“To Cook a Bear” on Disney+: A Pastor on the Hunt for a Murderer

The poor in the village may have little, the pastor readily admits at his first Sunday service. But they squandered what little they had on evil. The embittered people of northern Sweden initially have little to do with the Puritan in the church, who preaches that one must "awaken from the sleep of sin" or else hell, as a post-earthly abode, is certain. Dirty faces stare blankly, snoring booms from one of the pews – only an old woman in the backbench cries out for forgiveness. A Laplander, a Sami, as the Swedish local policeman Brahe (Magnus Krepper) reveals to the churchman with some condescension.

The brow of priest Lars (Gustaf Skarsgård), whose foster son Jussi (Emil Karlsen) is also Sami, wrinkles in disapproval. Yet he enjoys the place the diocese has sent him and his family to – he hikes with Jussi out into the wild landscape and teaches him – in addition to God's Word and rules – science to understand the Creator's work, the life of plants, the secrets of nature: "Use your eyes, Jussi!"

And this keen power of observation soon comes in handy. They come across a crime scene. The Sami maid Hilda has disappeared, and her people quickly trust the man of God, more than Brahe, who was already drunk that evening. Lars questions Jussi in the forest about his impressions and conclusions. In the shadows of the trees, the two look like Sherlock and Watson. Prints in the moss reveal that Hilda has run away from something. A torn deer is found the next day; a "murderous bear" is on the loose, the doctor whispers to the sawmill owner Sjödahl (Pernilla August).

"This must be resolved quickly," the richest woman demands of the village dignitaries. And the best thing would be for the anti-joy pastor to disappear immediately. He's disrupting village culture, he's making people think. Madame Sjödahl declares her war.

Prohibition would be ill-advised for their business. And "Cognac and brandy are Satan's piss," rants the priest, who then allocates future collection money to the poor, like Hilda's widowed mother. When confronted by the painter Beronius (Simon J. Berger), who excitedly imagines the bear tearing the maid to pieces as a motif, he suggests a man as a possible perpetrator. The artist immediately fantasizes about Sami legends, according to which people can transform into bears.

Lars pulls Hilda's body out of the swamp at the end of the first of six episodes. He suspects rape and murder and remains persistent. A bear is shot. Case closed. Only the marks don't match the wounds on Hilda's body. Policeman Brahe, who sees his competence questioned, becomes Lars's bitter enemy. And the next girl disappears. Curtain up for a thrilling whodunnit.

The barren community in northern Sweden, Norrland, on the edge of civilization, is impressively and meticulously portrayed by writer Jesper Harrie and director Trygve Allister Diesen. Its early industrial power structures, its social upheavals and secrets, its traditions and superstitions are vividly portrayed. The Sami majority population is colonized, Christianized, and discriminated against by the Swedish master race.

A dark world, underscored by the trembling cellos and ethereal female voices of Anne Chmelewsky's score. Aril Wretblad's camera lends the landscape an enchanted look. The film is based on the historical crime novel "How to Cook a Bear" (2020) by author Mikael Niemi ("Popular Music from Vittula") – but the pastor's Sherlock whistle seems silly and contrived. Then again, Lasse and his Watson fascinate Jussi as a pre-forensic forensic scientist: "Use your eyes, Jussi!"

Gustaf Skarsgård, Stellan Skarsgård's second eldest son, who is still well remembered as the mad shipbuilder Floki in the series "Vikings" (2013–2020), convincingly plays the main character, referred to only as "The Pastor" in the credits, in a strong ensemble cast. He portrays a strict, essentially philanthropic charismatic.

This roughly corresponds to what has been handed down about the historical Lars Levi Læstadius (1800–1861). A Protestant clergyman and provost who, with fiery sermons, founded a revival movement in Norrland in the mid-19th century – Læstadianism, which became the largest pietist group in northern Sweden and remains widespread there to this day.

Læstadius studied theology and botany in Uppsala, wrote about the flora of Lapland, and continued his research as a pastor (from 1825). He preached passionately against alcohol abuse, which many Sami used to compensate for their cultural uprooting. However, there is no record of him bringing down a serial killer.

Today he is called the “Apostle of the Seeds.”

“To Cook A Bear”, miniseries, six episodes, by Jesper Harrie based on the novel by Mikael Niemi, directed by Trygve Allister Diesen, with Gustaf Skarsgard, Ane Dahl Torp, Pernilla August, Magnus Krepper, Emil Karlsen, Tyra Wingren, Jaakko Ohtonen (since October 15th on Disney+)