Kenneth Branagh returns as Swedish police detective Kurt Wallander—the most depressed investigator on TV—in the third BBC series of feature-length mysteries based on the novels of Henning Mankell. Perpetually gloomy and grim Wallander is unable to shake the shadows of the job when he's home—understandable, given what he's up against. In “An Event in Autumn,” Wallander finds the connection between two murdered girls (including one whose remains he discovers in his own garden!) and witnesses a partner's brutal assault. The experience shuts him off so completely that he literally flees from all romantic possibilities with his incredibly patient girlfriend, Vanja (Saskia Reeves). “The Dogs of Riga” takes him to Latvia, where things apparently haven't changed much since the fall of communism and signs of torture provide clues to a couple of horrific killings. “Before the Frost” has Wallander searching for a missing friend of his daughter, Linda (Jeany Spark), with whom he has a difficult relationship. Branagh is restrained yet evocative as the career cop who's close to burnout from the corruption and cruelty he's seen and the toll it's taken on his personal life—but still is roused to seek justice. Compiling three episodes originally aired in the U.S. in 2012 on PBS, this dark and gripping series—shot on location in Sweden—is recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Wallander 3
BBC, 2 discs, 268 min., not rated, DVD: $34.98 December 3, 2012
Wallander 3
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: