Series Review: "Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall" (2022).

"A two-part documentary from Erin Lee Carr" comes Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall. This crime documentary series directed by Carr. Accomplished journalist Kim Wall was last seen just prior to interviewing the eccentric entrepreneur Peter Madsen aboard his self-made submarine in Danish waters. Madsen changes his story multiple times during the course of a police investigation that ultimately uncovers the truth: Wall was murdered on the submarine. Madsen is soon put on trial, and a judge is tasked with determining what actually happened on the vessel.The documentary weaves together trial testimony, expert opinion, never-heard-before audio from Madsen himself, key new interviews with those who knew Wall and Madsen, and includes commentary from a range of officers, scientists, and journalists close to the case.

On 10 August 2017, the murder of Kim Wall, known in Denmark as Ubådssagen ("The submarine case"), took place after Swedish freelance journalist Kim Wall boarded the midget submarine UC3 Nautilus, in Køge Bugt, Denmark, with the intent of interviewing its owner, Danish entrepreneur Peter Madsen. From 2016, Madsen's RML Spacelab ApS was developing a nano satellite launch vehicle using venture investments. Under the title Raket-Madsens Rumlaboratorium (Danish for 'Rocket-Madsen's Space Laboratory') Madsen has blogged about his activities on the website of the Danish news magazine Ingeniøren. During this time, Wall was invited by Madsen to cover the venture. Wall was reported missing after Nautilus failed to return to the harbour at Refshaleøen, Copenhagen. The submarine was found sunken the following morning and Madsen was arrested upon being rescued from the water. Between 21 August and 29 November, parts of Wall's dismembered body were found in different locations around the area. Charged with her murder, Madsen was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on 25 April 2018 by Copenhagen City Court following a widely publicised trial. On 20 October 2020, Madsen briefly escaped from prison by threatening a prison employee, but was surrounded and apprehended by police five-hundred metres (five hundred and forty-seven yards) from the prison and subsequently taken back into custody.

Directed by Erin Lee Carr, the documentary does an outstanding job of remaining as objective with the case as possible. It's by no means an easy question, and filmmaker Erin Lee Carr presents every side of the debate fairly: It is to her credit that you come away from the film not knowing what to think. The film by the daughter of deceased journalist David Carr provides plenty to consider as the Danish entrepreneur's ego and megalomania reached an unprecedented high prior to Wall's disappearance and murder. This is all compelling, stomach-churning stuff, but one wishes that Carr dug deeper into the broader implications of the Danish entrepreneur's downfall. Ultimately, Madsen was convicted and sentenced, but it may be a long time before it's finally resolved, but the film at least ensures that the discussion of its real issues will continue to penetrate the panicked noise. Carr has a terrific knack for knowing when to cut, just when your sympathies are veering too far in one direction.

Simon Says Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall receives:

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