mini series

The Young Montalbano, The Man Who Followed Funerals (2/1)

For those of you who are unaware of this series, it is an Italian crime drama set in Sicily. As someone who followed the original Inspector Montalbano series, it was natural for me to gravitate to the prequel, The Young Montalbano.  While it features the same characters, they are played by a different cast in order to play younger versions of said characters.

Now in its second series we are treated to a story of the murder of a man who followed funerals.  Like all earlier episodes, it takes its sweet time to unravel and wrap it’s delicious tendrils around our minds.  This episode features two cases, the aforementioned murder and a kidnapping. As usual, it is up to Montalbano and his team to solve both puzzles.  Since watching the earlier series, I have come to see the main characters grow and bond together.

‘Mimi’ Augello (deputy) is the near stereotypical philandering male who gets himself into all sorts of scrapes.  Then there is fastidious Fazio (virtually Montalbano’s right-hand man despite ‘Mimi’s’ presence) who seems to do all the legwork which proves useful in helping to solve the case.  Finally there is Catarella, the bumbling fool who mans the telephone.  If there is a message to be passed, he will inevitably get it wrong. So why don’t they get rid of him? Because he is a whiz on the computer.  It helps that he is more of a clumsy buffoon rather than a complete moron.

And so we see the band trying to solve the riddle of who killed the man who followed funerals.  At first it seems that he is loved by all.  An innocent man who felt discarded by society.  As it transpires, one of his neighbours, who is terminally ill, does not want him to attend his funeral.  He confronts the victim but he does not listen and so, murders him.

When confronted, the man confesses but instead of facing a mortal court prefers to chose a higher judgement, shooting himself with the same weapon.  The kidnapping has a grizzly end too but at least this time they are arrested.

All in all, I enjoyed this episode, barring one niggle.  It seemed to me that whoever was nearest the camera stood out a little too much, especially in the outdoor scenes.  I got the impression that the lighting was a little too bright.  Otherwise, it was very good.  I can’t wait to see the next episode, not least to find out how Montalbano and Livia Burlando get on.

Theirs is the everlasting friendship that really should have been a marriage by now but I guess Montalbano likes to be a bit of a playboy.

And Then There Were None, Part 3; The End

Well, what can I say except that my prediction was correct.  This was a truly absorbing drama.  Just when you think you have a character down a new piece of information is revealed which sheds a whole new light.  They are not the picture of innocence but are just as guilty as the rest of them.  I can see why people consider this to be Agatha’s best work. I can tell you now, if you’ve not read the book, you are unlikely to guess the killer.

Throughout the last episode the same mental torture chases after it’s victims.  This series, my friends, is not for the fainthearted.  It is gruesome, bloody and will make you think twice about going to an island with nine strangers.

Both Agatha Christie and indeed the writer who adapted it for the screen, Sarah Phelps, should be commended.  It isn’t just excellent, it is downright fabulous.

So, to finally put you out of your misery, I will reveal who the true killer is.  The one person who has been methodically slaughtering the others, sometimes in a bloodless way, other times not so much.  Our friend, the killer is

“Hey, how did you get in here?  You can’t possibly exist, you’re not real.  What do you think you’re doing?”

I back away from the computer slowly.

“Look, it’s not what you think, I wasn’t really going to tell them, it’s just a big joke.  End on a cliffhanger, that sort of thing.”

I laugh nervously.  The look in their eye is menacing.  They’ve done it before, they would have no trouble bumping me off too.  I look around hoping to catch sight of a weapon, even something to defend myself.  The first thing that comes in sight is a pillow.

‘A pillow?  What am I going to do with that, batter him to death?’ I think.

Then it hits me, the pen.  That which I had used to create my own stories has been used to end mine.  Turning, I look down and see the silvery glint as the shaft catches the light.  I can feel the other end stuck in my throat.  Air tries to push it’s way past, but it isn’t happening.

The last thing I see is the killer writing on the page I had been working on.  One word, designed to obfuscate, to confuse unless you knew what it meant.

Justitia.

 

And Then There Were None, Part 2; The horror continues

It seems to me that this mini series is erring on the side of mental torture and horror (quite the obvious statement if you’ve seen it, I know).  Each character despite their surface appearances (and isn’t this a classic portrayal of the stiff upper lip from that period?) are haunted by their past deeds.  We are treated, if that is the correct word, to the Doctor’s particular horror in the first episode where we see a hospital trolley, a body covered with a sheet & liberally splashed with blood.  Clearly such a scene will haunt even the hardiest of souls.  Which is exactly what we have seen in this episode.

Interestingly, two of the characters have come to accept their fate.  Perhaps they are tired of living out their pasts and want to let it go.  They know that their time is up and will not resist.  For those who are left, fear grips time and again bringing finger pointing to a new level.

A weapon has gone missing and the remaining characters resort to searching all the rooms together.  Trust has been shattered as each person strives for survival.  Only Charles Dance’s character seems unperturbed by what is happening.  Perhaps because he has already lived his life.

Of the remaining cast, three could be classed as respectable members of society; a judge, a doctor and a policeman.  Dare we dismiss them from our list of potential candidates for killer?  I think not.

Who do I think is the killer?  I think I’ll keep my guess close to my chest for now.  If it’s one thing I’ve learned from Agatha Christie, it’s never who you think it is.

And Then There Were None: A Review of the BBC Drama Mini Series

Last night saw the premiere of the first episode of the mini series based on Agatha Christie’s novel of the same name.  I need to point out right now that I have not read the book so this review will not be a comparison between the two.

The story is this-Ten strangers are invited to an island under false pretenses on the eve of world war two, what for? Nobody knows.  They all have one thing in common, each has a secret that has been discovered by their mysterious host, Ulfric Norman Owen.  Within the space of an evening they find they have a killer in their midst.  They must find the killer before it is too late.

First and foremost I’d like to say this, if the other two episodes are as good as the first, then the BBC is onto a winner.  Last night’s episode wasn’t just engaging, it was absorbing.  While they started from a strong position by picking this story, it could easily have been let down by bad acting.  With the likes of Sam Neill, Charles Dance and Miranda Richardson though, you know you are going to be watching something wonderful.  For me though, it was Anna Maxwell Martin’s performance of Mrs. Rogers that stole every scene she was in.

Her relationship with Mr. Rogers, the butler, had driven her close to edge, even before they arrive on the island.  As such she displayed heartbreaking obsequiousness that was tough to watch.  I didn’t just feel sorry for her, I wanted to remove her from the band of vultures to a place where she could get better.  As for the others, Agatha Christie has imbued almost all of them with such loathsome characteristics, that I for one would feel afraid to be in a room with them.

Only Miss Vera Claythorne and Philip Lombard are worthy of anything other than contempt.  For one thing, we focus on Miss Claythorne (ably played by Maeve Dermody) before we get to the island.  Therefore we get to empathise with her.  A scene set on the coast gives us a hint that an incident had occurred, affecting her deeply.  Her interactions with Philip Lombard showed that she could look after herself, however.

By the end of the hour, the guests’ secrets had been revealed and two had been murdered.  All that matters now, is to watch and wait.