You think you have enough Scandinavian crime now? You don’t have that, you know.
“Chestnut” (“Chestnut”)
Danish crime drama in six parts
Premieres on Netflix on Wednesday 29th September
Screenplay: Dorte Warnøe Høgh, David Sandreuter and Søren Sveistrup, based on the latter’s novel
Directed by: Casper Barfoed, Mikkel Serop
With: Danica Korsic, Mikel Boe Volsgaard, Eben Dorner, Espen Dalgaard Andersen, David Densek, Leva Forsberg
Finally, Danish Minister of Social Affairs Rosa Hartung (Dorner) is back at work, one year after her daughter Christine was kidnapped and believed to have been murdered. The man who took responsibility for the crime is behind bars.
At the same time, an ugly, mistreated corpse appears. The scene is equipped with a “chestnut man” – a small figure resembling a match made of twigs and acorns. Strange in itself, but really strange that the prints on it belong to the daughter of the Minister of Social Affairs.
It turns out that a serial killer is on the way, and we’ve already learned that the mystery of the crime to be revealed has its roots in the Munn family massacre many years ago, in 1987.
Naya Thulin (Corsic) on the case that does not fit. I just applied to be transferred to a less tense ward of the homicide department. She desperately needs to spend more time with her daughter Lou (Forsberg).
Thulin receives help – not because she asked for it, or even wanted it. hiss (Bo Volsgaard) is on leave from Europol, and initially showed not an iota of interest in the Copenhagen police or the case in question. He and Tholen instantly became opponents. But as in most crime series, antagonists will soon become a pair of radar.
“The Chestnut Man” has absolutely no ambitions to challenge genre conventions. Its task, on the contrary, is to refine and master it. Especially clichés from the latest Scandinavian crime literature are kneaded and pampered with:
Brutal murder and mutilated corpses? Yes really. serial killer? sword. Twisted privacy detectives, struggling with their relationships? naturally. Miserable autumn mood with a lot of rain? yes What do you think. Forests and desolate landscapes? Check. Knit jackets? I am pleased to. at Code, the chestnut man, who is being exploited for all he deserves – yes, beyond all reasonableness? Yes really.
“The Chestnut Man” is based on hard-working TV series creator Søren Sveistrup («the crime») Romanian. The author knows him Joe Nesbo and his Thomas QuickIt delves into the political background and the series’ central theme – gross neglect and absentee mothers – with a seamless routine.
He and the makers of the series are so adept at telling stories, that the tension not only continues, but increases in the final episode, when we know who the culprit is. Thrilling all the way through, “The Chestnut Man” has become the purest action movie yet, with a series of subtle sadistic escalations that will satisfy even the most discerning Nordic Noir fan.
“The Chestnut Man” is exciting, and often exciting, and makes up for the series’ lack of originality and fresh ideas. The ending brings up hostility for a sequel that’s likely to come, and we’ll likely see it too. Arg.
Svestrop’s novel It was in his time (2018) awful in Norway, because his publisher, Gildendal, prepared the earthen cover with a large number fake sixes.
It turns out that none of the Danish newspapers in question rolled six dice for “Kastanjemannen”. Most of them offered the equivalent of rolling four dice in Norway.
The four dice roll fits nicely on the string as well. Strong as such, it has to be said.
“Infuriatingly humble web fan. Writer. Alcohol geek. Passionate explorer. Evil problem solver. Incurable zombie expert.”
