Look I am someone who likes high art literature; but in downtime my favourite thing in the entire world is detective fiction. And detective TV programmes. So obviously I was very pleased when they decided to make a TV programme of Wallander. But honestly! It's rubbish! They get a super Shakespearean actor to play my best Scandinavian cop... It doesn't work! Wallander is Swedish! He doesn't look like Kenneth Branagh! To be honest, in my head he looks more like Ken Stott. Well, all the cops look like Ken Stott, don't they?
But also it's just a bad adaptation. I don't like it. It's beautifully shot, and of course Svenska is so gorgeous to look at. But to me the books give a strong sense of Swedish society, which the TV programme utterly fails to do. Anyway, a big thumbs down. but I'm still watching it on I-Player. I'm just not giving it my full attention....
19 comments:
Are you watching the Swedish one on BBC4? You could then get completely Wallandered out.
K
Another thing we have in common, fortunately a less SAD thing. I agree about the Wallander series not being really Swedish. As a non Brit I can say that it "feels" very British to me. I've seen enough British detective series to be somewhat of an expert on that score. ;-) Everytime anything Swedish is mentioned in W it jars with what is in my perception a very British detective series.
BTW I've seen enough Swedish tv series and movies to recognise the true Swedish thing. I mean, I even shop in a well known Swedish shop regularly. :-D
I wonder what Yolanda thought about about Van der Valk?
I will have to check out the Swedish one.
But sometimes detective programmes do travel... after all, I was once on a ferry in arctic Norway (with my grandma) watching a group of tough Norwegian seamen crowded round a tv watching something very dark and broody. It was only when the music came on that I realised it was our very own Midsomer Murders....
I can't read or watch anything by Henning Mankell at this time of year - I need sun - summery upbeat feelings - no SAD - far far too depressing otherwise!
It's a bit violent isn't it? But I agree. It feels more like the bad streets of Bournemouth rather than the shedlike capital of Europe.
Cor the BBC4 actual Swedish one is like 10,000x better
I LOVE IT
I agree that the Swedish (BBC 4) Wallander is better, though there are only two, I think, because the actress who plays Linda committed suicide. But neither has got Ann-Britt right. She should be more tired.
I now want to visit the Swedish seaside.
Glad to find another devotee of detective fiction - is there a link between gardening and detective fiction? I havent watched wallendar - was going to but I havent read the books and then they said there were some graphic scenes in episode one and so I wossed out. I'm not that keen on himself either.
Just discovered a fab russian author - Boris Akunin - whose detective stories are set at the beg of 20th C - lots of confusing russian names but great plots
Colleen, I had got on the internet I liked the actress who does Linda so much... and found out about her suicide. Isn't that sad? But apparently, also according to Wikipedia, there are 13 Wallander episodes. I guess cos there's all those books which Linda isn't in?
patientg - I will buy myself one of those Akunin books on your recommendation! And don''t worry about woosing out on Kenneth Branagh, I thought it was.... a bit weak.... but honestly the Swedish one is good.
THinking about how I can get me some of those Swedish seaside vibes now... a quick trip to Sheerness, anyone?
Ah yes, Van der Valk, that takes me back a bit VP. From what I remember I thought it was very British with a couple of Dutch names thrown in to make it look like it was Dutch.
Patientgardener: there is a British detective series especially for gardeners; Rosemary and Thyme (available on DVD). A bit Midsomerish but with more gardens. ;-)
BTW Emma I've got the anti-SAD lamp too but it doesn't work as well for me as it does for you. I'm glad you are feeling so much better thanks to such a simple thing, really. It must rank high on your best buys ever list. ;-)
As a reader, I feel I have an obligation to finish a book, no matter how bad it is turning out to be. I even finished The Davinci Code, ok?
I think your opinions are justified that despite it's fatal flaw, you will continue to watch the unfaithful TV show out of some similarly irrational loyalty.
Yolanda - oh that's a shame that you don't find the light so helpful. I am sitting in front of mine right now while it is dark outside. Well - it's almost light now - the sun will be up any second and the sky is rosy. I know it is working because if I miss a day i feel crap about two days later. (!)
Weeping sore - I know the feeling. I used to persevere with books whatever. Because I wanted to know the ending. Lately i have taken to just skipping to the end and reading what happens and chucking the book aside if I don't like the way it's going. Life's just too short, these days.
I think Ken Stott should play every detective. I visualise a Stottlike figure as Sicilian detective Salvo Montalbano and Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen.
I've taped the non BBC4 Wallander for when I've finished watching Corrie omnibuses. Is it going to depress me? I'm already double-dosing on the SAD light.
Glad you found the Swedish one better - I watch that one too.
Ken Stott should definitely play every detective (lol).
K
i agree totally about Aurelio Zen. Ken Stott with an Italian accent. I will also be casting Ken as Donna Leon's Commisario Brunetti; and also Fred Vargas's inspector Adamsberg.
poor old Ken. I wonder what it must be like to have "one of those kind of faces", where you are just cast as one particular type of part. There are certain actors you can't imagine getting "baddy" parts no matter how hard they try, and others, like Tom Cruise, who to me seems at best morally ambiguous, who rarely explore the darker parts of their range... it's interesting.
PS arabella i didn't think it was at all depressing - it was really beautiful. And the one I watched was set at Midsomer sorry, Midsummer, so actually there was plenty of light
Oh dear... I hadn't visualised Stott as Brunetti but now I will forever see Stott tramping around Venice with a world weary, hangdog, needs a big cuddle really, expression on his face.
Sorry. Must intervene here. Stott, much as I like him, definitely not Brunetti.
Post a Comment