MONEY. MURDER. ZURICH. (DER ZÜRICH-KRIMI) - EPISODE 5: BORCHERT UND DIE MÖRDERISCHE GIER (DAS ERSTE, 2019)

Launched in 2016, the brilliant 90-minute crime drama Der Zürich-Krimi returned this week on German pubcaster Das Erste with Borchert und die tödliche Falle. Borchert und der fatale Irrtum and Borchert und der Tote im See will follow.

Last year, the pubcaster aired two episodes: Borchert und die mörderische Gier and Borchert und der Sündenfall. Episodes 1 to 4 of Money. Murder. Zurich. (the international title of Der Zürich-Krimi) are available in the United States on the SVOD service MHZ Choice.

Der Zürich-Krimi stars the great Christian Kohlund (Das Traumhotel, Black Forest Clinic) as the melancholic Thomas Borchert, an "unlicensed attorney" who works in Zurich for lawyer Dominique Kuster. Ina Paule Klink (Wilsberg) co-stars as Dominique. Felix Kramer plays Police captain Marco Furrer (1). Star lawyer Dr. Reto Zanger, Dominique Kuster's father and an old friend of Thomas, is played by Robert Hunger-Bühler.

Other regulars are Susi Banzhaf as Regula Gabrielli (Dominique's assistant), Andrea Zogg as Beat Bürki－Borchert's "personal" taxi driver, and Yves Wüthrich (Urs Aeggi, Furrer's deputy). Dominique and Regula hear a strange message on the law firm's voicemail. A distraught young man named Julian Stolz requires a legal help in emergency without further precision. As he recklessly rides his motorcycle on the way to her office, he has a traffic accident and falls into coma.

Touched by the situation of Julian because it reminds him of a personal tragedy, Thomas Borchert starts his own investigation. Stolz, an art student, had a strong interest for Islam and he was linked to the mysterious Said Allawi. The police finds out that a dark van with fake diplomatic licence plates is involved in the "accident". Julian's father is a shady businessman who sells illegal antiques. Borchert feels that this case is less about extremism and more about greed.

Written by Wolf Jacoby (the SOKO franchise) and directed by Roland Suso Richter (The Tunnel), Börchert und die mörderische Gier is an effective return to thriller after the more conventional Borchert und die Macht der Gewohneit. Christian Kohlund, whose presence is always impressive, leads an excellent cast including a subtle and charismatic performance by Neil Malik Abdullah (4 Blocks) as Imam Sheik Ibrahim Al-Khatib.

Also with Kai Wiesinger (Heller), Valery Tscheplanowa (Lisa Stolz), Justus Czaja (Julian Stolz), Alireza Bayram (Said Allawi), etc. Produced by Graf Film for ARD Degeto and Das Erste. Co-produced with Mia Film. Produced by Klaus Graf, Annemarie Pilgram and Michal Pokorný. Kirsten Frehse (ARD Degeto) is the line producer.

Music by Michael Klaukien and Andreas Lonardoni. Cinematography by Max Knauer. Filmed in Prague and Zurich. Made with the support of the Czech Film Fund. Distributed by Beta Film.

(1) Katrin Bauerfeind played Dominique Kuster in the first episode. Pierre Kiwitt replaced Felix Kramer as Police captain Marco Furrer from Episode 7.

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2020/04/money-murder-zurich-der-zurich-krimi.html (Episode 7)
https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2019/07/money-murder-zurich-der-zurich-krimi.html (Episodes 3 & 4)
https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2019/06/money-murder-zurich-der-zurich-krimi.html (Episodes 1 & 2) 

See:

https://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/film/der-zuerich-krimi/index.html
http://www.kohlund.com/
https://crush.de/klient/neil-malik-abdullah/
https://www.graffilm.com/en/company.html

MONEY. MURDER. ZURICH. (DER ZÜRICH-KRIMI) - EPISODE 7: BORCHERT UND DIE TÖDLICHE FALLE (DAS ERSTE)

Launched in 2016, the brilliant German crime drama Der Zürich-Krimi returned yesterday on Das Erste. This spring, the pubcaster will show three new 90-minute TV movies: Borchert und die tödliche Falle, Borchert und der fatale Irrtum and Borchert und der Tote im See.

Der Zürich-Krimi stars the great Christian Kohlund (Das Traumhotel, Black Forest Clinic) as Thomas Borchert, an "unlicensed attorney" who works in Zurich for lawyer Dominique Kuster. Ina Paule Klink (Wilsberg) co-stars as Dominique (1). Robert Hunger-Bühler plays Dr. Reto Zanger, a star lawyer who's also Dominique Kuster's father and an old friend of Thomas. Other regulars are Pierre Kiwitt (Police captain Marco Furrer), Susi Banzhaf as Regula Gabrielli, Andrea Zogg as Beat Bürki－Borchert's "personal" taxi driver, and Yves Wüthrich (Urs Aeggi). Thomas Kügel returns as Major Beat Wenger.

Reto, who's busy with a mega business deal, asks Dominique to replace him in court at short notice. Alexander Böni, her client, is serving a prison sentence for the robbery of an armoured truck but he's due to be released for good behaviour. The hearing doesn't turn out as planned when Böni takes everyone hostage, including Dominique Kuster, with a gun which was  hidden under his table. Captain Furrer, who arrives first at the courthouse with his deputy, must act as the negotiator in spite of his feelings for Dominique.

Alexander Böni demands 2 million U.S. dollars and a helicopter but Borchert starts to wonder about the real motives behind the actions of the hostage taker, who's a family man with a young son. While Thomas races against the clock to find answers, he discovers that Reto Zanger may hold some of them. Written by Wolf Jacoby (the SOKO franchise) and directed by Roland Suso Richter (The Tunnel), Börchert und die tödliche Falle is a most effective and truly gripping thriller served by excellent actors.

