“The
brilliant but sensitive detective
Inspector Kurt Wallander returns to
DVD for series two of the BAFTA-winning Wallander, with three exciting new
feature-length investigations to vex
this dedicated policeman who will leave
no stone unturned...”
NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE AWARD-WINNING Wallander has proved to be a compelling
series. Not only is it well-written and perfectly-cast but it has the mega-talented
Kenneth Branagh, who just cannot put a foot wrong.
The series is based on the best-selling books by Henning Mankell about a Volvo-driving
Detective Inspector who takes each murder case so personally that he will even
put his health and his family life at risk in his endeavour to discover the
truth.
In Faceless Killers, an elderly man, Johannes Lovegren (Rune Bergman),
is brutally murdered and his wife Maria (Karin Bertling) is beaten and left
to die with a noose around her neck. When Wallander arrives at the scene, he
is in time to catch her last words but he cannot be sure if he has heard correctly.
Unfortunately, the word is out and suspicion falls on the local migrant community.
And there is somebody out there who wants to see justice done. As another murder
is committed and the migrant community is targeted, Wallander finds himself
in the middle of a very confusing and difficult case.
Furthermore, he has just met Jamal (Arsher Ali), the new boyfriend of his daughter
Linda (Jeany Spark), who is a doctor from a Syrian background and Wallander
has to face his own prejudices. Then, as the murder investigations intensify,
Gertrude (Polly Hemingway) calls Wallander with concerns about his father, Povel
(David Warner), who has dementia.
Why were Maria and Johannes murdered? Was it a robbery gone wrong? Or did Johannes
have a secret life unknown even to his daughter Hanna (Joanne Howarth)? Wallander
will not rest until he finds out — even if he has to put his family problems
on the back burner.
The Man Who Smiled sees Wallander changing his mind about quitting the
police force when old friend Sten Torstensson (David Sibley), a solicitor, approaches
him following the death of his father Gustaf (Roland Hedlund). Gustaf has been
killed at the wheel of his car, apparently driving too fast and spinning off
the road. But he had been a careful driver and the ignition key was suspiciously
found on the floor of his car.
Then Sten is found dead, and as Wallander gets further involved in the case,
his investigations lead him to Farnholm Castle and the philanthropist Alfred
Harderberg (Rupert Graves) — who may not be the innocent charity benefactor
he appears to be.
A series of savage murders, including a birdwatcher who is impaled on bamboo
spikes and a local shopkeeper who is starved and then strangled, is the theme
of The Fifth Woman. The only connection between the men is that they
were violent and unlikeable and the killer made sure they suffered. Can Wallander
stop the killer from striking again?
A popular series, Wallander is exciting, raw and believable. The music, and
especially the theme song, is great. The series is by Left Bank Pictures and
Yellow Bird (a part of the Zodiak Television Group), with Kenneth Branagh's
production company, TKBC for the BBC and co-produced by Degeto and WGBH Boston,
Film I Skåne and TV4. Wallander is made with support from Region of Skåne, City
of Ystad and Ystad-Österlen Film Fond, Sweden.
• Wallander Series Two is released
on DVD by BBC DVD on 8 February 2010. RRP: £24.99 | Catalogue Number: BBCDVD3052
| Format: 3 x 90 Minutes | Extras: Wallander Country: Documentary, Being Kurt
Wallander Featurette.
"Wallander is exciting, raw and believable" — Maggie Woods, MotorBar
“The
brilliant but sensitive detective