Kurt Wallander’s reflection on friendship highlights how unexpected connections can emerge during ordinary encounters. It emphasizes that the most profound relationships often form when individuals come together without anticipating any significant outcome. Such serendipitous meetings can lead to meaningful friendships that enrich our lives in unexpected ways.

This notion resonates with the theme present in Henning Mankell's "The Man Who Smiled," where characters find companionship in unforeseen circumstances. It suggests that genuine bonds can arise from chance interactions, reinforcing the idea that the best friendships may begin in the most ordinary settings.