With Golo Euler (Alexander Böni), Kathleen Gallego Zapata (Marie-Louise Mildenberger), Matthias Bundschuh (Dr. Kugler), Stephan A. Töller (Peter Zuber), Torsten Ranft (Hermann Oehli), Christian Bojidar (Sherdan Berashi), Maike Juttendonk (Lucie Schmitt), Jürg Löw (Paul Loitner), etc. Produced by Graf Film for ARD Degeto and Das Erste. Co-produced with Mia Film. Produced by Klaus Graf, Annemarie Pilgram and Michal Pokorný. Kirsten Frehse (ARD Degeto) is the line producer.

Music by Michael Klaukien. Cinematography by Max Knauer. Filmed in Prague and Zurich. Made with the support of the Czech Film Fund. Distributed by Beta Film. Episodes 1 to 4 of Money. Murder. Zurich. (the international title of Der Zürich-Krimi) are available in the United States on the SVOD service MHZ Choice.

(1) Katrin Bauerfeind played Dominique Kuster in the first episode.

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2019/07/money-murder-zurich-der-zurich-krimi.html (Episodes 3 & 4)
https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2019/06/money-murder-zurich-der-zurich-krimi.html (Episodes 1 & 2) 

See:

https://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/film/der-zuerich-krimi/index.html
http://www.kohlund.com/
https://www.graffilm.com/en/company.html

AGATHA RAISIN - SERIES 3, EPISODE 1: AGATHA RAISIN AND THE HAUNTED HOUSE (ACORN TV)

The third series (four 90-minute episodes) of British mystery comedy-drama Agatha Raisin premiered on U.S. streaming service Acorn TV between Autumn 2019 and Winter 2020.
 

Ex-London PR queen turned detective Agatha Raisin first appeared in a series of mystery novels written by M.C. Beaton (the pseudonym of Marion Chesney), who died in December 2019. Beaton was also the author of the Hamish Macbeth books. Penelope Keith played the character for BBC Radio 4 from 2004 to 2006. In 2014, Ashley Jensen (Ugly Betty, Extras) starred in the title role of Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death, a fun, fast-paced and charming Christmas special aired on Sky 1. 

Following the success of The Quiche of Death, Sky commissioned a 8 X 60-minute series aired from June to July 2016. In France, Agatha Raisin was shown by pubcaster France 3. Sky 1 gave up on a second series but streaming service Acorn TV ordered three new 90-minute episodes, available between Autumn 2018 and Winter 2019. The third series of Agatha Raisin started on Acorn for Halloween 2019 with Agatha Raisin and The Haunted House.

Agatha Raisin is now officially a private investigator and she opens her agency in a former chapel. Despite the help of Roy Silver and a lot of publicity, she still doesn't have a case until James Lacey mentions Ivy Hall. This manor in Hebberdon, owned by Olivia Witherspoon, is said to be haunted by Sir Geoffrey Lamont (murdered in 1651). Regularly annoyed by ghost hunters and those seeking a treasure rumoured to be hidden somewhere on the estate, the cantankerous Mrs Witherspoon is now terrified by some strange phenomena.

Agatha and James convince her that they can solve this mystery. They spend the night at Ivy Hall while Roy and Sarah Bloxby gather information at the local pub, frequented by men dressed for a big battle reenactment which must take place on the property of Sir Charles. DCI Denzel Wilkes takes his role for the event a bit too seriously. Agatha's housekeeper Gemma asked her cousin Toni Gilmour to replace her. Cleaning up is not Toni's forte but she has a very special talent. Olivia Witherspoon is murdered.

Agatha Raisin often feels like a parody of Midsomer Murders. It was true right from The Quiche of Death but it's even more blatant since the two dramas are produced by the same group, All3Media, via different companies. They share producers, writers, directors, guest actors, the same composer (Evan Jolly, who works on Midsomer since Series 21) and their locations look very similar. The pleasant and entertaining Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House was penned by Julia Gilbert, who wrote three excellent Midsomer Murders. 

Ashley Jensen and her co-stars are brilliant in this acknowledged nod to Scooby-Doo, although the availability of the actors seems to be a problem from an episode to another. Toni, played by Jodie Tyack, is a great addition to the gang. Also with Mathew Horne (Roy), Jamie Glover (James Lacey), Jason Merrells (Sir Charles Fraith), Lucy Liemann (Sarah), Matt McCooey (DC Bill Wong), Jason Barnett (DCI Wilkes), Marcia Warren (Mrs Boggle), Mark Aiken (Florian Devere), Richenda Carey (Olivia), Joe Sims (Barry Briar), Clare Holman (Robin Barley), etc.

Produced by Free@Last TV and Company Pictures (an All3Media company). Co-produced by Acorn Media Enterprises (a division of RLJ Entertainment, Inc.). Barry Ryan and David A. Walton exec produce for Free@Last TV. Michele Buck exec produces for Company Pictures. Catherine Mackin exec produces for Acorn Media Enterprises. Produced by Guy Hescott. Co-produced by Ian Strachan. Theme composed by Rupert Gregson-Williams. Cinematography by James Moss.

Directed by Carolina Giametta. Distributed by All3Media International, except for English-speaking territories which are handled by Acorn Media International. 

https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2019/06/agatha-raisin-series-2-episodes-2-3.html (Series 2, Episodes 2 and 3)
https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2018/12/agatha-raisin-series-2-episode-1-wizard.html (Series 2, Episode 1)