The Bridge/Broen/Bron

Posted by: Kevin-W on 06 January 2014

So, is anyone watching it? And what do you think?

 

Just watched the first two eps, after missing it on Saturday.

 

I have to say it is utterly magnificent.

 

The first two episodes were faultless. First of all, there are the two leads, Saga and Martin, from opposite sides of the Øresund Bridge, and opposite sides of the emotional spectrum. But their relationship is deeply touching, and very real. Kim Bodnia and Sofia Helin are just brilliant. And Saga's constant looks of puzzlement are wonderful.

 

Then there's the way it looks - magnificently gloomy, with gorgeous muted photography and some wonderful compositions (many involving the bridge itself).

 

There's also humour, mostly involving Saga's emotional coldness and social ineptitude, and her blundering efforts to be "normal" (the forced laughs, immersing herself in textbooks on relationships). I loved the scene where, just after being introduced to some new colleagues, she blithely sniffs her armpits, strolls over to her desk, strips off to her bra and replaces her top with an identical one.

 

And of course there's the plotting, which is full of tension and will doubtless  contain more twists and turns than an Alpine roadway: there are are lot of herrings in the Baltic, and round the Øresund Bridge, most of them are going to be red. You just know that the aptly-named eco-terrorist Mads isn't going to be the real villain, and will probably meet a grisly end by episode five. You just can't second-guess this series. Great score as well.

 

And finally, there's super Saga, who has to be one of the great fictional characters of the past 20 years.

 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, TV is where it's at. Cinema, regretfully, is now an infantile medium largely dying on its arse, thanks to a surfeit of elves, superheroes and CGI trickery, and the pre-eminence of hack directors like Jackson and Cameron. But The Bridge, and Borgen and Madmen... Welles, Dreyer, Renoir and Michael Powell would be proud...

 

I for one cannot wait for next Saturday.

 

 

 

 

Posted on: 20 January 2014 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by J.N.:

Saga Noren is a deliciously developed character - not falling into the well worn footholds of the oh so familiar 'maverick' British or American cop character.

 

The Martin Rohde character balances her beautifully. The Odd Couple - and it works.

 

I also like the fact that it's filmed in desaturated colour. This 'half-way to monochrome' effect somehow makes it more real and believable.

 

Quality crime drama for sure. Lovin' it.

 

John.

 

 

 

 

The accentuated muddy greens - trousers, Porsche, police HQ interiors etc is a beautifully subtle touch, nicely offset by the stark whites of the modern houses occupied by 'suspects'......G

Posted on: 20 January 2014 by Blueknowz

Plenty of theories on Digital Spy forum http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk...highlight=the+bridge

Posted on: 20 January 2014 by Kevin-W

I've just watched episodes 5 and 6. It really is extraordinarily good - faultless in every way.

 

Loved how we got a brief glimpse into Saga's soul - she's not the automaton she first appears. And didn't she handle herself well in that fight?

 

 

Posted on: 26 January 2014 by ewemon
Originally Posted by GraemeH:

None of them a patch on 'Taggart' though.........

 

G

"Theres been a murrrrrrder in Marrrryhill"

Posted on: 26 January 2014 by ewemon
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:

I've just watched episodes 5 and 6. It really is extraordinarily good - faultless in every way.

 

Loved how we got a brief glimpse into Saga's soul - she's not the automaton she first appears. And didn't she handle herself well in that fight?

 

 

Wonderful stuff. But isn't that porsche the most putrid colour you have ever seen in fact it suits Saga's character to a tee.

Posted on: 27 January 2014 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by ewemon:
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:

I've just watched episodes 5 and 6. It really is extraordinarily good - faultless in every way.

 

Loved how we got a brief glimpse into Saga's soul - she's not the automaton she first appears. And didn't she handle herself well in that fight?

 

 

Wonderful stuff. But isn't that porsche the most putrid colour you have ever seen in fact it suits Saga's character to a tee.

Just the Porsche? Everything is that colour!

 

Isn't the brother a nice guy......

 

G

Posted on: 27 January 2014 by beginner
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Originally Posted by ewemon:
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:

I've just watched episodes 5 and 6. It really is extraordinarily good - faultless in every way.

 

Loved how we got a brief glimpse into Saga's soul - she's not the automaton she first appears. And didn't she handle herself well in that fight?

 

 

Wonderful stuff. But isn't that porsche the most putrid colour you have ever seen in fact it suits Saga's character to a tee.

Just the Porsche? Everything is that colour!

 

Isn't the brother a nice guy......

 

 Ever since the killing I can get enough of Danish/foreign tv, The Bridge along with Borgen are great pieces of television, but i would also like to throw spiral into the mix, superb French series, and well done to BBC 4

Posted on: 29 January 2014 by GraemeH

Watching a 'Midsommer Murder' last night (I know, I know...but we're all down with a horrible cold) and Barnaby was gently quizzing a semi-concious victim to ascertain a possible perpetrator, and it crossed my mind how amusing it would be if he started slapping the hell out of her to get a response.

 

Go Saga!

