Good News for Lovers of Italian Mysteries.
In an earlier post I've praised the international bestselling novels of Andrea Camilleri. I didn't know then that Italian television (RAI) has been producing them for broadcast since 1999.
These Italian-language programs are now available on DVD with English subtitles under the name Detective Montalbano. They are great fun and will thrill all lovers of Italian mysteries. The library has just bought the first six sets (three discs per set).
I must warn you that each episode is more enjoyable, more addictive than the last.
I think this is because we get to know the appealing characters better each time and look forward to meeting them all again.
Italian actor, Luca Zigaretti, is unforgetable as the brilliant, unpredictable, impulsive Salvo Montalbano. His team of detectives all have their own quirks, weaknesses and strengths. Appearances by Montalbano's resourceful, intuitive girlfriend, Livia, are always a treat.
If you're interested in the language and culture of Southern Italy take these programs as a kind of Italian-immersion. They are filmed in the Sicilian town of Ragusa with it's Baroque buildings, sunbleached squares and rugged surroundings. The art direction of the costumes and interiors is first-rate.
This well-edited broadcast-annoucement by MHz Worldview is the best online introduction I've found to these fiendishly-intricate, humorous, sentimental mysteries. Take a chance on Detective Montalbano!
11 thoughts on “Good News for Lovers of Italian Mysteries.”
Very enticing and set in southern Sicily, an offer I can’t refuse!
You won’t regret, Shelley!
Thank you Elmslie!! I loved the three books of the series that I’ve read (well, listened to). I had no idea that they had been made into a TV series. This is great!!. I’ve placed my holds.
Love the clip you’ve included! Truly a great series. I can’t wait to see more. Really brings back Sicilia with the addition of great stories and characters!
Bill Kimber
There goes my reading time! Thank you Elmslie, for letting us know about this. Janet
You’re welcome, Keli — you won’t be disappointed!
Thanks, Bill — It really brings back Sicily for me too.
Janet, how nice to hear from you! So much to read, so little time. The Camilleri’s are keepers.
Recently I checked out ‘The Potter’s Field’ at Pape/Danforth (when it came out in the ‘New Adult Mysteries’ on your website I had requested a copy via Hold since I have already read and enjoyed the previous 12), and a very perceptive librarian said ‘are you aware that the library now has DVD’s of these from Italian television – would you like me to request one of them for you’ – YES PLEASE, said I and she did………….
so I sent this information to my sister the librarian in Alexandria, VA, and she just replied this morning saying that she had recently seen Guido Brunetti (Donna Leon) on local TV in German with English subtitles. Source for both is MHzNetworks of Falls Church VA (www.mhznetworks.org) – the folks you had the Montalbano clip from.
Mr. Cook, I’m so glad that librarian recommended the DVDs. I hope you enjoy them. I’ve now watched all the DVDs the library owns and am ready for more please! 🙂
I just checked out The Potter’s Field. Can’t wait to start it. I too have read all the others.
I rented that German language DVD of Donna Leon’s Brunetti mysteries from a shop on Queen Street West and I thought the episodes were terrific. The casting of the main characters: Brunetti, his wife and kids, and the sublime Signorina Elettra, was absolutely perfect. Too bad they didn’t seem to make more than a handful of episodes.
Great hearing from you! If you have any more recommendations, I’m interested.
Elmslie
John,
The Donna Leon series is AWFUL!!! It’s all spoken in German and so bad that the DVD committee refused to buy it.
Ted
PS The Montalbanos are great though. There’s also another series called the Young Montalbano – haven’t seen it yet
Ted, at some point you might want to give the German-language Donna Leons another chance. I was skeptical at first, too. So funny to hear the mayor of Venice referred to as the “Bürgermeister”! But by the second episode I was hooked. The series has great production values, the Venice setting is well used, and the feature-length episodes mean they can do full justice to Leon’s complex plots. I say this having now watched about a dozen of them.
I’ve seen the Young Montalbanos too — these we’ll agree on. They have all the virtues of the original TV series.
Happy viewing!
John Elmslie
I love watching the episodes of Detective Montalbano. Iam in the last episodes 27 & 28 and I wish there will be more to come.