Varg Veum: Drawing on the wall – Varg Veum – Skriften på veggen (2010)

Directed by: Stefan Faldbakken | 90 minutes | crime | Actors: Trond Espen Seim, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Lene Nystrøm, Martine Johansen, Petronella Barker, Bjørn Floberg, Eivind Sander, Tobias Santelmann

Detectives are hot again since the huge success of the ‘Millennium’ and ‘The Killing’ series. Well, even before that, but the genre always had a bit of a dusty image. Television series like ‘Derrick’ weren’t exactly hip right now. Since ‘Millennium’, following sleuthing cops is again something that you as a trendy TV viewer do not have to be ashamed of. Scandinavian detectives in particular benefit from this hype. ‘Varg Veum’ is benefiting from the renewed interest.

Varg Veum – it sounds like the name of a Scandinavian black metal band, but it isn’t – is a creation of the Norwegian writer Gunnar Staalesen. The first book about this antihero was published in 1977. The first film about the character appeared exactly thirty years later. Veum’s popularity is steadily increasing and the books have already been translated into Dutch, English, Swedish, Danish and German.

Veum is a gruff private detective who lives in Bergen, Norway. In ‘Drawing on the Wall’ – as the film discussed here is called – the detective has decided to choose a different profession. Sick of the violence, Veum has chosen to earn a living as a teacher from now on. His peaceful existence is turned upside down when his old enemy ‘The Knife’ is released from prison. This villain has been put behind bars because of him and he doesn’t like it. ‘The Knife’ wants revenge. Veum is forced to act as a detective again. A heavy-handed confrontation with his past ensues.

What makes this series of books – and now also the series of (television) films – so special? First of all, the dark tone. When you think of Norway, you quickly think of desolate plains, icy cold and a gloomy climate. Bergen has beautiful nature, but also exudes a feeling of melancholy. The setting is already attractive. The fierce storylines that never romanticize violence and crime give ‘Varg Veum’ a face of its own. The main character lives in a dark world. A world very similar to ours. The strength of the films, however, is the design of Veum itself. The detective is not a hero, but a flesh and blood man. A man with a past. He is not infallible and his shortcomings make him human. Norwegian actor Trond Espen Seim portrays him as a somewhat grubby figure with a distant appearance. Yet he manages to turn this antihero into an approachable character.

Espen Seim portrays his character in a great way. Detectives are often infallible types. Think of Derrick and Baantjer solving countless murders on their dead field. Veum is not. He has to work hard to solve the mysteries. He also struggles with everyday life. Life is not easy and Veum knows it. Sounds logical, but how many times have you heard Derrick or Baantjer talk about their problems? Hardly any and that makes them a lot less appealing. Veum is human, Derrick and Baantjer are not. They are types. What also makes ‘Drawing on the Wall’ so compelling is the beautiful nature in Bergen and the strong soundtrack. You are right into the story. The layering of the characters is also pleasant to look at. Here we work in shades of gray. There are no black and white characters. So realistic.