 

G

Posted on: 31 January 2014 by JonR

A massive thumbs-up from me too for the great scandi-crime dramas I have been fortunate to watch of late, Forbrydelsen, Borgen and now, of course Broen - did anyone see the interview with Sofia Helin and Kim Bodnia on BBC Breakfast yesterday morning btw?

 

One thing I didn't quite get about episode 8 - why didn't he kill Laura Moellberg?

 

Also looking forward to Belgian serial "Salamander" which starts 8th Feb.

Posted on: 31 January 2014 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by JonR:

did anyone see the interview with Sofia Helin and Kim Bodnia on BBC Breakfast yesterday morning btw?

 

 

Also looking forward to Belgian serial "Salamander" which starts 8th Feb.

Just found it on YouTube Jon - what a rotten interview! Susanna Reid is as shallow and hopeless as Sofia Helin is beautiful (and unlike Saga).

Posted on: 31 January 2014 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:
Originally Posted by JonR:

did anyone see the interview with Sofia Helin and Kim Bodnia on BBC Breakfast yesterday morning btw?

 

 

Also looking forward to Belgian serial "Salamander" which starts 8th Feb.

Just found it on YouTube Jon - what a rotten interview! Susanna Reid is as shallow and hopeless as Sofia Helin is beautiful (and unlike Saga).

I wish she'd slapped her......

 

G

Posted on: 31 January 2014 by BigH47

I now know why I don't watch Breakfast TV what a shallow and waste of space interview that was. At least the the 2 leads tried to make something of it. 

Posted on: 31 January 2014 by JRHardee

All I can find on this side of the Atlantic is the American remake, involving a bridge between the US and Mexico. It seems to get good reviews. Has anyone seen both?

Posted on: 31 January 2014 by BigH47

We had a British version of Bridge series1 with the murder in the middle of The Channel Tunnel.

 

Posted on: 31 January 2014 by JRHardee

I've checked out the American version, and it's pretty addicting. The American detective is played by Diane Krueger, who looks kinda bionic anyway. She did the sniff-pits-and-change-shirt routine in the first episode. 

Posted on: 01 February 2014 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by JRHardee:

All I can find on this side of the Atlantic is the American remake, involving a bridge between the US and Mexico. It seems to get good reviews. Has anyone seen both?

I have.

 

The American remake is pretty decent but the Scandi version is infinitely superior, and will always be so,for a number of reasons:

 

  1. Sofia Helin and Kim Bodnia
  2. The relationship between the two leads, which is truly remarkable and the very point of the series
  3. The photography
  4. Saga's sludge-coloured Porsche and dung-coloured leather trousers
  5. The subtitles, which force you to immerse yourself in the story
  6. The ‪Øresund Bridge‬
  7. The score
  8. The plot, which has more twists and turns than Hampton Court Maze and more red herrings than the Baltic.
Posted on: 01 February 2014 by Tony2011
Kevin, unfortunately I haven't been following the series but there is an interesting article in The Independent today that you might like to read. Catch online.
Posted on: 01 February 2014 by Lontano

A fun day at Nordicana today. Dreadfully organised and technical issues galore but once you got used to that it was just a sheer pleasure to listen to Sidse Babett Knudsen chat away about Borgen and the writer Adam Price was fascinating. Pilou Asbaek had a great sense of humour too. Really enjoyable.

 

Then we watched episode 9 of the Bridge - a superb episode. And next up the interview with Sofia and Kim - excellent.

 

And then there was the 911 with Mrs Lontano 

 

Looking forward to a tense finale this evening....

Posted on: 01 February 2014 by Kevin-W

Adrian

 

You LUCKY barsteward. Sounds like a good event.

 

Looking forward to tonight - got the Mikkeller and herrings in, and all phones, computers etc will be switched off at 9pm.

Posted on: 01 February 2014 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by Tony2011:
Kevin, unfortunately I haven't been following the series but there is an interesting article in The Independent today that you might like to read. Catch online.

Cheers for that Tony. A pity that BBC4 hasn't picked up 1864 or The Legacy - I thought they had done. I hope those wankers at Sky don't get them, otherwise nobody will ever get to see them (see Mad Men).

Posted on: 01 February 2014 by Lontano

Some good photos of Nordicana can be found here

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/81148499@N00/sets/72157640383564296/

Posted on: 01 February 2014 by Kevin-W

So, goodbye then, Series Two of The Bridge.

 

You were without doubt the best TV thriller I have ever seen.

Posted on: 01 February 2014 by Lontano

Roll on number 3.....

Posted on: 01 February 2014 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by Lontano:

Roll on number 3.....

God I can't wait.

 

That last episode was brilliant. Just brilliant. And deeply moving - my eyes got a bit moist I can tell you.

 

BTW - that link doesn't work Adrian. Do you mean this one?

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/81148499@N00/

Posted on: 01 February 2014 by Lontano

Yep, that's the link. The Bridge team are appearing again tomorrow if you want to see them. Hopefully it will all be a lot better organised than today. Nordicana have just issued an apology for the shambles. We were OK though, we were close to the stage and got see the two things we went for, others did not.....