Les enquêtes de l'inspecteur Wallander

The other thing is that Kenneth Branagh is an international star, thus his Wallander is more distinguishing and less team player: his colleagues have less importance and less time on screen than in the Swedish version. Branagh's Wallander is also more unsociable and seems more depressed, underlined by long scenes focusing on his face expression under driving or walking. The big plus is that the Brits have tried to create the Swedish atmosphere as much as possible, signs are in Swedish etc. Well, the UK and Sweden have same latitudes, so the filming of Swedish nature was also possible in England.

Nevertheless, if you like Scandinavian crime thrillers (with slower pace, minimum explosions/chases, long nature frames), then the Wallander series is definitely for you. However, the "trinity" series is better to watch in a temporal sequence, they have some references to earlier events.

This is a series of high quality with storyline based on the successful novels of Henning Mankell and on an outstanding actor in the leading role.

Why you MUST see it?

• Incredible character development! Wallander's personality is an open book to the viewer who is in sympathy with him and is able to share their feelings with him as the plot reveals itself. The series manages to depict a great and charming contradiction. Wallander is a compassionate inspector who suffers from the murders he encounters during his investigations. He is inappropriately compassionate for this job yet he does everything for it. Although misery follows his personal life he doesn't lose hope and believes in the goodness of people. This is that gives him the dimension of a hero even though he is presented incredibly ordinary and human who often make mistakes.

• Really good acting from the most of the cast.

• Amazing directing which transfers completely the atmosphere of Sweden. It is really good that BBC decided to film the series in Sweden as it provides ideal landscapes for photography and directing and greatly matches with the melancholic personality of Wallander and with the original script of course.

• Solid script that follows consistently enough Mankell's novels.

If you prefer a series that is based on quality and not visual effects you should definitely go for it.

Other reviewers have already praised this series adequately. I only want to add that this series renewed my interest in seeing just about every film or TV presentation that Kenneth Branagh has acted in. He's been in some vehicles that weren't terrific, but he is unfailingly a great actor.

When you watch Wallander, and you see his eyes begin to well up with tears, or you see him struggling to get an answer to come out of his mouth, you really do forget you are watching an ACTOR. Branagh literally becomes Wallander and you think Wallander is a real person. It is partly the way the character is written, but much of the credit goes to Branagh.

Wallander is a man who struggles with words, so he is the opposite of Branagh, to whom words are golden. You can tell this from Branagh's interviews as well as from his performances. The visuals in the series are stunning, the plots are interesting, but it is Wallander's complex and troubled personality that really forces one to stay with the series. He's so real, so human. Don't miss it.

...Anything really! It has been a while since I bombed into a serie without any fantasy. Its situated in Sweden but they all speak english. Why make a remake in the first place...? I just dont get it. Cop is struggling with his private life. Thats about it...

Detective Kurt Wallander, a man in perpetual need of a shave and a healthy meal is a noir-by-day modern gumshoe fighting for justice. His dedication has cost him. His wife left him after finding out he's already married to his work. His daughter is an earnest and dutiful supporter of the detective, but oblivious to the evil his eyes see daily. Not sure how he's doing it, but Kenneth Branagh OWNS this role and he's *really* appealing as this frayed-at-the-edges public servant. Shot like a mini-series, or a movie for TV, I admit I am impressed with his ability to flex into this role that is so utterly unlike his Shakespeare work. Frankly, he acts circles around the other cast members. A must-see for the mildest Branagh fan and good enough for any mystery/detective story lover. FYI: Disc 1 has two episodes. Disc 2 has one episode and special features that has spoilers if you don't see the other shows first. I was disappointed that I saw the 3rd episode before the first two. I understand there are 3 more episodes ordered for 2010. 07/09