INSPECTOR MONTALBANO: COME VOLEVA LA PRASSI (RAI 1)

[Spoiler-Free] Il commissario Montalbano, the Italian detective drama launched in 1999 and starring Luca Zingaretti as the character created by author Andrea Camilleri, returned last monday on RAI 1 for a new series of two feature-length episodes.
 

Written by Francesco Bruni, Andrea Camilleri and Salvatore De Mola, Come voleva la prassi is based on the homonymous story from the collection Morte in mare aperto ed altre indagini del giovane Montalbano, but also on La revisione (from the collection Gli arancini di Montalbano) and Quello che contò Aulo Gellio (from the collection Un mese con Montalbano). Salvo Montalbano and Giuseppe Fazio (Peppino Mazzotta) investigate the murder of a young prostitute who died after an atrocious agony.

Perfectly directed by Alberto Sironi, this excellent episode is darker than last week's Un covo di vipere. Journalist Nicolò Zito, played by Roberto Nobile, and Salvo's Swedish friend Ingrid (Isabell Sollman) return. Montalbano meets a retired judge named Leonardo Attard (1) and goes to the discotheque. There's a strange hold-up in a small restaurant, Catarella (Angelo Russo) doesn't speak French, a powerful character likes Eyes Wide Shut too much, and the Cuffaro mafia family is back.

The rest of the cast includes Cesare Bocci (Mimì Augello), Nuccio Vassalo (Leonardo Attard), Giulio Corso (Davide Guarnotta), Marcello Perracchio (Dr. Pasquano), Lana Vlady (Maria Simonova), Viktoriya Pisotska (Olga), Sofia Pulvirenti (Graziella Persico), Mariella Lo Sardo (Prudenza), Massimo Spata (Micheletto), Giuseppe Schillaci (Salvatore Niscemi), Matteo Tanto (Milko Stanic), and Sonia Bergamasco as Livia. Inspector Montalbano is produced by Palomar and RAI Fiction.

Produced by Carlo Degli Esposti, founder and president of Palomar, and Nora Barbieri with Max Gusberti. Marco Camilli is the producer for Palomar and Erica Pellegrini produces for RAI. Music composed and conducted by Franco Piersanti. Songs by Olivia Sellerio. Franco Lecca is the cinematographer. Distributed by Rai Com. Il commissario Montalbano is aired in the UK by BBC Four as Inspector Montalbano and in France on France 3 as Commissaire Montalbano.

Yesterday, Come voleva la prassi has reached an historic high with 11.268.000 viewers (44.1%). Last week, Un cove di vipere caught 10.674.000 spettatori (40.8%).

(1) No relation...

http://www.carlopalomar.it/ (The blog of Carlo Degli Esposti)
http://www.vigata.org/

Last week's episode:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/02/inspector-montalbano-un-covo-di-vipere.html

Last year's episodes:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/03/inspector-montalbano-una-faccenda.html (Una faccenda delicata)

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/03/inspector-montalbano-la-piramide-di.html  (La piramide di fango)

INSPECTOR MONTALBANO: UN COVO DI VIPERE (RAI 1)

[Spoiler-Free] Il commissario Montalbano, the Italian detective drama launched in 1999 and starring Luca Zingaretti as the character created by author Andrea Camilleri, returned yesterday on RAI 1 for a new series of two 120-minute episodes.

Un covo di vipere was adapted by Francesco Bruni, Andrea Camilleri, Salvatore De Mola and Leonardo Marini, from the novel A Nest of Vipers (Un covo di vipere, 2013). Montalbano and Giuseppe Fazio (Peppino Mazzotta) investigate the murder of sixtysomething entrepreneur Cosimo Barletta, shot dead in his house by the sea. Salvo finds out that the victim was a very despicable man and that his death is more complicated than it looks.

