Creator: Henning Mankell
Starring: Krister Henriksson, Charlotta Jonsson, Leonard Terfelt,
Running Time: 540 minutes
Certificate: 15
The most famous of Swedish detectives returns for a further 6 feature length episodes in Wallander Collected Films 27-32 The Final Season. That’s a lengthy title for a lengthy package. Fans of Wallander will be drawn to the final exploits of the hero who had a Kenneth Branagh makeover in 2008, and rightfully so.
This set offers up 6 90 minute episodes that kind of supply us with a sense of finality to proceedings. Wallander (Henriksson) continues to battle drink and his attitude, but this time the aging detective, now in his 60s, also displays signs of dementia beginning to set in. Those familiar with the character will find these additions to be conclusive and also upsetting, but they don’t always play well into the crime portrayed in each film/episode.
At its core, Wallander is still your generic detective thriller. New crimes come along and are usually wrapped up within the allotted time. Many of Wallander’s attributes have been seen elsewhere with other characters, so enjoyment will all depend on how well audiences connect with the protagonist. One of the issues here is that Wallander is far more interesting than the cases he undertakes, which means the mystery aspects are more of a distraction to a character piece that gradually unravels.
Beautifully shot, or maybe that’s because Sweden is just beautiful, the professionalism behind this collection allows for a wonderful treat for the eyes. Even if you fail to be grabbed by individual cases, you may very well be entranced by the looks. Political statements are prevalent here, which may have more resonance with Swedish viewers, but they do not swamp the narrative to the point that it becomes inaccessible. A decent send off which is probably more appropriate for long term fans.
[usr=3]Wallander Collected Films 27-32 The Final Series is released on DVD on 23rd June.
