VEUM

Great news for mystery lovers! MHZNetworks in the US will be showing a full week of the Norwegian detective series Varg Veum from July 12-16. I think I've seen all the episodes of the series so far, but plan to watch them all again.

For those not familiar with the series, Varg Veum is played wonderfully by actor Trond Espen Seim. Trond plays my favorite type of private detective, and I don't mean just because he's tall, blond and I can imagine him in full Viking gear sailing towards me in a longship. I love Varg Veum because he cares. You see Varg used to be a social worker specializing in children and teenagers. He's now a detective and his world view as a former social worker influences his dealings with criminals and victims alike.

But I also love the fact that Varg, like other fictional detectives from this part of the world, is very human. He doesn't always get the girl, or even pick the right girl. He makes mistakes and pays for them. He lets his emotions influence his actions at the wrong moment.

Varg's sometimes ally, sometimes enemy, sometimes competitor, is police Chief Inspector Hamre played by Bjorn Floberg (see photo above). For me the two men play perfectly off each other because Varg is the idealist and Hamre the realist. As you watch the episodes of the series you get the idea the two really respect each other, though they would never admit it.

One additional plus for the series is Bergen. The second largest city in Norway, Bergen is another character in the series as Varg's home and workplace.

The series is based on the crime novels by Norwegian writer Gunnar Staalesen.

To find out more about Varg Veum, to check out the series schedule on MHZ Networks or buy the DVD's click HERE.

Breaking News-ScreenDaily: Second Varg Veum Series for Distribution in August: Click HERE for full article...

6 July, 2010 | By Jorn Rossing Jensen

The latest film is the first of six new thrillers featuring the Norwegian dectective.

Stefan Faldbakken’s The Writing On The Wall (Skriften På Veggen) will launch the $14.1m (NOK 91m) second series of Varg Veum thrillers when it is released on August 27.

The latest instalment of the franchise, which is based on the best-selling novels by Gunnar Staalesen, follows Veum as he investigates the murder of a judge. Scripted by Thomas Moldestad, it will see Trond Espen Seim (pictured) return in the lead role alongside Bjørn Floberg as his sidekick, Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Lene Nystrøm.

Meanwhile, principal photography begins today (July 6) on Two Black Sheep (Svarte Får) and Suburban Death (Dødens drabanter, both of which are being directed by Stephan Apelgren, of Wallander fame.