The Man Who Smiled (10 Oct. 2010)

Lawyer Sten Tostensson tells Wallander he believes his old father's death in a car crash was homicide but Wallander is reluctant to act until Sten is found hanged and the pathologist claims... See full summary »

Director:

Andy Wilson

Writers:

Simon Donald, Richard Cottan,

Stars:

Roland Hedlund, David Sibley, Kenneth Branagh

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Roland Hedlund	...	Gustaf Torstensson
David Sibley	...	Sten Torstensson
Kenneth Branagh	...	Kurt Wallander
Sally Hurst	...	Anna
Sadie Shimmin	...	Lisa Holgersson
Angela Thorne	...	Berta Duner
Tom Hiddleston	...	Magnus Martinsson
Sarah Smart	...	Anne-Britt Hoglund
Richard McCabe	...	Nyberg
Vincent Regan	...	Anders Ekman
Kimmo Rajala	...	Sjølander
Rupert Graves	...	Alfred Harderberg
Sandra Voe	...	Betty Laurensson
John Rogan	...	Hans Laurensson
David Warner	...	Povel Wallander

Storyline

Lawyer Sten Tostensson tells Wallander he believes his old father's death in a car crash was homicide but Wallander is reluctant to act until Sten is found hanged and the pathologist claims that he was murdered. Sten's secretary shows Wallander a postcard of Africa with a text threatening the lives of father and son and wealthy philanthropist Harderberg, a client of Sten's, admits to also having received one.All were posted from the same hotel,apparently by industrialist Jurgen Nordfeldt, who survives an attempt to kill him. Nordfeldt had stumbled on a racket importing body parts from Africa which Wallander, helped by ex-cop Anders,now Harderberg's security guard, must resolve.

---

Genres:

Crime | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

UK USA Sweden Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 October 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Left Bank Pictures, Yellow Bird Films, TKBC

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

User Reviews

relentlessly depressing

Kurt Wallender (Kenneth Branagh) tackles the case of "The Man Who Smiled" in this entry into the series. After killing a man in the line of duty, Wallender quits the force for a time, during which he is approached by a friend who needs his help. He is convinced that his elderly father was murdered and did not die as the result of a car accident. Wallender says that he is unable to help. Then his friend is found dead as well. Both father and son had received threatening postcards. Though someone else has been assigned to the case, Wallender feels it is his duty to investigate. Father and son had involvement in the foundation of a wealthy man, and Wallender is led there to see what he can find out. What he learns is shattering and leads to a violent conclusion.

This is a very intense story, very dark - if possible, it's even darker and more intense than the episode that precedes it, in which Wallender quits the force. Unshaven and rumpled, Wallender trudges through this case with a world's worth of guilt on his shoulders.

This is in no way to put down the excellent performances or story. However, sometimes gritty programs like this are not to everyone's taste, and they're certainly not for people looking to be cheered up! Branagh is fantastic as an unhappy man whose temperament seems too sensitive for his line of work.