The ARD thriller “Breton Nights” (ARD media library from April 18th, in the first on April 20 at 8:15 p.m.) is the eleventh film adaptation of a novel by Jean-Luc Bannalec – and this case in the Inspector Dupin series is unlike any that have gone before. The focal point this time is not something special about Brittany, it is not about something like the unique salt of the region or the colors of the sky in Brittany, which are more magnificent on Finistère than anywhere else.
Inspector Thierry Kadeg, Dupin’s subordinate, is unable this time to effervesce about the merits of this French region. Because he becomes the victim of a violent crime. And something else is different: the film actually takes place for the most part at night. This was not only a special challenge for the actors and crew. The result was very special pictures – this time from the north of Brittany.
The sunsets in Brittany are fantastic in themselves. The night shoots make me even more aware of their magic.
Pasquale Aleardi plays Commissioner Dupin for the eleventh time.
When Kadeg (Jan Georg Schütte) wants to visit his aunt Joelle again, he finds her badly injured lying on the stairs. He even manages to call the ambulance, then he himself is critically injured by a blow to the head. During their investigation, Georges Dupin (Pasquale Aleardi) and his comrades-in-arms Nolwenn (Franziska Wulf) and Nevou (Gisa Flake) have to realize that there have been several ominous strokes of fate in Kadeg’s family in the past.
Each of them has a connection to Kadeg’s uncle, the apple farmer Victor Contel (wonderfully sinister: Sven-Eric Bechtolf), and his son Maxime (Lucas Prisor). And the murder of a prostitute 20 years ago also seems to play a role. Meanwhile, the loner Dupin finds that he’s grown more fond of the oddball inspector over the years than he ever thought possible.
“Breton Nights” (screenplay Eckhard Vollmar, director Holger Haase) offers less folklore than the previous “Kommissar Dupin” film adaptations, but more emotions. Moreover, Kadeg’s artificial coma not only helps with his recovery. The temporary absence of his exaggerated character gives the episode more seriousness and depth. And because the case is pleasantly confused, it’s particularly worth turning on this time.
