The Fifth Woman (17 Oct. 2010)

Three elderly men, Holger Eriksson, Gosta Runfeldt and Eugen Blomberg, are murdered in seemingly unrelated incidents. The smell of perfume on Runfeldt's suitcase suggests a woman's ... See full summary »

Director:

Aisling Walsh

Writers:

Richard Cottan, Henning Mankell (novel)

Stars:

Claire Cox, Howard Swinson, Kenneth Branagh

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Claire Cox	...	Yvonne
Howard Swinson	...	Holger Eriksson
Kenneth Branagh	...	Kurt Wallander
David Warner	...	Povel Wallander
Polly Hemingway	...	Gertrude
Tom Hiddleston	...	Magnus Martinsson
John-Paul Hurley	...	Sven Tyren (as John Paul Hurley)
Richard McCabe	...	Nyberg
Stefan Karlsson	...	Gosta Runfeldt
Sarah Smart	...	Anne-Britt Hoglund
Saskia Reeves	...	Vanja Andersson
Sadie Shimmin	...	Lisa Holgersson
Ed Hughes	...	Bo Runfeldt (as Edward Hughes)
Jeany Spark	...	Linda Wallander
Phyllis Logan	...	Inga Wallander

Storyline

Three elderly men, Holger Eriksson, Gosta Runfeldt and Eugen Blomberg, are murdered in seemingly unrelated incidents. The smell of perfume on Runfeldt's suitcase suggests a woman's involvement. None are mourned by their families, who regarded them as bullies and womanizers, which shocks Wallander, whose own father has just died. A dedication in a book by Eriksson to a woman called Krista leads to the members of a former self-help group for abused women, attended by Vanja, Runfeldt's ex-lover. Is one of these women the killer?

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK USA Sweden Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Left Bank Pictures, Yellow Bird Films, TKBC

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the first scene with Wallander, he stops his car and the sound of a conventional hand brake is heard. The Volvo V70 II does, however, have an electronic parking brake, which does not make such a sound.

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Connections

References Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

User Reviews

Grim

"Wallander: The Fifth Woman" is perhaps the most depressing among the depressing Wallender episodes I've seen, but it is also the most profound and the most beautifully acted. Wallender (Kenneth Branagh), while coping with problems at home involving his father (David Warner), investigates the gruesome murders of three men who seem unconnected. They were all definitely killed by the same person and died slow, painful deaths. Can Wallender and his cronies find a connection before there's another murder? Kenneth Branagh will break your heart, as will David Warner. As usual, the supporting cast is top-notch.

This series isn't for everyone. It's gritty and the atmosphere tends to be heavy. But the episodes are beautifully produced, and you couldn't ask for a better characterization than Branagh's. I haven't seen anyone else play Wallender; from the fronts of some DVD/VHS boxes, though, it looks as if, with his boyish face, he comes off as younger. I also am guessing that he gives the character more layers.

"The Fifth Woman" is the best I've seen thus far of "Wallender."