France 3 is broadcasting this evening the new TV movie “Meurtres en Béarn”, with Isabel Otero and Catherine Marchal in the skin of two ex-best friends who are leading the investigation while hating each other. A regional thriller that stands out thanks to this atypical duo.
What is it about ?
At the foot of the majestic mountains of Béarn, the wife of a notable is discovered drowned under the bridge of La Légende de Sauveterre, dressed as a queen of the Middle Ages.
Jeanne, captain of the research brigade of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, cheeky, colorful, finds herself flanked by Héloïse, elegant bourgeois, jewel of the research section of Pau. Once very good friends, the two women hate each other. And for good reason, they are the respective mothers, and very partisan, of a young couple who are going through a shattering divorce…
Saturday March 4 at 9:10 p.m. on France 3
Who is it with?
Directed by Delphine Lemoine (Meurtres à Albi, Section de Recherches), the new TV movie Meurtres en Béarn is carried by a duo well known to the general public since the investigators Jeanne Laborde and Héloïse Servat are respectively camped by Isabel Otero (La Crim’, Diane , female cop) and Catherine Marchal (Here it all begins).
By their side, viewers of France 3 will find in particular Gabriel Ecoffey (Alice Nevers), Maéva El Aroussi (Un Si Grand Soleil), Clément Manuel (Ainsi be-ils), Cyril Descours (Complices, Laëtitia) and Daniel Njo Lobe (Le Coded).
Thierry LANGRO – FTV – ZADIG PRODUCTIONS
It’s worth checking out ?
Initiated in 2013, France 3’s hit crime collection “Meurtres à…” will celebrate its tenth anniversary this year with New Murders in Saint-Malo, which will see Bruno Solo and Louise Monot return to the roles they had held in the series’ first-ever TV movie.
While waiting for this event scheduled for the spring, fans of regional thrillers will be able to savor this Saturday evening Meurtres en Béarn, an unprecedented investigation led by Catherine Marchal and Isabel Otero which ticks all the boxes of the “Meurtres à…” – namely of beautiful landscapes, murders with a backdrop of legend and terroir, and a duo of cops that everything opposes – but has the merit of standing out thanks to original elements and touching personal intrigues.
The investigation itself, which advances as usual at an anemic pace, is not very original. But the starting point of this whole story is intriguing since the first victim, one of whose hands was cut off, was found disguised as Queen Sancie, widow of the Viscount of Béarn, who in 1170 had been accused by rumor public for killing her newborn baby.
Involved in the investigation by the scriptwriters, this real legend, which teaches us more about the region and allows us to highlight the Pont de la Légende de Sauveterre-de-Béarn, is one of the good ideas of this “Meurtres à…” which, beyond that, is based on a fairly classic revenge affair.
Marie ETCHEGOYEN – FTV – ZADIG PRODUCTIONS
But if Meurtres en Béarn is so pleasant to follow, it is above all for its two heroines, Jeanne and Héloïse, who were once best friends and now find themselves forced to collaborate, even though they hate each other and do not talk more since their respective children’s marriages ended. With losses and crashes. The grandson of two women finds himself at the center of a stormy and complicated divorce.
Seeing Jeanne and Héloïse, with opposite characters and working methods, tearing each other apart and throwing pikes and reproaches at each other while trying to complete their investigation is quite tasty. Especially since the chemistry between Isabel Otero and Catherine Marchal, who deliver very convincing performances, is palpable from start to finish of the TV movie.
Cyril Descours, too rare on the screen, Daniel Njo Lobe, or even Maéva El Aroussi and Gabriel Ecoffey in the shoes of the respective assistants of the two heroines, are not left out. And in an ocean of “Meurtres à…” carried by man-woman duos, or more rarely by women from two different generations, it is nice to see this new opus stand out from the crowd by featuring two young grand- mothers over fifty.
A duo that makes sparks but also offers us beautiful moments of emotion. As when the screenwriters are interested in the relationship of the two women with their children and their grandson. Or at Héloïse’s wedding, which is leaking, despite all the trouble the investigator camped by Catherine Marchal takes to keep up appearances.
In short, without renewing the genre or the formula of the police television films of France 3, Meutres en Béarn manages to stand out and innovate a little on certain points. And thus imposes itself as a very recommendable Saturday night thriller.