Cry Wolf [+leggi anche:
intervista: Jesper Ganslandt
scheda series], an elaborate Swedish miniseries based on Hans Rosenfeldt’s crime novel Vargasommar (lit. “Wolf Summer”), has world-premiered at the 35th Stockholm International Film Festival. Presented in the festival’s freshly launched series section, this and four other entries are being given some big-screen exposure before moving on to the streaming services. Such initiatives are welcome, at least when the result looks as striking as it does here, thanks chiefly to the geographical setting, way up north in Haparanda, literally by the Swedish-Finnish border. This is Arctic Circle Nordic noir under the midnight sun, with a touch of almost gothic ambience thrown in for good measure.

The adaptation involves an illustrious variety of northern talent on both sides of the camera, notwithstanding originator Rosenfeldt himself, the celebrated creator of The Bridge and Marcella. Leading the cast is Eva Melander (Border [+leggi anche:
recensione
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intervista: Ali Abbasi
scheda film], Flocking [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Beata Gårdeler
scheda film]) as Haparanda crime investigator Hannah Wester, who comes across a badly ravaged corpse, voraciously feasted on by wolves. Meanwhile, yet another corpse is discovered, this time by hapless ex-con Kenneth (Amed Bozan from Caliphate [+leggi anche:
intervista: Gizem Erdogan
scheda series]) and his prison-guard girlfriend Sandra (Nora Bredefeldt from Beartown), together with a very large duffel bag, chock-full of thick stacks of euro bills. The couple decide to help themselves, and also grab another equally loaded bag, this one with drugs. Still meanwhile, a mysterious character with a gunshot wound turns up (Eliot Sumner from Ripley), who, after being tended to by a friendly woodcutter, promptly kills him off. Clearly on the lookout for some missing duffel bags, this one’s a particularly nasty piece of work. Casting a further giant shadow on things is the personal tragedy of Hannah and her husband Thomas (Henrik Dorsin from Triangle of Sadness [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Ruben Östlund
intervista: Ruben Östlund
scheda film]), whose daughter Elin disappeared 19 years ago at the age of four, without a trace to this day. In no uncertain terms, these people have their work cut out for them for some time to come. Should they stay alive, that is.

Director Jesper Ganslandt (Falkenberg Farewell [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], The Ape [+leggi anche:
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scheda film], 438 Days [+leggi anche:
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scheda film]) and scriptwriter Oskar Söderlund (Greyzone), both recently collaborating on Snabba Cash [+leggi anche:
intervista: Evin Ahmad
scheda series], have conspicuously added some Coen brothers DNA into the mix. Playing around with the universe of Fargo and No Country for Old Men does indeed sit well with the moods and temperaments of the region and its people at hand, and Eliot Sumner certainly gives Javier Bardem a run for his money. Add to this a dark, deadpan humour that is skilfully handled right down to the supporting parts, all ably handpicked by Ruben Östlund’s regular casting director Pauline Hansson together with Eija Skarsgård (yet another Stellan offspring). Cinematographer Jallo Faber (Gentlemen [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], Troll) captures the unique light and turns Haparanda into a character in its own right. Author Rosenfeldt is said to currently be writing a sequel, which more or less demands to be shot one day soon.

Cry Wolf is a Swedish production staged by TV4 Drama and Nordic Drama Queens, and co-produced by ZDF, Filmpool Nord and Fifth Season (which also handles the international sales).