An utterly brilliant episode directed by Montalbano regular helmer Alberto Sironi. Thankfully, Sonia Bergamasco returns as Livia. Mimì Augello, portrayed by Cesare Bocci, has a very peculiar assignment right up his street. The beloved Agatino Catarella (Angelo Russo) is back and he's very... Catarella. The scenes with Dr. Pasquano (Marcello Perracchio) are great. Alessandro Haber delivers a touching performance as Camastra. Un covo di vipere, introduced as usual by Andrea Camilleri himself, has everything that makes Il commissario Montalbano so special to its fans.

The rest of the cast includes Valentina Lodovini (Giovanna Pusateri), Alice Canzonieri (Stella Lasorella), Marcello Mazzarella (Cosimo Barletta), Beatrice Arnera (Alina Camera), Giacinto Ferro (Bonetti Alderighi), Giovanni Visentin (Tommaseo), Ottavio Amato (Santo Fallace), Silvio Laviano (Arturo Barletta), Vera Dragone (Stefania) and Valeria Panepinto (Michela Lolo). Inspector Montalbano is produced by Palomar and RAI Fiction.

Produced by Carlo Degli Esposti, founder and president of Palomar, and Nora Barbieri with Max Gusberti. Marco Camilli is the producer for Palomar and Erica Pellegrini produces for RAI. Music composed and conducted by Franco Piersanti. Songs by Olivia Sellerio. Franco Lecca is the cinematographer. Distributed by Rai Com. Il commissario Montalbano is aired in the UK by BBC Four as Inspector Montalbano and in France on France 3 as Commissaire Montalbano.

Next week: Come voleva la prassi.

http://www.carlopalomar.it/ (The blog of Carlo Degli Esposti)

[Update - March 8]

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/03/inspector-montalbano-come-voleva-la.html (Spoiler-Free review of Come voleva la prassi)

Last year's episodes:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/03/inspector-montalbano-una-faccenda.html (Una faccenda delicata)

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/03/inspector-montalbano-la-piramide-di.html  (La piramide di fango)

INSPECTOR MONTALBANO: LA PIRAMIDE DI FANGO (RAI 1)

[Spoiler-Free "mini review"] RAI 1 concluded on Monday the tenth series of Il commissario Montalbano (two feature-length episodes) with La piramide di fango.

La piramide di fango was adapted by Francesco Bruni with author Andrea Camilleri from his namesake novel  (2014). On a stormy night, a man who had no time to get dressed properly flees on a bicycle with blood on his back. Exhausted and despaired, he arrives on a construction site and finds refuge inside a huge pipe. He's found dead there the morning after and it appears he was shot with a firearm.

Salvo quickly understands that this homicide is linked to a "pyramid of mud", a criminal operation controlled from one of those luxury villas overlooking the city. Lucia Gambardella, a journalist, investigates on another aspect of the case. There's some action, a secret safe and Galluzzo speaks German. An excellent episode (again) with an atmospheric award-worthy direction by Montalbano regular helmer Alberto Sironi.

With Luca Zingaretti (Montalbano), Cesare Bocci (Mimì Augello), Peppino Mazzotta (Giuseppe Fazio) Angelo Russo as Agatino Catarella, Sonia Bergamasco (Livia), Davide Lo Verde (Galluzzo), etc. Il commissario Montalbano is produced by Palomar and RAI Fiction. Produced by Carlo Degli Esposti, founder and president of Palomar, and Nora Barbieri with Max Gusberti. Marco Camilli is the producer for Palomar and Erica Pellegrini produces for RAI. Music composed and conducted by Franco Piersanti. Franco Lecca is the cinematographer.

