Mannen som log (2003) User Reviews

The earliest screen Wallander

[gray4 · 7/10 · 17 December 2010]

After watching the Swedish television series starring Krister Henriksson as Wallander, it takes some considerable adjustment to believe that the bear-like Rolf Lassgard is really playing the same detective. Similar adjustments are needed as the familiar characters from Mankell's great novel and the Swedish TV series appear with different faces.

However, the overall sense of gloom and angst that characterises the Wallander series is maintained throughout this 2003 two-hour adaptation for television (now shown on UK television for the first time). The twists and turns of Mankell's plot contrast the gentle Skane countryside with the violent bombs, mines and shootings.

The plot, familiar not only through Mankell's novel but a recent UK TV adaptation starring Kenneth Branagh is bleak, verging on the gruesome - details omitted to avoid spoilers. But the storyline has been simplified, so that the reasons for Wallander's depression and drinking are omitted and his complicated personal life streamlined to an affair with colleague Maja (excellent acting by Marie Richardson)and a clumsy one-night stand in Stockholm. The result is an absorbing two-hour tale, but lacking some of the intensity of the later and shorter adaptations for television.

Boring

[wdhoke-05915 · 6/10 · 8 November 2020]

Simple plot, extreme events and shallow characters left me checking my watch. When will this end, I wondered?

Wallander more tired and depressed than ever!

[marcus_fredriksson · 9/10 · 26 December 2003]

A very well done drama with the Ystad (Swedish city in the south)policeman Wallander. This time more tired and depressed than ever. Rolf Lassgård proofs once again what a great actor he is.

A old lawyer dies in a tragic car accident. Well thats what it seems to be at first. But the lawyers son thinks its a masked murder. Wallander gets into the case but have problems of his own. Both with the booze and with a love relation with his police colleague Maja (Marie Richardson). And it dont make it better then he makes a big misstake at a official journey to Stockholm.

Soon hell breaks loose and Wallander encounter some ruthless murders that wont stop for nothing to cover up for something very wrong. For all the Wallander/Rolf Lassgård fans out there this is a must! Theres some quite good action scenes in there to.

One funny note is that the in Sweden well known comedian Claes Månsson (Lorry/Yrrol) have a role as a bad guy. Takes some time to get used to but he do a good job. i´ll give it 9/10

A difficult time for Kurt

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 15 December 2010]

Before watching this I had seen later incarnations in the form of Krister Hendrikssen and Kenneth Branagh so it was interesting to see this earlier version starring Rolf Lassgård. He brought something different to the character, being far less angst ridden than Branagh's and more extrovert than that of Hendrikssen. The way the story was told felt similar though... although that might be because this story was reused in the Branagh version.

When we are introduced to Kurt Wallander he is giving a lecture to officers in Stockholm before retiring to his hotel bar where he meets a woman; they get chatting and buy each other drinks. Before long they are in bed together and it is only after they finish having sex that she tells him how much she expects to be paid, as he had no idea she was a prostitute he is understandably not amused. Once back in Ystad he keeps quiet about this embarrassing incident and is soon approached by a friend who believes his father was murdered even though it looks like he died in a car crash, Kurt believes he is imagining things but when his friend is shot he things that there may be reasons for suspicion after all. The father and son were lawyers and suspicion soon falls on a wealthy businessman; the only question is why would he want to commit murder and will Kurt be able to find the evidence before it is to late?

This story had appeared in the Branagh series but there were enough changes to keep me gripped watching this older version. Rolf Lassgård was fine in the role of Wallander and Marie Richardson put in a good performance as his girlfriend Maja. The bad guy as played by Claes Månsson was suitably creepy and when it becomes clear what he is involved in it is quite shocking.