Wallander

American viewers are probably most familiar with Henning Mankell's Swedish police inspector from the identically-named 2008 BBC miniseries starring Kenneth Branagh that was recently broadcast on PBS's Mystery. But this set compiles 13 feature-length episodes of the 2009–10 Swedish series starring dour-faced Krister Henriksson in the title role. These are cleverly plotted mysteries, not directly adapted from Mankell's books but rather based on new stories of his that often take very dark turns. While the tales—including “The Revenge,” “The Thief,” “The Priest,” “The Ghost,” and “The Witness”—move rather deliberately, the pacing is of a piece with the sleuth's morose demeanor, beautifully conveyed by Henriksson, while still allowing for the local color to seep into every frame and the expert supporting cast to etch rich portraits of the numerous suspects, as well as Wallander's colleagues on the force. And the plotlines sometimes take on significant contemporary issues such as the fear of terrorism, the exploitation that accompanies illegal immigration, and cross-border drug-running. While the BBC series is excellent, this Swedish import boasts a greater sense of authenticity, and Henriksson's performance is less studied than Branagh's. Extras include a booklet. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek)