MURDER IN ANGOULÊME (LE PRIX DE LA TRAHISON, FRANCE 3)

Comedian and actress Mimie Mathy, the star of TF1's long running hit Joséphine, ange gardien, is back on France 3 to play Police captain Marie Jourdan for the third time in Murder in Angoulême (Le prix de la trahison). Mathieu Delarive returns too as Gendarmerie commander Paul Danceny.

Like Le prix de la vérité (2017) and Le prix de la loyauté (2019) (1), Le prix de la trahison was penned by Laurent Mondy (Commissaire Magellan, Les Cordier, juge et flic). Marie Jourdan and her husband Pierre, restaurateur in Angoulême, celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. Marie has invited her friend Paul Danceny, who arrives from Aix-en-Provence. The party is interrupted when the police arrests Marie and Pierre's son Alex for the murder of Juliette Ravenne, a local journalist with whom he had an affair.

Danceny offers Marie Jourdan his assistance and Marie's boss Commissaire Florence Martens gives them two days to prove Alex's innocence. Captain Jourdan's adopted daughter Louise, who's a lawyer, helps them. Le prix de la trahison is better than Le prix de la loyauté but definitely not as good as Le prix de la vérité. It's a standard France 3 crime/mystery TV movie —  including the inevitable and annoying drone shots — enhanced by the talented Mimie Mathy (2). Patrick Raynal, a familiar face of the channel, plays Pierre Jourdan. 

 

Fabrice Deville (Un si grand soleil) looks like he enjoyed playing shady businessman Josselin Delmont, a character which reminds the one played by Philippe Caroit in Le prix de la vérité. Also with Juliette Chêne (Louise Jourdan), Cécilia Cara (Sandra Jourdan), Rémi Bichet (3) (Franck Neuville), Mathieu Coniglio (Alex Jourdan), Clara Quilichini (Victoria Delmont), Jean-Luc Joseph (Lieutenant Diawara), Laurence Bréheret (Commissaire Martens), etc. Produced by Episode Productions (JLA Groupe) and France Télévisions with Be-Films and RTBF (Télévision belge). With the participation of RTS Télévision Suisse and TV5Monde.

Exec produced by Olivier Guedj. Produced by Richard Berkowitz. Emmanuel Liebermann is the production manager. Music composed by Fabien Nataf. Cinematography by Christophe Soffietti. Editing by Nicolas Reydon. Filmed with the support of Département de la Charente. Directed by François Guérin, Le prix de la trahison will be aired on France 3 this saturday.

 

(1) Respectively titled in English Murder in Saint-Paul de Vence and Murder in Provence.

(2) There's a nice nod to the fact that Mimie Mathy was a member of French singer's Michel Fugain's Big Bazar during the 1970s.

(3) Rémi Bichet also played in Mauvais rôle, an episode of Crime is her game (Le crime lui va si bien) not yet shown by France 2 and also filmed in Angoulême.

 

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2019/05/le-prix-de-la-loyaute-france-3.html (Murder in Provence)

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2018/01/le-prix-de-la-verite-france-3.html (Murder in Saint-Paul de Vence)

JOSÉPHINE, ANGE GARDIEN: TROIS ANGES VALENT MIEUX QU'UN 1 & 2 (TF1)

Joséphine the guardian angel gets some help for her new assignment. Well, sort of...

Created by Laurent Chouchan with Michel Lengliney & Philippe Niang, comedy/drama Joséphine, ange gardien started on TF1 in 1997. It's the oldest active series of the channel, since the end of Une famille formidable (1992-2018). Comedian, actress and UNICEF ambassador Mimie Mathy stars as Joséphine Delamarre, a guardian angel sent on Earth to help people solve their problems. The series celebrated its 20th anniversary in autumn 2017.

Joséphine, ange gardien is produced by DEMD productions (Lagardère Studios) with TF1 and distributed by Lagardère Studios Distribution. Its format changed from 90-minute episodes to 2 x 52-minute three years ago. In 2018, Joséphine and the characters of TF1's comedy hit Camping paradis met in their respective series. Trois anges valent mieux qu'un was written by France Corbet, Thomas Perrier and Gioachinno Campanella. This 96th episode is directed by Camping Paradis and Joséphine, ange gardien frequent helmer Philippe Proteau (1).