Aired on February 29, Una faccenda delicata, the previous episode, drew 10.862.000 viewers (39.6%). 10.334.000 viewers (40.95%) watched La piramide di fango. Il commissario Montalbano is distributed by Rai Com. Launched in 1999, it is aired in the UK by BBC Four as Inspector Montalbano and in France on France 3 as Commissaire Montalbano.

http://www.carlopalomar.it/ (The blog of Carlo Degli Esposti)

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/03/inspector-montalbano-una-faccenda.html (Spoiler-Free "mini review" of Una faccenda delicata)

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/02/two-new-episodes-of-inspector.html

[Update - April 24, 2017]  
 
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/03/inspector-montalbano-come-voleva-la.html
(Spoiler-Free review of Come voleva la prassi)
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/02/inspector-montalbano-un-covo-di-vipere.html
(Spoiler-Free review of Un covo di vipere)

INSPECTOR MONTALBANO: UNA FACCENDA DELICATA (RAI 1)

[Spoiler-Free "mini review"] Il commissario Montalbano, the Italian detective drama launched in 1999 and starring Luca Zingaretti as the character created by author Andrea Camilleri, returned yesterday on RAI 1 for two new feature-length episodes: Una faccenda delicata and La piramide di fango (aired next week).

Una faccenda delicata was adapted by Francesco Bruni, Andrea Camilleri and Leonardo Marini from a short story of the collection Un mese con Montalbano (1998) and from La povira Maria Castellino, a short story of the collection Gli arancini di Montalbano (1999). Salvo Montalbano investigates the murder of Maria Castellino, a prostitute strangled with a belt in the studio where she worked.

The episode is excellent though we have to get used to another "new Livia". Livia Burlando, Salvo's long-suffering fiancee performed by Katharina Böhm from series 1 to 8 and by Lina Perned in series 9, is now played by Sonia Bergamasco. They should better try to keep her in future episodes as it's now quite complicated to relate to the Montalbano/Livia story if she regenerates like a Time Lady. 

Thankfully, Cesare Bocci (Mimì Augello), Peppino Mazzotta (Giuseppe Fazio) and Angelo Russo as the beloved Agatino Catarella are back. As well as Roberto Nobile (Nicolò Zito), Marcello Perracchio (Doctor Pasquano), Davide Lo Verde (Galluzzo), etc. Una faccenda delicata is directed by Montalbano regular helmer Alberto Sironi.

Inspector Montalbano is produced by Palomar and RAI Fiction. Produced by Carlo Degli Esposti, founder and president of Palomar, and Nora Barbieri with Max Gusberti. Marco Camilli is the producer for Palomar and Erica Pellegrini produces for RAI. Music composed and conducted by Franco Piersanti. Franco Lecca is the cinematographer. Il commissario Montalbano is distributed by Rai Com.

http://www.carlopalomar.it/ (The blog of Carlo Degli Esposti)

http://www.soniabergamasco.it/indexEN.html 

See also: 

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/02/two-new-episodes-of-inspector.html (Two new episodes of Inspector Montalbano on RAI 1) 

[Update - April 24, 2017]  
 
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/03/inspector-montalbano-come-voleva-la.html
(Spoiler-Free review of Come voleva la prassi)
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/02/inspector-montalbano-un-covo-di-vipere.html
(Spoiler-Free review of Un covo di vipere)

TWO NEW EPISODES OF INSPECTOR MONTALBANO ON RAI 1

Hugely popular in his native Italy but very appreciated abroad too, Il commissario Montalbano is a detective drama launched in 1999 by pubcaster RAI and starring Luca Zingaretti as Commissario Salvo Montalbano. Montalbano is chief inspector of police in Vigàta, a Sicilian town in the district of Montelusa.

The series is based on the crime novels published since 1994 by writer, director and screenwriter Andrea Camilleri. It is aired in the UK by BBC Four as Inspector Montalbano and in France on France 3 as Commissaire Montalbano. Since 2012 there's also a prequel series called The Young Montalbano (Il giovane Montalbano), starring Michele Riondino.

Il commissario Montalbano returns today on RAI 1 for two highly anticipated new feature-length episodes: Una faccenda delicata  (tonight at 9.20pm) and La piramide di fango, aired next week. The former is based on a short story from the collection Un mese con Montalbano (1998) and on La povira Maria Castellino, a short story from the collection  Gli arancini di Montalbano (1999). The latter is adapted from the novel of the same name (2014). Livia Burlando is now played by Italian actress Sonia Bergamasco.

