Wallander

American viewers may not be familiar with Kurt Wallander, the Swedish sleuth created by novelist Henning Mankell and featured in several bestselling mysteries over the past two decades. But this 2008 BBC miniseries, newly released on DVD, could make him some new fans in the U.S. Kenneth Branagh plays the brooding, workaholic detective in three well-crafted police procedurals running 90 minutes each. All three are essentially murder mysteries, but in addition to baffling puzzles they also offer layered subtleties and finely wrought character studies that add depth and texture to the whodunits. In “Sidetracked,” the best of the trio, Wallander trails a serial killer whose victims are wealthy arts patrons with shady pasts. “Firewall,” which primarily concerns murders linked to a proprietary computer system, delves into Wallander's character with considerable detail, while “One Step Behind” adds another personal dimension when Wallander investigates the startling murder of a cherished colleague. Although the stories are set in Sweden and feature Swedish characters, the actors are mostly Brits. Branagh brings gravitas to the lead role and remains both engaging and believable throughout. DVD extras include separate interviews with Mankell and Branagh (as well as a discussion with both men together), and the behind-the-scenes featurette “The Wallander Look.” Recommended. (E. Hulse)