Joséphine Delamarre manages to be hired as an accountant at the Longeville stables, owned by Rémi Bouvet. This widower is depressed because he cannot reunite with Margaux, Vincent and Antoine, his three children. At odds with each other, they are too busy with their jobs. Rémy and her three new "clients" are a bit much to handle for the guardian angel. As her occasional assistants are unavailable, Joséphine must work with Ludivine and Rosine. They may look like her but their personalities and their clothing tastes are very different.

Trois anges valent mieux qu'un is a fabulous showcase for the comedic talents of Mimie Mathy, who is also Ludivine and Rosine. The former is myopic, romantic and wears faux panther. The latter likes black and is more rock and roll. Francis Perrin (Mongeville) (2) plays Rémi Bouvet. With Marius Colucci (Capitaine Marleau, Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie) as Vincent. The role of Margaux is the third participation of Stéphanie Pasterkamp (Kaboul Kitchen) to Joséphine, ange gardien. Like her, Mathieu Coniglio (Antoine) previously appeared in Camping Paradis.

Charlotte is played by presenter/actress Laurence Boccolini, best known in France for hosting the local versions of The Weakest Link and The Million Pound Drop. She does great through the episode with a hilarious running gag. The rest of the cast includes Julien Alluguette (Paul Luciani), Raphaël Kahn (Fabio), Morgane Manche (Léa), etc. Produced by Sébastien Pavard and Laure de Kervasdoué. Didier Langlade exec produces. Music composed by Xavier Berthelot, Roland Romanelli & Didier Vasseur. Additional music (Hysteria) by Stéphane Schott.

Cinematography by Jonny Semeco (3). Produced with the participation of RTBF (Télévision belge) and RTS Radio Télévision Suisse. Digital special effects by WIP Studio. Filmed partly at the Écuries de Bièvres. Not yet shown by TF1, Trois anges valent mieux qu'un is one of the best episodes of Joséphine, ange gardien.

(1) The potential buyer of the horse of Rémi Bouvet's late wife is called "Monsieur Proteau".
(2) Is "Écuries de Longeville" a nod to Mongeville?
(3) Margaux works for a law firm named "Semeco & Co".

https://www.bievres.com/

LAST MONTH ON THIS BLOG

So...

REVIEWS

- [Favourite of the Month] Double Je - Series 1, Episode 1: Le système D & Episode 2: Débat de conscience (France 2):

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2019/05/double-je-series-1-episode-1-le-systeme.html

- Le prix de la loyauté (France 3):

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2019/05/le-prix-de-la-loyaute-france-3.html

- Crimes parfaits: Pour l'éternité/À coeur ouvert (Episodes 13 & 14, France 3):

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2019/05/crimes-parfaits-pour-leternitea-coeur.html

LE PRIX DE LA LOYAUTÉ (FRANCE 3)

Following the success of the TV movie Le prix de la vérité last year on France 3, comedian/actress Mimie Mathy takes another break from the long running TF1 hit Joséphine, ange gardien to return as Capitaine Marie Jourdan in Le prix de la loyauté. Mathieu Delarive is back as Capitaine Paul Danceny.

The bottom line: The price is (quite) right.

Crime drama expert scriptwriter Laurent Mondy (Commissaire Magellan, Les Cordier, juge et flic), who penned Le prix de la vérité, is behind the new case of this tenacious and quick-witted detective with a difference (1). In Le prix de la loyauté, Gendarmerie Captain Paul Danceny, now based in Aix-en-provence, is arrested by the police near the dead body of Dr. Gabriel Fabian. He manages to call for help his good friend Captain Marie Jourdan, of the Lyon Police judiciaire.

Fabian worked at the Clinique Vandeuil, an aesthetic surgery clinic owned by the arrogant Dr. Marc Vandeuil. Danceny was seen having an argument with the victim the day before his death. Procureur Gerfaud thinks he has his culprit but Marie quickly disculpates her friend. Paul's alibi is Vandeuil's wife Lorraine, with whom he has an affair. Gerfaud, who dislikes the gendarme, reluctantly gives the two captains four days to find the murderer.

Gabriel Fabian had a rivalry with Dr. Béatrice Keller, the assistant of Marc Vandeuil. And he dissuaded several patients to have surgery. Marie Jourdan meets Captain Danceny's father: Édouard Danceny, a high-ranking judge. With its rather commonplace plot, Le prix de la loyauté looks like an average episode of Commissaire Magellan. Both come from JLA Groupe, whose subsidiary Episode Productions made the two Marie Jourdan TV movies.

« Vous êtes très intéressante.
- Oubliez tout de suite. »

Miles away from her guardian angel signature role, Mimie Mathy does once again a great job as Captain Jourdan and her dialogues are effective. The inevitable and very "office du tourisme" aerial shots, one of the trademarks of France 3's crime dramas, are quite irritating. The very good guest cast includes two eminent actors who played in Enquêtes réservées (2009-2013) for the channel: Jérôme Anger (Édouard) and Yvon Back (Vandeuil).

Amusingly, Yvon Back appeared in two Joséphine, ange gardien (in 1999 and 2009). Also with: Gaëlle Marie (Lieutenant Sofia Zamara), Laetitia Fourcade (Lorraine Vandeuil), Sophie Staub (Clémence Vandeuil), Gaëlle Gillis (Jeanne Daguerre), Alexandra Mercouroff (Béatrice Keller), Marie Piton (Florence), Mathéo Capelli (Gerfaud), Marlène Veyriras (Pathologist), Nathalie Dodivers (Nurse), Carole Palcoux (Clinic employee), Maxime Florac (Police officer) and Valérie Leboute (Célia Moreau).

Directed by Grégory Ecale. Produced by Episode Productions with France Télévisions. Co-produced by Be-Films and RTBF (Télévision belge). With the participation of RTS Radio Télévision Suisse and TV5Monde. Produced by Richard Berkowitz. Bernard Paccalet exec produces. Olivier Guedj is the production manager. Music by Fabien Nataf (with Alain Mouysset). Cinematography by Olivier Guarguir. Le prix de la loyauté has yet to be aired by France 3.

(1) Mimie Mathy is 4 ft 4 tall (1.32 m).

Amandine Attard contributed to this review. 

See also:

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2018/01/le-prix-de-la-verite-france-3.html

JOSÉPHINE, ANGE GARDIEN: L'INCROYABLE DESTIN DE ROSE CLIFTON 1 & 2 (TF1)

Joséphine the guardian angel is in the American West in 1861 to help a young woman named Rose Clifton.

Created by Laurent Chouchan with Michel Lengliney & Philippe Niang, comedy/drama Joséphine, ange gardien started on TF1 in 1997. It's the oldest active series of the channel, since Une famille formidable (1992) ended last december. Comedian, actress and UNICEF ambassador Mimie Mathy stars as Joséphine Delamarre, a guardian angel sent on Earth to help people solve their problems. The series celebrated its 20th anniversary in autumn 2017 with its 85th episode.

Joséphine, ange gardien is produced by DEMD productions (Lagardère Studios) with TF1 and distributed by Lagardère Studios Distribution. Its format changed from 90-minute episodes to 2 x 52-minute two years ago. In 2018, Joséphine and the characters of TF1's comedy hit Camping paradis met in their respective series. L'incroyable destin de Rose Clifton was co-written by actress Aurélie Bargème (who also guest stars) with Virginie Parietti and Marie-Anne Le Pezennec. This 92nd Joséphine, whose working title was Le bon, la brute et l'ange gardien (1), is directed by Joséphine, ange gardien and Camping paradis frequent helmer Stephan Kopecky.

Golden River Town, 1861. Rose Clifton mourns the death of her husband Jack, the owner of the local saloon, who hung himself. Her daughter Lucy must marry Ben Evans, son of her friend Harriet Evans (the mercantile proprietor) and acting sheriff. Rose is in debt and she's the focus of the unsolicited attention of slimy banker Ulysse Van Hoster, brother of the influential Lauren Van Hoster. With the help of Joséphine, Rose decides to reopen her husband's saloon. Gun-for-hire Terence Wyatt and his travelling companion Yuma, an Indian, arrive in town. The money of the saloon's opening night is stolen.

Guest starring Charlie Nune (Instinct) as Rose, Alexandre Varga (Cassandre) as Wyatt, Geoffroy Thiebaut (Braquo) as Ulysse, Delphine Lacheteau (Lucy Clifton), Jonathan Cardonnel (Ben Evans), Aurélie Bargème (Harriet), Gabrielle Forest (Lauren), Willy Cartier (Yuma), Éléna Lemercier (Amy), Valentin Girma (R.T. Bishop), Arsène Jiroyan (Priest) and Juan Verdu (The Mexican). L'incroyable destin de Rose Clifton was filmed in Fort Bravo/Texas Hollywood, a Western theme park and movie set near the town of Tabernas, in the spanish province of Almeria. A lot of Spaghetti Westerns were shot there, as well as German comedy Der Schuh des Manitu (2001) and a 2012 episode of Doctor Who.

Filming in Almeria became an industry in its own right in the wake of director Sergio Leone's interest for the region in the 1960s. Though there's an amusing Clint Eastwood reference, L'incroyable destin de Rose Clifton doesn't try to be For a Few Dollars More nor Back to the Future Part III. It's a typical Joséphine, ange gardien with a pleasant change of scenery. Everybody involved look like they had a great time with this re-creation of the atmosphere of decades of movie and TV westerns. Particularly the director (who appears as Rodgers), Mimie Mathy, Geoffroy Thiebaut and Alexandre Varga. Joséphine drastically changes the sermon of a priest, drinks an expresso and even plays detective (Hec Ramsey?) (2)

L'incroyable destin de Rose Clifton is partly dedicated to Jean Giraud, the co-creator of Blueberry. Produced by Sébastien Pavard and Laure de Kervasdoué. Didier Langlade and Tedy Villalba exec produce. Music composed by Xavier Berthelot, Roland Romanelli & Didier Vasseur. Amy's Song performed by Mimie Mathy and Éléna Lemercier. Lyrics by Stephan Kopecky. Music by Stephan Kopecky and Xavier Berthelot. Cinematography by Jonny Semeco. Produced with the participation of RTBF (Télévision belge) and RTS Radio Télévision Suisse. Spanish executive production by Boris Droulers for Multipark Ficción.

(1) "The Good, the Bad and the Guardian Angel".
(2) Hec Ramsey (1972-1974) was a western/mystery TV series starring Richard Boone as a lawman with "modern" investigative methods.

https://www.fortbravo.org/en/
http://www.devildead.com/indexdossier.php3?langage=1&maindossier=49 (In French)
https://www.instagram.com/charlienune/
https://www.telestar.fr/serie-tv/autres-series/interview-alexandre-varga-cassandre-j-aimerais-jouer-dans-plus-de-comedies-409680 (In French)

See also:

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2018/03/josephine-ange-gardien-trois-campeurs.html

CAMPING PARADIS: UN ANGE GARDIEN AU CAMPING 1 & 2 (CROSSOVER WITH JOSÉPHINE, ANGE GARDIEN, TF1)

Joséphine the guardian angel arrives at the Camping Paradis for her new mission. French private channel TF1's two hit series Joséphine, ange gardien and Camping Paradis meet again after Joséphine, ange gardien: Trois campeurs et un mariage (aired last march).

Launched in 2006, Camping Paradis was created by Michel Alexandre, Ludovic Pion-Dumas & Anne Badel. Produced by JLA Productions with TF1, this comedy series is centered on the everyday life and problems of Tom Delormes, a campsite owner, and his team. Regular cast members since the beginning are Laurent Ournac (Tom), Thierry Heckendorn (André Durieux) and Patrick Guérineau (Xavier Proteau). Humorist Candiie plays Audrey Dukor since season 8. Patrick Paroux (Around the world in 80 days, Amelie) recurs as Christian Parizot, the most faithful client of the Camping Paradis. Distributed by TF1 Studio, Camping paradis celebrated its 50th episode last year.

Created by Laurent Chouchan with Michel Lengliney & Philippe Niang, comedy/drama Joséphine, ange gardien started on TF1 in 1997. It's the second oldest active series of the channel after Une famille formidable (1992). Comedian/actress Mimie Mathy stars as Joséphine Delamarre, a guardian angel sent on Earth to help people solve their problems. The series, produced by DEMD productions (Lagardère Studios) with TF1 and distributed by Lagardère Studios Distribution, celebrated its 20th anniversary in autumn 2017 with its 85th episode. The same year, Joséphine, ange gardien and Camping Paradis left the 90-minute format for the same 2 x 52-minute.

The idea of a meeting between the two hits was inspired to TF1 by the success of Magellan et Mongeville, a 2016 crossover between pubcaster France 3's detective dramas Commissaire Magellan (produced by JLA) and Mongeville. In Joséphine, ange gardien: Trois campeurs et un mariage, Joséphine, André Durieux and Xavier Proteau helped Tom Delormes to deal with the wedding of his former girlfriend. The deputy mayor in charge of the ceremony happened to be the ineffable monsieur Parizot! Written by France Corbet & Maia Muller (who write for both series) with Giacchino Campanella, this episode was directed by Camping Paradis regular helmer Philippe Proteau.

Penned by Florence Philipponnat and Mélusine Laura Raynaud with Laurent Mondy (Le prix de la vérité), Camping Paradis: Un ange gardien au camping sends Joséphine Delamarre to the Camping Paradis where she must help Olivier Cotin (Jérémie Covillault). The guardian angel poses as a temp as Tom needs someone to replace André, who has neck pains. Olivier still loves his ex-wife Mathilde (Anaïs Gilbert). Their teenage daughter Violette (Charlie Loiselier) has feelings for Valentin (Victor Boccard) but the young man only has eyes for Audrey. Parizot suddenly softens because of his new campsite neighbour, the charming Fabienne (Olivia Dutron).

Camping Paradis is very reminiscent of The Love Boat and Un ange gardien au camping is definitely quieter than Trois campeurs et un mariage. The humour of this sympathetic reunion of Joséphine with Tom Delormes and his pals comes mostly from Mimie Mathy and Patrick Paroux. The guest cast also includes Renaud Roussel (Stéphane) and Déborah Krey (Anaïs). Produced by Jean-Luc Azoulay and Richard Berkowitz. Bernard Paccalet exec produces. Main title song composed by Sébastien Lipszyc, Emmanuel Lipszyc and Franck Lascombes. Music by Frédéric Porte. Produced with the participation of RTL-TVI and RTS Radio Télévision Suisse. Directed by Philippe Proteau.

Next monday on TF1.

Joséphine, ange gardien: Trois campeurs et un mariage: 

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2018/03/josephine-ange-gardien-trois-campeurs.html 

JOSÉPHINE, ANGE GARDIEN: TROIS CAMPEURS ET UN MARIAGE 1 & 2 (CROSSOVER WITH CAMPING PARADIS, TF1)

[Spoiler-free review] Joséphine the guardian angel has a new "client" in the person of Tom Delormes, who owns the Camping Paradis.

French private channel TF1's two hit series Joséphine, ange gardien and Camping Paradis meet in a very well done and enjoyable episode of the former.

The crossover is a "rare bird" in the History of French television fiction: the sitcoms produced for TF1 by AB Productions in the 1990s, an encounter between crime drama PJ (1997-2009) and legal drama Avocats et Associés (1998-2010) on France 2 in 2007 and then nothing until 2016 with Magellan et Mongeville, a crossover between France 3's Commissaire Magellan (launched in 2009) and Mongeville (aired since 2013). 4.508.000 viewers (19.8%) watched this special with its two popular sleuths, which prompted the pubcaster to give the duo another one, filmed at the end of 2017.

Created by Laurent Chouchan with Michel Lengliney & Philippe Niang, comedy/drama Joséphine, ange gardien started on TF1 in 1997. It's the second oldest active series of the channel after Une famille formidable (1992). Comedian and actress Mimie Mathy stars as Joséphine Delamarre, a guardian angel sent on Earth to help people solve their problems. The series celebrated its 20th anniversary in autumn 2017 with its 85th episode. Joséphine, ange gardien is produced by DEMD productions (Lagardère Studios) with TF1 and distributed by Lagardère Studios Distribution. Its format changed from 90-minute episodes to 2 x 52-minute last year.

TF1's comedy Camping Paradis was created by Michel Alexandre, Ludovic Pion-Dumas & Anne Badel and launched in 2006. Produced by JLA Productions (1), it is centered on the everyday life and problems of Tom Delormes, a campsite owner, and his team. Regular cast members since the beginning are Laurent Ournac (Tom), Patrick Guérineau (Xavier Proteau) and Thierry Heckendorn (André Durieux). Patrick Paroux (Around the world in 80 days, Amelie) recurs as Christian Parizot, the most faithful client of the Camping Paradis. In 2017, the series celebrated its 50th episode and left the 90-minute format for the same 2 x 52-minute format as Joséphine, ange gardien. Camping Paradis is distributed by TF1 International.

Trois campeurs et un mariage (1ère partie et 2ème partie) is the 88th episode of Joséphine, ange gardien. It was written by France Corbet & Maia Muller, who write for both series, with Giacchino Campanella. Tom Delormes, André Durieux and Xavier Proteau are invited to the wedding of Tom's ex-girlfriend Ariane Leroy. For the occasion they stay at a luxury hotel-casino where Joséphine Delamarre welcomes them as the new concierge. They meet Arthur, the groom, who happens to be a quasi-lookalike of Tom Delormes. Joséphine must help Tom to deal with the situation but also with his feelings as the event doesn't turn out as planned.

Tom almost loses one of the wedding rings in a sink. Arthur is jealous of him and the deputy mayor who'll celebrate the ceremony is the ineffable monsieur Parizot! Jennifer Lauret (Une famille formidable), who was Ariane in Camping Paradis until 2012, returns for Joséphine, ange gardien. Thierry Heckendorn played alongside Mimie Mathy in the TV movie Une nounou pas comme les autres (1994), its sequel Une nana pas comme les autres (1995), and in three episodes of Joséphine as different characters. Jean-Pierre Bouvier is back as Ariane's father Clément Leroy. Amusingly, he guest-starred in a 2013 Joséphine, ange gardien.

Patricia Malvoisin is Françoise Leroy, Ariane's mother, a role previously performed by Alexandra Vandernoot (Highlander: The Series) in Camping Paradis. Also starring Olivier Solivérès (Arthur), Valentine Atlan (Sofia), Évelyne Grandjean (Grandmother), etc. Directed by Philippe Proteau,  who regularly helms episodes of Camping Paradis. Produced by Sébastien Pavard and Laure de Kervasdoué. Didier Langlade exec produces. Music by Xavier Berthelot, Roland Romanelli & Didier Vasseur. Cinematography by Jonny Semeco. Produced with the participation of RTBF (Télévision belge) and RTS Radio Télévision Suisse.

Belgian channel La Une and Swiss channel RTS Un aired Trois campeurs et un mariage ahead of TF1, which will show it tomorrow. Joséphine Delamarre and Tom Delormes will meet again, this time in an episode of Camping Paradis.

(1) The production company behind Commissaire Magellan. Founded by Jean-Luc Azoulay, who was the "A" of AB Productions (Claude Berda was the "B").

[UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 10, 2018]   

Camping Paradis: Un ange gardien au camping:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2018/09/camping-paradis-un-ange-gardien-au.html

See also:

https://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/11/mongeville-and-magellan-another.html
(Mongeville and Magellan)

LE PRIX DE LA VÉRITÉ (FRANCE 3)

[Favourite of the Month]  [Spoiler-free review] The body of a young woman is found in the swimming pool of a luxury hotel in Saint-Paul de Vence. The local gendarmerie investigates but Captain Marie Jourdan, a police detective, abruptly invites herself on the case for a personal reason.

The bottom line: Mimie Mathy is "the new sheriff in town". And that's good.

Written by crime drama expert scriptwriter Laurent Mondy (Commissaire Magellan, Les Cordier, juge et flic) and directed by Emmanuel Rigaut, Le prix de la vérité (1) is a TV movie (and possible backdoor pilot?) which will air on French pubcaster France 3 this saturday. Comedian and actress Mimie Mathy, who usually stars in the long-running TF1 hit Joséphine, ange gardien, plays  Marie Jourdan, a tenacious and quick-witted police captain with a difference (2).

« Apparemment vous n'avez pas tous les formats chez les gendarmes. Chez nous ça va du small au double XL, ça vous pose un problème? »

Célia Moreau is found dead in the swimming pool of the Lion d'Or, a magnificent luxury hotel in Saint-Paul de Vence. Commandant Luc Langevin (Charles Clément) and Capitaine Paul Danceny (Mathieu Delarive), of the gendarmerie, believe it was an accident. Daniel Caron (Philippe Caroit), the obnoxious owner of the place, is anxious to open the hotel photo exhibition of a lucrative artist called Janus. But Capitaine Marie Jourdan, from the Lyon Police judiciaire, claims that the case is hers. Soon she proves to Dr. Yasmine Labri (Selma Kouchy), the pathologist, that Célia was murdered.

« Je suppose que vous avez vos petites habitudes avec votre ami Langevin. Mais, voyez-vous, je m'en fous complètement. »

Commandant Langevin, whose wife was saved by Caron when the latter was a doctor, and Capitaine Danceny reluctantly accept the presence of Jourdan on the investigation. Daniel Caron becomes Marie's main suspect and the alibi of a person of interest is Paul Danceny's daughter Chloé (Louna Espinosa). The victim worked in a stud farm belonging to Virgile Caron (Pierre-Yves Bon), the unbearable son of Daniel, who harasses his female employees. Captain Jourdan happens to have a very personal motive to find the murderer of Célia Moreau. A sedated young man in a clinic could be the key of this mystery.

