Wallander: Sidetracked (BBC) (2009)

Director:
Philip Martin
Starring:
Kenneth Branagh, Sarah Smart, Tom Hiddleston, David Warner, Richard McCabe, Jeany Spark
Genre:
Nordic Noir / British Crime
Rating:
An exciting BBC adaptation of Mankell.

A farmer alerts the Ystad police to a young girl hiding in his rapeseed field. When Inspector Kurt Wallander tries to reach out to her, the unthinkable happens—she douses herself in gasoline and sets herself on fire. The incident haunts Kurt, but he is immediately thrust into a gruesome investigation.

An exciting BBC adaptation of Henning Mankell's "Sidetracked" with Kenneth Branagh in the lead role.

A serial killer is on the loose, targeting a former minister of justice, an art dealer, and a thief. The victims are killed with the same weapon and then scalped. Is it revenge? What is the connection? This British take on the Swedish icon brings a fresh, unflinching social realism to the screen.

Reviewed by Iva (March 2009)

Editor's Note (2026): It’s fascinating to see Iva’s reaction to the British interpretation of a Swedish institution. Branagh's Wallander is significantly more fragile and vulnerable than Krister Henriksson’s version, giving "Sidetracked" a unique nerve. Seeing a young Tom Hiddleston in the cast list reminds us of the archive's ability to capture stars before they became global phenomena.

The Iva Bring-Johansson Collection Project

Originally produced as a weekly segment for HIT FM Stockholm, these reviews represent a lifetime of cinematic insight. Today, the archive is an evolving digital project, meticulously translating Iva’s original 1979–2021 work into English.

Our mission is to preserve this legacy while expanding our focus on Nordic Noir and Scandinavian Cinema. Stay tuned as we expand our reach into the shadows of the North.