She's the third to perform the role of Salvo's permanent fiancee, after Swedish actress Lina Perned in the 2013 episodes and Austrian actress Katharina Böhm. Fortunately, Cesare Bocci (Mimì Augello), Peppino Mazzotta (Giuseppe Fazio) and Angelo Russo (Agatino Catarella) are back. As well as Roberto Nobile (Nicolò Zito), Marcello Perracchio (Doctor Pasquano), Davide Lo Verde (Galluzzo), etc.

Una faccenda delicata is adapted by Francesco Bruni, Andrea Camilleri and Leonardo Marini. La piramide di fango is adapted by Francesco Bruni and Andrea Camilleri. Both are directed by Montalbano regular helmer Alberto Sironi. Music composed and directed by Franco Piersanti. Franco Lecca is the cinematographer. Inspector Montalbano is produced by Palomar and RAI Fiction. Produced by Carlo Degli Esposti, founder and president of Palomar, and Nora Barbieri with Max Gusberti. Marco Camilli is the producer for Palomar and Erica Pellegrini produces for RAI.

Carlo Degli Esposti is also behind Braccialetti rossi, the popular RAI 1 version of Spanish drama Polseres vermelles (since 2014) and I delitti del BarLume (since 2013), adapted for Sky Cinema 1 from the crime novels of Marco Malvaldi. Inspector Montalbano is distributed by Rai Com. The first 22 episodes are available in France on DVD from Koba Films.

http://www.carlopalomar.it/ (The blog of Carlo Degli Esposti)

[Update - March 11, 2016]
 
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/03/inspector-montalbano-una-faccenda.html (Spoiler-Free "mini review" of Una faccenda delicata)
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/03/inspector-montalbano-la-piramide-di.html (Spoiler-Free "mini review" of La piramide di fango)

[Update - April 24, 2017]  
 
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/03/inspector-montalbano-come-voleva-la.html
(Spoiler-Free review of Come voleva la prassi)
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/02/inspector-montalbano-un-covo-di-vipere.html
(Spoiler-Free review of Un covo di vipere)

See also: 

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2013/06/inspector-montalbano-french-region-2-dvd.html 
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2013/08/inspector-montalbano-vol-2-french.html

INSPECTOR MONTALBANO - VOL. 2 (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD)

In Vigàta, a Sicilian town in the district of Montelusa, il commissario Salvo Montalbano has his own way to solve crimes while dealing with bureaucracy, politics, and sometimes mafia. This sharp detective, who inspires perplexity to his hierarchy and loyalty to his men, never compromises his principles.

Montalbano is often assisted by friends outside the force and always likes to taste fine cuisine at his favourite restaurant or in his beach house. He has a complicated relationship with his permanent fiancee Livia Burlando, who lives in Genoa.

Based on the novels by Andrea Camilleri, Il commissario Montalbano is a detective drama launched in 1999 by Italian pubcaster RAI and starring Luca Zingaretti in the title role. With 26 feature-length episodes to date, this production from Carlo Degli Esposti's Palomar and RAI Fiction is hugely popular in its country. Also appreciated abroad, the Montalbano mysteries are co-produced by Swedish television (SVT) and aired in the UK as Inspector Montalbano by BBC Four.

In France, Commissaire Montalbano is shown by France 3 and is available on DVD thanks to Koba Films. After a 3-disc Volume 1 DVD set released in June and containing Series 1 to 3 (6 episodes), the second volume arrives this week. Those six 100-minute episodes from the fourth and fifth series are written by Francesco Bruni (Il commissario De Luca), Andrea Camilleri and Salvatore De Mola, and directed as usual by Alberto Sironi. Il commissario Montalbano is filmed on different locations in the province of Ragusa, Sicily - doubling as the both fictious Vigàta and district of Montelusa. The music is by Franco Piersanti.