« Je dois en référer au commandant Langevin, c'est mon supérieur direct. 
-  Pour pisser aussi vous êtes obligé de lui demander l'autorisation? »

Past an omnipresent music, the inevitable and very "office du tourisme" aerial shots, and a few cliches (Chloé and the "bad boy"), Le prix de la vérité is well crafted and there's a welcome plot twist. It looks that Mimie Mathy enjoyed this opportunity to get away from her guardian angel character with a more dramatic role. Philippe Caroit (R.I.S. Police Scientifique) played twice alongside Mimie Mathy in Joséphine, ange gardien. They seem to have fun with this on-screen reunion and the dialogues between Marie and the odious Daniel Caron (« Je vais vous écraser comme une merde. Ca va me porter chance. »)

« Vous pensez que je l'ai tué? Oh, c'est petit ça... Oh pardon. 
-  Je vous en prie. Vous savez ce qu'on dit. Plus c'est grand plus c'est... »

Charles Clément, Pierre-Yves Bon and Michel Biel (Demain nous appartient), who plays Jordan Guichard, appeared in episodes of the TF1 series too. Selma Kouchy is a regular of France 3's Commissaire Magellan. Fans of the channel's crime dramas will certainly want more of this new detective. Captain Marie Jourdan, and the gendarmes Danceny and Langevin  would definitely be a pleasant addition to France 3's  popular crime/mystery line-up. Also starring Cécile Pallas (Jeanne de Courcy), Catherine Zavlav (Laurence Meurisse), Vanessa Liautey (Juliette Larcher), Murielle Huet des Aunay (Clarisse), Rébecca Finet (Nicole) and Sophie Payan as Célia Moreau.

« Vous m'avez fait peur. 
-  T'inquiète, j'ai l'habitude. »

Produced by Episode Productions (JLA Groupe) with France Télévisions. Co-produced by Be-Films and RTBF (Télévision belge). With the participation of RTS Radio Télévision Suisse, TV5Monde and 13ème Rue (NBC Universal) Music by Fabien Nataf (with Alain Mouysset). Produced by Richard Berkowitz. Bernard Paccalet exec produces. Anne Leduc is the associate producer for RTBF. Olivier Garguir is the cinematographer. Filmed with the support of the Département des Alpes Maritimes. RTBF's La Une and Swiss channel RTS Un aired Le prix de la vérité ahead of French television.

(1) Formerly Liens de sang.
(2) Mimie Mathy is 4 ft 4 tall (1.32 m).

(Amandine Attard contributed to this review) 

LE PRIX DE LA VÉRITÉ ON FRANCE 3 IN JANUARY

The body of a young woman is found in the swimming pool of a luxury hotel in Saint-Paul de Vence. The local gendarmerie investigates but Captain Marie Jourdan, a police detective from Lyon, abruptly invites herself on the case for a very personal reason.

Directed by Emmanuel Rigaut, Le prix de la vérité (1) is a TV movie (and possible backdoor pilot?) which will air on French pubcaster France 3 on January 13, 2018. Mimie Mathy, who usually stars in the long-running TF1 hit Joséphine, ange gardien, plays the tenacious and quick-witted Captain Marie Jourdan.

Le prix de la vérité is written by crime drama expert scriptwriter Laurent Mondy (Commissaire Magellan, Les Cordier, juge et flic). On the whole, it's well crafted and it looks that Mimie Mathy enjoyed this opportunity to get away from her guardian angel character with a more dramatic role. Most fortunately, considering the first two episodes of the recent Crime parfaits (also on France 3), Capitaine Jourdan isn't a Capitaine Marleau copycat.

Fans of the channel's crime dramas will certainly want more of this new detective. Captain Marie Jourdan would definitely be a pleasant addition to France 3's  popular crime/mystery line-up. Also starring Mathieu Delarive (Paul Danceny), Philippe Caroit (Daniel Caron), Charles Clément (Luc Langevin), Selma Kouchy (Yasmine Labri), Cécile Pallas, Catherine Zavlav, etc. Produced by Episode Productions (JLA Groupe) with France Télévisions. Music by Fabien Nataf.

(1) Formerly Liens de sang.

[Update - January 10, 2018] Spoiler-free review here: 

https://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2018/01/le-prix-de-la-verite-france-3.html