Having read Henning Mankell's original novel in which this episode in the "Wallander" series is based, we were expecting a somewhat faithful adaptation. The writers, Per Berglund, Stefan Ahnhem, and Henning Koch, had a daunting task of bringing the essence of the novel into a ninety minutes format, something that proved to work against the overall success of this chapter in the "Wallander" series. Director Kjel-Ake Andersson did what he could with the material he was given to bring a story that made sense.
The mass murder in Guyana by Rev. Jim Jones, plays a key factor in the story, although it is not too obvious when the clue appears to the viewer. The self righteous sect behind the burning of the swans, hanging of an abortion woman doctor and the almost drowning of an infant, was much sinister in the written page. In this version, it is somewhat tame in comparison.
Henning Mankell's pessimistic view of the Swedish society shows in this story. His Kurt Wallander is a complex man who now has to welcome his own estranged daughter, Linda, into the police ranks he is in charge of. That alone, is a conflict in the making because the kind of relationship father and daughter have shown each other. The appearance of Stefan Lindman is a distraction. The basic problem with the disappearing Anna is not fully developed, something that had more of a dramatic play in the novel.
The first episode in the season shows Krister Henriksson as Kurt Wallander. His reading on the character is closer to one's imagination of how the real inspector would have been in the flesh. Mr. Henriksson downplays the part to good results. We also enjoyed Johanna Hallstrom's Linda. Her conflict with the father appears to be real. Ola Rapace is seen as Stefan Lindman. Niklas Falk, a distinguished Swedish actor has only a small part as the leader of the sect.
Ystad is a small place, but in Henning Mankell's world it is a huge place where the most heinous crimes are committed by ordinary people for the enjoyment of millions of the genre.
The mass murder in Guyana by Rev. Jim Jones, plays a key factor in the story, although it is not too obvious when the clue appears to the viewer. The self righteous sect behind the burning of the swans, hanging of an abortion woman doctor and the almost drowning of an infant, was much sinister in the written page. In this version, it is somewhat tame in comparison.
Henning Mankell's pessimistic view of the Swedish society shows in this story. His Kurt Wallander is a complex man who now has to welcome his own estranged daughter, Linda, into the police ranks he is in charge of. That alone, is a conflict in the making because the kind of relationship father and daughter have shown each other. The appearance of Stefan Lindman is a distraction. The basic problem with the disappearing Anna is not fully developed, something that had more of a dramatic play in the novel.
The first episode in the season shows Krister Henriksson as Kurt Wallander. His reading on the character is closer to one's imagination of how the real inspector would have been in the flesh. Mr. Henriksson downplays the part to good results. We also enjoyed Johanna Hallstrom's Linda. Her conflict with the father appears to be real. Ola Rapace is seen as Stefan Lindman. Niklas Falk, a distinguished Swedish actor has only a small part as the leader of the sect.
Ystad is a small place, but in Henning Mankell's world it is a huge place where the most heinous crimes are committed by ordinary people for the enjoyment of millions of the genre.