BS: Which Wallander

Subject: BS: Which Wallander
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 07:14 PM

I've seen all of the Swedish Series 1 with Krister Henriksson and thought they were brilliant. I've also watched all the Kenneth Branagh version and although they were good I didn't think they were up to the Swedish ones. What does everybody else think? And has anybody seen the original Swedish version with Rolf Lassgård?

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 12:15 PM

By the way, I haven't read any of the books yet, so I don't know which realisation is closest to the original.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 01:06 PM

According to Wikipedia, only the first episode with Henriksson is from a book, the rest are original stories. There are 13 new Swedish-language episodes with "a more political slant" that will be out on DVD in early 2010.

The Brannagh productions are stories from the books, and another set of three was completed in 2009. They were broadcast in the U.K. last month, apparently. (Yay! Looking forward to more.)

There was another Swedish series produced before the Henriksson series, starring Rolf Lassgård, and covering all 9 novels.

I've not read any of them, but would like to find them.

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 01:14 PM

I wouldn't have a chance to compare the versions, but I liked the Branagh episodes.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 02:47 PM

The first Henrikson episode was "Before the Frost", originally published as a "Linda Wallander" novel, but the newer editions say "a Wallander Novel".

As far as I know, Stefan doesn't appear in any of the Wallander novels, but is the hero of "The Reurn of the Dancing Master"

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: fat B****rd
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 03:11 PM

I've enjoyed both lots up to now. Bleak is beautiful.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 06:15 PM

I have seen both -the Swedish version is darker. Branagh is such a brilliant actor I think I prefer the British version. Its all very Ingmar Bergmann with the stark landscape and a little bit depressing. I have enjoyed it though.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 03:45 AM

Mrs. Fenswoman has read the books and says they're brilliant. To use the vernacular, she's 'well into' Swedish crime-fiction, and reads other series' by other writers. We have all the TV progs recorded, but they're a bit slow and dark for my liking, and I spend most of the time they're on studying the insides of my eyelids. :-)

I prefer reading 'The Living Tradition' and 'Acoustic Guitar' magazine, and listening to Hissyfit CDs. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 05:42 AM

'blush'

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 07:50 AM

Never seen you do that before, Linda! :-)
Hope you're well? Give my best to Hazel please.
J

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 05:35 PM

There's an interview with Henning Mankell in today's Guardian. He helped to cast both Swedish Wallanders, and was pleased how differently the part could be played.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 11:42 AM

Series 2 with Krister Henriksson starts on BBC4 this Saturday at 21:00 - ecstacy.

I've managed to see one of the first Swedish versions - "The White Lioness" in Swedish, English and Afrikaans (at least). I still prefer Krister Henriksson though I'd love to see the other films, and the credits are a bit cheeky on that one - cameo appearance by Nelson Mandela they say, when in fact it's all newsreel! Rolf Lassgård reminds me a bit of a clumsier Branagh.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 07:24 PM

At what age do Swedish cops retire. Kurt claims to be 62 in "The Revenge" (1st of series 2)!

And whatever happened to Linda? My guess is Stefan's death was too much for her, and she's now an ex-cop in another part of Sweden (or the world).

And if only Kurt knew what Svartman was getting up to in the English version.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 07:50 PM

So Kirster Henriksson has gone and we still don't know what happened to Linda! I've heard a rumour about a new Kurt, but the Rolf Lassgård still seems mainly unavailable with English subtitles. Same with both versions of "The Return of the Dancing Master" (featuring Stefan).

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: bubblyrat
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 06:00 AM

I quite liked it with Branagh,as did Karen,but then we both got acclimatised to Henrikkson and the sub-titles, and we now prefer it,to be honest ; seems more true to life,somehow ! God knows how people learn Swedish though -- it doesn't seem to bear any resemblance to anything I know !

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 08:31 AM

Swedish one every time. Krister Henricksson is brilliant in his very own laid back fashion, and as for Lena Endra, wow...sorry Joanna Lumley, I'm fickle.

I did notice that Yellow Bird Productions seems to have a nice product placement agreement with Saab.

Somebody said somewhere that there ought to be a spinoff called "The Chronicles of Svartmann"! I also read that the lady who played Linda unfortunately passed away in sad circumstances, hence (probably) Pontus and Isabelle

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: GUEST,Gloria
Date: 02 Jul 10 - 08:05 PM

I prefer the swedish versions - but havent the last ones been only based on the characters created by Henning Mankell, rather than the novels themselves, of which there are only ten? I liked the earlier swedish interpretations where they played with the relationship between Linda and Wallander, as the novels do. The actress playing Linda killed herself and I thought Mankell wanted to stop the series after that.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 03 Jul 10 - 05:07 AM

The Swedish ones are far better than the British version. Branagh and the rest of the British cast sound unatural when pronouncing names and places and tnose who have to wear Swedish polic uniform look uncomfortable. Krister Henrickson is much closer to the Wallander of the novels than Branagh.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 06:55 PM

It's nice that BBC's started showing the original version with Rolf Lassgård in the title role. Strange to see Cecilia Nilsson (Anja) as somebody completely different in 'Firewall' - IMDB also gives hera part in the Danish version of "The Return of the Dancing Master". Incidentally, I'm just watching 'Reichenbach Falls' by Ian Rankin, and DI Buchan has a couple of Henning Mankell novels on his bookshelf.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 08:51 PM

Three episodes of the Henricksson at movie-mars (DVD), available through amazon.ca.
Also several Branagh.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: bubblyrat
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 05:39 AM

Well, we've now been able to see the Rolf Lassgard interpretation of the role, and I must say that he's rather good,but in a different way to Henrikkson (whom I think is my favourite) ; interesting how one gets about halfway through one of these earlier episodes before realising that one has seen the story presented in a much different way, in the Henrikkson series ...twice in the last week the realisation has dawned on me !!

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 11:58 AM

Most of the Rolf Lassgård stories (six out of nine) have been covered by Branagh. I did notice stories from the books revisited in the Henrikkson series.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 02:24 PM

Darn. My reply didn't post.

I have seen both -the Swedish version is darker.

I've seen only the Branagh version - and that is plenty grim enough. Does the sun never shine, the spring never arrive in Sweden? It is the personification of "The Scream," one country over.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 29 May 11 - 06:32 PM

Seeing she's popped up in Doctor Who, I can't imagine Sarah Smart growing up to be Angela Kovacs.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 06:23 PM

I thought the previous Swedish episodes were dark, but the last series with Krister playing Kurt developing Alzheimer's really outdoes anything that's come previously. The thought struck me that maybe now that Charlotta Jonsson has settled into the part, Mankell might consider writing some more "Linda" stories.

Subject: RE: BS: Which Wallander
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 01:35 PM

Both have their merit
It's a shame the books are so #### boring though
Jim Carroll