Beck (TV Series) Den japanska shungamålningen (2007) User Reviews

Implausible yet Enjoyable Hokum

[l_rawjalaurence · 7/10 · 18 July 2016]

Compared to other episodes of this entertaining detective series, "The Japanese Painting" is full of plot-holes. The criminal mastermind behind the whole operation, Ernst Levendahl (Jan Malmsjö) claims that his mansion is phone-proof, yet Gunvald (Mikael Persbrandt) manages to make a call back to base. And, given that the mansion was supposed to be impregnable, maintained 24/7 by armed guards, Beck (Peter Haber) and his fellow-officers find it extremely easy to get in. Likewise Gunvald, although handcuffed to a water- pipe and beaten by the guards, manages to escape free, beat one of the guards on the back of the head and steal the guard's pistol.

Yet such implausibilities do not really jar in an episode concentrating far more on characterization, especially the relationship between Beck and his long-time German police colleague Hans (Dieter Pfaff). The two of them, it seems, have been acquainted for a long time; and share a mutual fondness for a cappella choral singing. Together with Beck's dipsomaniac neighbor Malte (Philip Zandén), they form an impromptu trio: fueled by copious amounts of calvados, they embark on a rendition of "Danny Boy" (in English). This might be the only popular song they collectively know, but they perform it highly competently at least twice, the last time at the very end of the episode, as the camera moves slowly out of their apartment to focus on a Swedish sunset, the river glittering in the fading light.

Confronted by such unaccustomed matiness, Gunvald reacts in surly fashion to Hans, especially when acting as Hans's chauffeur, ferrying him to Ernst's mansion. It seems that the bond linking Beck with Gunvald has been severed; and Gunvald, for one, resents it. In response Gunvald becomes more and more aggressive in his police procedure; he gets results, but treats everyone with uncharacteristic disdain.

Although a self-contained episode, there are sufficient loose ends to keep us watching the next installment in the series - specifically what happens in Gunvald and Beck's daughter Inger's personal lives.

The Japanese Painting

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 16 July 2016]

In the opening scenes we see an art auction where a woman outbids a German buyer, Hans Sperling, for a Japanese erotic painting. After the auction she joins him in the hotel bar, they start chatting and arrange to meet later so that she can show him some other works he may be interested in. When she doesn't show up he goes to her room and finds her dead. It turns out that he is a German police officer who is also a friend of Becks; he gives Beck a call and soon an investigation underway. When the room is searched it becomes clear that the victim has been laid out to resemble a painting; there is also no sign of a valuable print she claimed to have. As the case progresses it becomes apparent that somebody is producing fake prints in an operation that could be a motive for murder and more bodies are found. As the case approaches its conclusion Hans and Gunvald find themselves in a very dangerous situation.

This was an enjoyable new case for Beck; the art-world setting was interesting even if the killer is eventually shown to be a rather clichéd cultured psychopath. As well as an interesting case there are plenty of amusing moments; most notably when Beck returns home to find Hans and his neighbour drinking his Calvados and singing 'Danny Boy'; this becomes even funnier when the neighbour suggests that they become a group even though it is clear that is the only song they can sing. Some other laughs are provided by Gunvald. As expected the regular cast do a fine job and Dieter Pfaff makes a good addition as Hans. Overall I'd say that fans of the series should enjoy this episode.

These comments are based on watching the episode in Swedish with English subtitles. Given that a major character is German there is also a fair amount of subtitled German and English that is good enough not to require subtitles.