Fazio

The Young Montalbano: An Apricot (2/6)

As I look back over ‘An Apricot’ I can’t help but admire Andrea Camilleri’s skill as a writer.  He has managed to weave a story that twists and turns, leaving you wanting more.  Certainly, of all the endings I was expecting, this was not one of them.  But lets not put the wrong end first.

Salvo’s imminent departure is what starts the story.  Livia has arrived to help pack.  On the way home from the airport, they discover an old stone wall close to a cliff edge has been knocked down.  On further investigation we find an overturned car at the bottom of the cliff with a dead woman inside.

The woman worked as a model at a local agency and had been having a relationship with one of her employers.  This had ceased some months ago, however, all was not as it seemed.  Digging deeper, they find she had an apricot stone stuck in her throat.  This is odd as she was known to be allergic to the fruit.

Now convinced of her murder, the team checks out her new lover, a photographer working at the same agency.  We learn very quickly that he is a heroin addict.  Suspicion soon flits from one suspect to another as new clues arise.  Even her neighbour is suspected.  Bit by bit the story is revealed, the agency has been shipping drugs to South America.

Finally settling on the real killer, we are dismayed to see that he has been killed too.  Worse than that, he is murdered right outside Montalbano’s house and the night before he is due to leave.  Being the dedicated detective, Salvo stays behind while Livia returns to Genoa.

Little more than two days later and he has unraveled the mess and is finally ready to leave.  Just before he goes, he decides to take one last look around town.  A lack of people is bewildering until he returns to the station.  It is there that we learn of a shocking event that persuades him to stay.

While I suspected Montalbano would continue to stay in Sicily, I had hoped to see him at work in a new venue.  However, living and working in a city like Genoa would entail a complete change in pace.  Whatever happens in the mean time, I hope I will not have to wait too long for the next series.

The Young Montalbano: Death on the High Seas (2/3)

Like earlier episodes, last night’s consisted of a main plot and two sub-plots.  The main plot revolved around the death of a fishing boat mechanic while out at sea.  By all accounts, he was shot by accident.  On investigation, it is revealed that the fleet the boat belongs to, has been drug trafficking for the Mafia.

The first sub-plot concerns Fazio and a woman he has known for many years.  The woman in question had been dating a man who, it transpires, is a hitman for the Sinagara family (Mafia).  When he goes on the run the police, through Fazio, offer her and her father, protection.  The hitman, offended by this move, sets a firework factory belonging to one of her father’s friends alight.

The second sub-plot is about Montalbano’s wedding.  While attending a fancy dress party with Livia, Motalbano spots the hitman.  Leaving her when the hitman walks out, Montalbano tracks him down and a gun battle ensues.  Having watched Montalbano leave, Livia follows.  Livia now realises what sort of person Montalbano is like and the wedding is put on hold.

While the second sub-plot is probably the most familiar cliché when it comes to detective dramas, it is revealed in a different way.  The earlier series (Inspector Montalbano) showed that they are still friends.  Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any other detective who remains in contact with a former fiancé.

The main plot is a nice touch as it is usually the case that the death is suspicious.  Using it to reveal the drug trafficking is an extra twist to what could have been a bland tale.

This story was a lot easier to follow than ‘The Man Who Followed Funerals’, which is great as I do like watching this series.  Saying that, I get the feeling that the producers have gone for more drama this 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.