Sebastian Bergman - Traces of Death I - DVD

Content: The Sebastian Bergman novels by Michael Hjorth and Hans Rosenfeldt are top-notch Swedish crime thriller fare, with exciting stories, a gritty underlying atmosphere and a very layered hero. And that, of course, makes them perfect for a film adaptation. And since the two authors also earn their living by writing screenplays, the decision was obvious that they would adapt their novels for television themselves. The first two film adaptations are now available in the double DVD Sebastian Bergman - Traces of Death.

The makers have landed a special coup by casting Wallander actor Rolf Lassgård in the leading role. The accomplished mime, equally at home in cinema and TV as he is on the theatre stage, is absolutely perfect for the role of the profiler who has been broken since the death of his wife and daughter. Bergman is always somehow on the border between genius and madness, between engaging charm and dark abysses. Such a role demands an intense performance, which Lassgård delivers with bravura.

Although Bergman is not necessarily the most sympathetic character, as his demeanor, often defined by cynicism and apparent hubris, makes him seem more like a self-absorbed puke and less like an empathetic investigator, Lassgård also manages to show the audience the human being behind this facade, thus raising his sympathy value significantly.

The exciting scripts and the excellent lead actor, supported by a consistently convincing ensemble, make these first two Sebastian Bergman films absolutely crime fare worth watching. But there are also some aspects that tarnish this positive impression a bit. For example, the unsteady camera work and the music, which is very intrusive in its elegiac way, can be quite exhausting at times. Especially in the first half of The Man Who Wasn't a Murderer these stylistic features become very unpleasantly noticeable. You first have to get used to that, in order to be able to let yourself be completely taken in by the story and the gloomy atmosphere. Only when this has been achieved, the until then rather hidden strengths can fully assert themselves.

Then, however, Sebastian Bergman - Traces of Death turns out to be haunting thriller fare, where lovers of Nordic suspense will get their money's worth. And this is what the two films are about:

DVD 1: The Man Who Wasn't a Murderer

In the first episode, "Death of a Student," Sebastian Bergman once again faces his own past. Sebastian Bergman, in his early 50s, Sweden's most distinguished police psychologist, sets off two weeks late for his mother's grave in Västerås. He knows that inheritance matters must be settled.

As a 17-year-old, he had left his strictly religious home to study at university for a high degree and then embark on a career as a criminal psychologist, first at the university, then with the police. He even spent two years with the FBI. Meeting a Cologne psychologist, Lily, changes his personal life: A commitment-phobic womanizer becomes a family man who sincerely loves his newborn daughter Sabine and his wife. But shortly afterwards they both die in the December 2004 tsunami in Thailand. Sebastian Bergman is a broken man. In the years that follow, he is not really able to work, nor does he see any meaning in his life.

In this state, he travels to Västerås. He hears that a 15-year-old boy has been brutally murdered there. The police investigation is led by Torkel Höglund, an old colleague of Bergman's. Torkel knows how talented Sebastian is and takes him on his team for this case. Sebastian throws himself into the case. He hasn't lost his skills yet, gets to the heart of unwelcome truths, and makes no friends on Torkel's team, which includes young Vanja.

At home, Sebastian finds a stack of letters. Letters addressed to his mother, in which one Karin Andersson claims to have been pregnant by Sebastian. Since he was in the US at the time and unreachable by his parents, he never found out. Sebastian can't believe he's going to be a father again. And now he has two cases to solve at once. First, he brilliantly solves the complicated murder case, which has several teenage and adult suspects from around the boy's school.

Then Sebastian finds out where Karin Andersson lives and meets with her. She firmly rejects any interference on his part. She doesn't want her daughter to know anything about paternity. When Sebastian leaves again, he meets Vanja in the stairwell - and he knows she is his daughter. (Text: ZDF)

DVD 2: The Women He Knew

In his second case, Sebastian Bergman investigates a series of brutal murders of women reminiscent of previous perpetrator Edward Hinde and his modus operandi. At the time, Sebastian's profiling work had ensured that Edward was put behind bars. Since he is still there, he could not have committed the murders. So it has to be a copycat killer. Sebastian convinces Torkel to let him see the records.

Shocked, Sebastian realizes that all the murdered women were former girlfriends of his. The killer seems to have a clear goal: Revenge against Sebastian Bergman.

Edward manages to turn one of the prison guards into his willing instrument. Edward also knows the connection between Sebastian and his daughter Vanja. Vanja is to be his final victim. Edward manages to escape from the prison, and he kidnaps Vanja. Sebastian must use all his psychological intuition to empathize with Edward and find him and Vanja before it is too late. (Text: ZDF)

Picture + Sound: In the bright scenes, the picture has a very high degree of sharpness. If there comes to obvious blurring here, these are to be regarded as a deliberately used stylistic device. The atmospheric colouring also leaves a consistently positive impression. Small flaws are only noticeable in the darker scenes, when here and there slight image trickling becomes noticeable. The sound is rather restrained, as the action is determined less by action-packed surround effects than by the quiet music and the rather centrally mixed dialogue. Good!

Extras: Unfortunately, the DVD has no bonus material to offer.

Conclusion:Sebastian Bergman - Traces of Death is an exciting and very well-acted adaptation of the novels by Michael Hjorth and Hans Rosenfeldt. Especially the play of Wallander actor Rolf Lassgård leaves a lasting impression. However, the often unnecessarily unsteady camera and the music used too dominantly in some scenes paired with the rather worn narrative pace also make the two films somewhat exhausting, which is why this double DVD can really only be recommended to those fans of Nordic crime fare who are open to a production that at times almost borders on the unadapted Dogma style.

Source: SEbastian Betzold / synopsis: ZDF