way dated.
Highly recommended
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
I'm another one who likes both. The Swedish versions can't be more faithful to the books, at least in storyline terms if not spirit, as with the exception of the first one, 'Before The Frost', they're not adaptations but original stories. The first series in particular was excellent though- apart from Krister Henriksson, Johanna Sällström was if anything even better as Linda (a match for Branagh in sheer intensity), and the supporting cast were all good too. The second series I think lost something- apart from the tragic suicide of Johanna, Ola Rapace as Stefan had also been written out (just when they'd made the character really interesting), and the scripts were a bit more 'generic cop show'. They also seemed to soften the character of Wallander a bit- though Jussi the dog was very handsome, I'm not sure Kurt's a dog person....
I've recently started working my way through the novels, and having read 'Faceless Killers' and 'The White Lioness' I think Branagh's portrayal is more accurate. Wallander is a deeply flawed, troubled man, and that really comes through. Ken's mispronunciation of his own character's surname (when pretty much everything else about the series has superb attention to detail) is a little irritating though. There's nothing confirmed about a third series AFAIK, I hope they keep going for a few years......
I've recently started working my way through the novels, and having read 'Faceless Killers' and 'The White Lioness' I think Branagh's portrayal is more accurate. Wallander is a deeply flawed, troubled man, and that really comes through. Ken's mispronunciation of his own character's surname (when pretty much everything else about the series has superb attention to detail) is a little irritating though. There's nothing confirmed about a third series AFAIK, I hope they keep going for a few years......