Malou (Helena Af Sandeberg) is going through a bit of a rough patch. Her fancy houseware boutique is closing down, taking with it her dreams of becoming a successful businesswoman. She’s trying to keep up appearances, especially in front of her teenage son, but it’s hard when the bailiffs turn up at her front door looking for items to repossess. Her life is a wreck, she’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and it’s going to take a miracle to turn things around.
Then a miracle happens: she goes into the woods to have a good cry while rolling around in the dirt, and instead finds a length of rope leading her to a bag containing 47 million Swedish Krona (around 6.5 million Australian dollars).
It’s perfect “what would you do” material, but Dough has more going on than just fun wish fulfilment. Malou’s overwrought behaviour might provide some lighter moments, but this is first and foremost a crime drama; even on first impressions, it’s clear her problems run deeper than a few bad business decisions.
Meanwhile, single mother Liana (Bianca Kronlöf) has some serious problems of her own. A number of very sinister looking men are after her, believing she knows something about a very large sum of money her boyfriend stole a few years back. With debts of her own and a dead-end job as a barmaid, she’s got nothing to lose by fleeing the country with her daughter Heaven – until her boyfriend tells her that the money he stole is still out there.
Malou (Helena Af Sandeberg) and her miraculous discovery, in ‘Dough’. Source: Distributor
Dough is built around the contrast between these two women. Malou is all surface, barely keeping it together when a couple of debt collectors ask nicely to come in; Liana is a much tougher nut to crack, facing down professional criminals then head-butting them. Malou seems like the character we’re going to sympathise with, but it gradually becomes clear her obsession with surface success is going to cause problems. Liana might have an attitude problem and a criminal record (“Just some petty theft and illegal driving… and assault”), but she’s loyal, protective, and proactively getting herself out of a tough situation.
Throughout the first episode in this eight-part series the women are often in situations that are mirror-images of each other, to highlight their differences, and similarities. They both have to deal with intruders in their homes; both of them hit extremes of emotion while driving. Maybe they have more in common than it seems – though having a massive bag of cash in common is probably enough for now.
Liana (Bianca Kronlöf) with daughter Heaven (Nikole Baronas) could use some ‘Dough’. Source: Distributor
It’s hardly a spoiler to reveal that things don’t quite work out for Liana on her frantic retreat to the Swedish countryside; on the other hand, once Malou drags the massive bag of cash to her car, she doesn’t have a care in the world. A quick check online reveals the money she found is the proceeds of crime, so she figures there’s no problem in keeping it. Laundering the cash is another matter entirely, but there’s good news there too. The bakery next to her old shop is in financial difficulties; investing in a legitimate business is a great way to clean up dirty money, not to mention polish her reputation as the new manager.
For Liana, things keep getting worse. The money’s gone, the criminals are still after her, the police are on the scene, and being on the run with no money is tough even without a small child. She’s fleeing from security guards after a stealing a new pair of boots for Heaven when she runs into a bakery to hide – and discovers a help wanted notice.
Liana (Bianca Kronlöf) at work in the bakery. What could go wrong? Source: Distributor
The new manager seems more interested in taking selfies with the coffee machine, but Liana needs a job, and she can’t go home with criminals waiting outside her door. Malou doesn’t know it but having her working at the bakery is the most dangerous situation imaginable for the pair of them. So of course she hires her. Business at this bakery is about to get a lot more interesting.
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