A penniless but philosophical aristocrat thinks he can solve his money issues. Instead, he and his loyal butler are embroiled in a dangerous adventure.
Allmen und das Geheimnis der Libellen is the first of a very enjoyable and stylish German feature-length comedy/detective series aired on Das Erste since 2017.
Johann Friedrich von Allmen lives in Zurich. He's a bon vivant, a
man of culture and taste who likes elegance and refinement. Allmen has
no equal when it comes to spending his money, to the point that he
squandered the family fortune. Carlos, his faithful Guatemalan
manservant, does his best to moderate — not without a touch of irony — the flamboyant "Don John". Created by bestselling Swiss author Martin Suter, Allmen first appeared in Allmen and the Dragonflies (Allmen und die Libellen, 2011), a novel followed by five more. Four Allmen TV movies based on the books were aired by pubcaster Das Erste between 2017 and 2021: Allmen und das Geheimnis der Libellen, Allmen und das Geheimnis des rosa Diamanten, Allmen und das Geheimnis der Dahlien and Allmen und das Geheimnis der Erotik. The project of a fifth one, Allmen und der Koi, was evoked last year but shooting hasn't started yet. Those films star Heino Ferch (Nordholm, Anatomy of Evil) as Allmen and Samuel Finzi (Flemming) as Carlos.
Adapted by scriptwriter Martin Rauhaus (Hotel Heidelberg), Allmen und das Geheimnis der Libellen was directed by Thomas Berger (Kommissarin Lucas). Johann Friedrich von Allmen is broke. It's too bad because he owes a lot of money to a ruthless man named Dörig. Trying his luck at roulette won't help and he's an embarassment for his banker. Even selling his antiques to art dealer Jack Tanner is no longer enough. When Allmen meets Joelle "Jojo" Hirt, the daughter of millionaire Klaus Hirt, he believes he has the solution to his predicament: five priceless "Dragonflies" Art Nouveau glass bowls, created by French artist and designer Émile Gallé, from the collection of Jojo's father. Allmen crosses path with Terry Werenbusch, an old rival. Dörig loses patience, Jack Tanner is shot dead and someone tries to kill Allmen. Fast-paced and humorous, Allmen und das Geheimnis der Libellen lies on the performances of the both talented Heino Ferch (with an incredible look) and Samuel Finzi. The likeable duo is often compared to P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster.
Andrea Osvárt (Tranporter: The Series) plays Jojo. Also with Ben Becker (Terry), Peter Kurth (Babylon Berlin) as Dörig, Gustav Peter Wöhler (Jack Tanner), Hanns Zischler (Klaus Hirt), Jürgen Schornagel (Doppelter Einsatz) as Werenbusch Senior, Roman Šmejkal (Taxi driver Arnold) etc. Allmen und das Geheimnis der Libellen was mostly shot in Prague. Produced by UFA Fiction and Mia Film (Der Zürich-Krimi) (1) for ARD Degeto and Das Erste. Kristina Henning-Egger and Benjamin Benedict are the producers. Co-produced by Zbyněk Pippal and Michal Pokorný. Holger Krenz and Kirsten Frehse (ARD Degeto) are the line producers. Music by Fabian Römer. Benedikt Herforth is the production designer. Cinematography by Frank Küpper. Editing by Lucas Seeberger and Melania Singer. Allmen und das Geheimnis der Libellen is available in the U.S. and Canada as Allmen: The Secret of the Dragonflies, thanks to MHz Choice.
(1) Swiss actor Andrea Zogg, who plays the manager of the Grandhotel in Allmen und das Geheimnis der Libellen, later became a regular of Der Zürich-Krimi as taxi driver Beat Bürki.
https://musee-ecole-de-nancy.nancy.fr/informations-transversales/actualites-2658/emile-galle-16556.html (Émile Gallé)
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