Scandinavian crime has been having somewhat of a renaissance in recent years, with novelists such as Jo Nesbø, Arnaldur Indriðason and Liza Marklund, and TV shows such as The Killing and Wallander grabbing the attention of audiences across the globe. The latest crime series to hit Australian screens is something of a double threat, The Bridge, a Danish/Swedish co-production.
The series begins with an ominous blackout over the bridge adjoining Denmark and Sweden. When the light returns it reveals the body of a prominent Swedish politician, sitting cleanly across the official international borderline. The symbolic gesture is merely the first in a series of murderous political proclamations attesting that there’s something rotten in the states of Denmark and Sweden. Specifically, the killer wants to draw attention to five ‘truths’, beginning with the statement that ‘we are not all equal before the law’.
The crossover in jurisdiction quickly forces some improvised international cooperation between the neighbouring nations’ police forces. At the nucleus of said cooperation is the improvised partnership between Danish detective Martin Rohde (Kim Bodna), a married father of five with old school charm and honesty issues; and Swedish detective Saga Norén (Sofia Helin), a single woman radiating savant-esque vibes. It’s this central relationship that proves to be the heart and soul of the show, despite some heavy handed moments in the drawing of Saga’s character in the early episodes. There’s a genuine consideration in the development of their interaction, and the show steers clear from too many obvious punchlines. It’s more than a simple odd couple pairing; their relationship reveals the shades of grey that make humanity so complicated and drains away the black and white.
The production design has certainly gone above and beyond to reflect this theme, with a fog-like grey washing through every frame like a new age cousin of sepia. There’s an abundance of crisp, urban Scandinavian landscapes inserted throughout which emphasise this discolouration and display the immense skill of the cinematographers. However, sometimes it feels a little over zealous, and it would have been nice to have some richer tones here and there. Both the acting and the direction are strong, and in moments, more than a little impressive. It’s certainly a great example of knowing how to be fancy within the parameters of the subject matter at hand, something that can often be lost among the showier directors.
As with the best of the genre, in The Bridge not everything is as it seems. The apparent social statements of the killer dubbed TT, the ‘truth terrorist’, are not as broad as they first appear. However, like any good TV program, it’s about the journey and not the destination. Much of the plot is of the vintage maniacal-madman-who-is-always-ten-steps-ahead fare, but textured enough to keep everybody focussed for the ride ahead. It never bodes well to think too deeply about the practicality of TT’s seemingly impenetrable plan; it would spoil the fun. Regardless, the show possesses more than enough dark curiosities to pull focus for its ten hour length episode duration.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
The Bridge – The Complete Series One
Created by Hans Rosenfeldt
Written by Björn Stein
Staring Sofia Helin, Kim Bodna, Dag Malberg, Christian Hillborg, Ellen Hillingsø and Magnus Krepper
Denmark & Sweden, 2011, 10 x 58 mins
Madman Entertainment
Rated MA
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