Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Directors: Geir Henning Hopland (Lilyhammer) & Rune Denstad Langlo (North), Cecilie A. Mosli, Via Vision Entertainment.
Cast: Nicolai Cleve Broch, Lena Endre, Ingar Helge Gimle, Elaine Tan.
Fascination with Nordic noir has been overwhelming, with gripping input from Swedish and Danish dramas. Norway’s contribution has been somewhat subdued – until now, that is.
Murder and intrigue is the benchmark as seen in Acquitted, heavily laced with survivalist instincts and bewildered sensuality. It grabs your attention from the opening frame!
Similar to The Bridge and The Killing, this television series is propelled by multi-faceted characters struggling with inner chaos. Along with Scandinavian actors, the stunning Norwegian landscape plays a massive role as the story unfolds about a dark secret that grips a small community.
Screenwriter duo Siv Rajendram Eliassen and Anna Bache-Wiig are the creators behind this Norwegian success (original name Frikjent). With English sub-titles, the 10 episodes play out firstly with the business essentials before the fascinating whodunnit aspects are unhurriedly untangled.
The show follows a successful Norwegian businessman Aksel Nielsen (Broch) living in Kuala Lumpur with wife, Angeline (Tan) and teenage son, Tim (Mathias Romano). The plotline captivates after he returns to his home village of Lifjord to seal a deal to save a financially troubled local energy company – 20 years after he was acquitted of the murder of his then-girlfriend Karine Hansteen.
Aksel was only 18 at the time of the alleged crime, and after spending a year in jail he was acquitted because of a statement from another girl, Tonje (Synnøve Macody Lund).
However, Karine’s mother Eva (Endre) strongly believes that Aksel is guilty. Naturally, when she finds out that he is the one who will save her company, she protests, refusing to be a part of the deal. In fact, it’s her husband, William Hansteen (Gimle) who had first contacted Aksel for help.
In her quest for justice for Karine, Eva gives a strong performance. On the other hand, as the protagonist Aksel, Broch has some flaws. He’s not a clear-cut hero, is vulnerable and has obvious imperfections.
Nonetheless, concentration does not waver as the suspense keeps building and blame keeps shifting to Aksel’s mother (Anne Marit Jacobsen), his brother Erik (Tobias Santelmann) and others. Pinpricks in the fabric of the family, community, business and crime are captivating.
After a convincing start, Acquitted manages to pull off the desirable trick of intrigue, simultaneously delivering a lot of storyline growth, there’s depth and the knowledge that more is yet to come. Can’t wait for Season Two!