Each disc includes two cases of the Sicilian detective and his team: the  womanizing Mimi Augello (Cesare Bocci), the smart Giuseppe Fazio (Peppino Mazzota), Galluzzo (Davide Lo Verde), and the ineffable Catarella (Angelo Russo). Other familiar characters are back too: Salvo's long-suffering girlfriend Livia (Katharina Böhm), forensic specialist Jacomuzzi (Giovanni Guardiano), coroner Pasquano (Marcello Perracchio), journalist Nicolò Zito (Roberto Nobile), Ingrid Sjostrom (Isabell Sollman), Mimi's fiancee Beba (Carmela Gentile), old mafia boss Sinagra (Francesco Sineri), etc.

-The Sense of Touch (Il Senso del tatto): An old blind man dies in his house seemingly by accident. Montalbano keeps his guide dog while he stays with Livia at the hotel run by the old man's sister and her husband on an island off the Sicilian coast. Catarella finds a call for help on a piece of paper hidden in a pottery he just bought.

- Montalbano's Croquettes (Gli Arancini di Montalbano): Salvo must join Livia in Paris for New Year's Eve. Though he's tempted by a dinner invitation from his housekeeper Adelina, who has promised to cook arancini. Mimi Augello has a very personal interest for the fatal car crash of a local figure and his wife. Adelina's son is involved in the burglary of the couple's villa.

- The Scent of the Night (L'Odore della Notte): An investor from Milan has vanished with the savings entrusted to him by the people of Montelusa. Augello has doubts on his future wedding with Beba. Montalbano is furious because a hundred-years old olive tree has been hacked down. As if it wasn't enough, his superior demands him explanations about an old case.

- The Goldfinch and the Cat (Gatto e Cardellino): An old lady on her way to the church is mugged by a helmet-clad motorcyclist who shoots at her with a blank cartridge. Mimi, on marriage leave, gets confused when he meets his female temp replacement. A man causes trouble at the ER because of his daughter. The girl's gynaecologist is missing.

- Turning Point (Il Giro di Boa):  Professionally disenchanted, Salvo Montalbano wants to resign. During one of his morning swims he finds a decomposed body floating in the sea.

- Equal Time (Par Condicio): A young woman escapes two killers and disappears. Angelo Bonpensiero, of the Cuffaro mafia family, is found dead. It looks like an execution and everybody except Salvo is convinced this the start of a new war between the Sinagras and the Cuffaros.

Those six excellent cases are available with French audio only. Series 9 of Inspector Montalbano (aired last spring in Italy) starts this sunday on France 3. Swedish actress Lina Perned replaces Katharina Böhm as Livia Burlando.

INSPECTOR MONTALBANO - VOL. 1 (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD): http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2013/06/inspector-montalbano-french-region-2-dvd.html

http://www.kobafilms.fr/serie/commissaire-montalbano---volume-2-320.html (In French)

INSPECTOR MONTALBANO - VOL. 1 (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD)

Salvo Montalbano is a gruff but likeable chief inspector of police in Vigàta, a Sicilian town in the district of Montelusa. This shrewd detective, who inspires perplexity to his superiors and loyalty to his men, has his own way to solve crimes while dealing with bureaucracy, politics, and occasionally mafia.

Montalbano never compromises his principles, he's often helped by friends outside the force and always likes to taste fine cuisine at the San Calogero restaurant or in his beach house. He has a complicated relationship with his permanent fiancee Livia Burlando, who lives in Genoa.  

Hugely popular in Italy but appreciated abroad too, Il commissario Montalbano is a detective drama launched in 1999 by pubcaster RAI and starring Luca Zingaretti in the title role. It is based on the crime novels published since 1994 by writer, director and screenwriter Andrea Camilleri. BBC Four airs it in the UK as Inspector Montalbano. In France, where it is aired by France 3 as Commissaire Montalbano, Series 1 to 3 (6 episodes) are now available in a 3-disc Volume 1 DVD set released by Koba Films.

