It’s a detective TV movie as we often see on France 3. But not all of them highlight Francis Huster as is the case in “Murders on the Frioul Islands”, and with success. He plays Pierre Mariani, a respected commissioner from the Lyon region who returns to Marseille to find his son, Victor (Jeremy Banster), and a friend he has not seen for more than fifty years.
Except that this friend, Adrien Grenna, is a famous publisher who is found dead in the middle of a theatrical performance of the Count of Monte Cristo. Sacred coincidence when we learn that he staged the same book in 1968 with his army companions. And that this affair could also include a certain “Fanfan” (Nathalie Roussel) with whom they were all in love at the time, and who had a son (Avy Marciano, seen in ”Sous le soleil”), an actor in the victim’s room. Could there therefore be a link between the death of this writer and his military service alongside Pierre Mariani? Only one answer: you will have to immerse yourself in this affair to discover the whole truth.
A conflicted father-son relationship
Convincing in the role of a legendary cop, Francis Huster is just as convincing in that of an absent father who tries “to make up for lost time”. He is appointed consultant on the investigation of the murder of his former friend, and this displeases Victor very much. “This is my investigation! You don’t have to get involved, ”he balances him when his father tries to question certain people present at the scene of the crime. Especially since he allows himself to criticize his methods. “Victor, you’re a cop, you can’t have the methods of a thug!” You have to follow the rules! “, he launches after he has questioned a suspect without the presence of his lawyer.
This reunion is an opportunity for the two men to take stock of their relationship since the death of their mother and wife in a road accident. “Victor, he just needs you to trust him,” his daughter-in-law, pregnant with her first grandson, will try to explain to him. “Don’t do the same bullshit I did with your son. Don’t let work eat you up,” he even told her during a conversation, to make his mea culpa.
And the two men are not at the end of their surprises since by advancing in the investigations, Victor will discover the tragic secret of his father and the victim, questioning him about his own origins.
“Meurtres sur les îles du Frioul”, directed by Sylvie Ayme and featuring Francis Huster alongside Jemery Banster and Avy Marciano will be broadcast this Saturday March 12 from 9:10 p.m. on France 3.