Wallander (Branagh) The Dogs of War

In the Dogs of War Branagh moved towards finding salvation for his trouble soul. This time two murdered men with their faces disfigured by acid are washed ashore in a dingy. In the introduction we had seen a fishing boat approach the dingy and then cast it adrift on the sight of the bodies. The investigation leads to the arrival of a Detective from Riga in Latvia who appears to be keeping info from Wallander. He stays at the home of Kurt for a hard drinking session at which they share something of how the job they do affects their relationships and their ability to communicate. Wallander presents the detective with a book about Sweden and the man leaves before Kurt awakes the next day.

Following the stealing of the dingy that had contained the bodies the man had revealed he had been investigating a drug ring but also suggesting he was under threat and the involvement of his superiors, indicating high level corruption.

When he learns that the detective has been murdered he travels to Riga and is met by two senior offices from the local station who take him to the funeral and introduce Kurt to the widow. They appear to suspect the widow of being involved with the death of her husband because of a relationship with a journalist investigating the drug gang and the issue of corruption. The journalist is framed for the murder and is then found hanged in his cell. Kurt who had developed a relationship with the widow returns home having been told the case is now closed.

At home he discovers the camera of the detective and this contains a photo copy of the file the detective kept on his investigation. Returning to Riga he and the widow join forces and they are soon under attack from the gang and their police contact. He is forced to hand over the evidence to obtain the release of the captured widow. With her help in then breaks into the police station and locates where the original file was kept hidden.

The issue is which of the two senior police officers is the guilty man? Only at the last minute does Kurt realises he has suspected the wrong man but fortunately the is on hand and the guilty are apprehended. Kurt returns home, the relationship with the widow having developed but neither prepared to invest in something more substantial. The relationship has possessed healing aspects for both of them