« Montalbano sono. »

In 1998, Carlo Degli Esposti, founder and president of Palomar, and RAI Fiction decided to adapt Camilleri's Montalbano mysteries for TV. The literary phenomenon became a cult drama with 26 feature-length episodes to date, all directed by Alberto Sironi (Il grande Fausto, Eurocops) and filmed on different locations in the province of Ragusa, Sicily - doubling as the both fictious Vigàta and district of Montelusa. Il commissario Montalbano is co-produced by Swedish television and even has a prequel, The Young Montalbano (Il giovane Montalbano, 2012). Andrea Camilleri worked on the scripts mainly with Francesco Bruni (Il commissario De Luca). 

Each of the discs of this first volume includes two cases of the Sicilian detective and his memorable team. Meet the touchy and womanizing Domenico "Mimi" Augello (Cesare Bocci), Montalbano's deputy even if the young and smart Fazio (Peppino Mazzota) assumes this position in the field. Meet also agents Galluzzo (Davide Lo Verde) and, most of all, Catarella (Angelo Russo). Clumsy and speaking a language barely comprehensible by his colleagues or by visitors of the police station, he becomes the precinct's computer expert!

Salvo gets professional assistance from forensic specialist Jacomuzzi (Giovanni Guardiano) and coroner Pasquano (Marcello Perracchio). He regularly asks a little informal help from friends such as local TV journalist Nicolò Zito (Roberto Nobile), pimp Gegè (Fulvio D'Angelo), or Swede former race car driver Ingrid Sjostrom (Isabell Sollman). In spite of his interest for her or Anna Tropeano (Biancamaria D'Amato), Montalbano remains faithful to his long-suffering girlfriend Livia (Katharina Böhm).

- The Snack Thief (Il Ladro di Merendine): Montalbano investigates on a businessman found stabbed dead in an elevator the same day a Tunisian was killed in an incident between Sicilian fishermen and a Tunisian patrol boat. A young boy linked to the events prompts Livia to reassess her relationship with Salvo.

- The Voice of the Violin (La Voce del violino): Montalbano discovers the naked dead body of a young woman in her villa outside Vigàta. The case is taken from him and given to a rival inspector from nearby Montelusa. Sergio Fantoni (The Manageress, La Piovra 2) guest stars as il maestro Barbera.

- The Shape of Water (La forma dell'acqua): Two garbage men come upon a leading political figure dead in a car at a notorious prostitution spot. Salvo receives bad news about his father.

- The Mystery of the Terracotta Dog (Il Cane di Terracotta): An old crime chief  wants to retire and stages his arrest with Montalbano.When the mafia feels "offended", he confesses to Salvo about the existence of an arms stash in a cave. Inside this cave there are weapons, uniforms and a secret chamber where the bodies of two lovers, killed in the 1940s, were buried in a strange ritual.

- Excursion to Tindari (La gita a Tindari): A young man is murdered in front of his apartment building and an elderly couple is reported missing. Former mafia boss Sinagra wants to meet Montalbano. Mimi wants to marry a woman inspector from Pavia and Catarella is on a secret assignment.

- The Artist's Touch (Tocco d'artista): Goldsmith Alberto Larussa appears to have committed suicide by turning his wheelchair into an electric chair but Montalbano won't close the case so easily.

No wonder why Luca Zingaretti's Salvo Montalbano is considered as one of the great Italian TV detectives like Gino Cervi as Maigret or Tino Buazzelli as Nero Wolfe. He's absolutely perfect and the adaptation of Andrea Camilleri's work has all for the viewer's enjoyment: mystery, suspense, humour, emotion, etc. Locations are beautiful and the music by Franco Piersanti is magnificent. The episodes in the DVD set are in French only.

http://www.kobafilms.fr/serie/commissaire-montalbano---saison-1-315.html (In French)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2006/oct/14/featuresreviews.guardianreview31
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/sightseeing/ragusa-inspector-montalbano