SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 1 Hour, 34 Min.
The French translation of the series title is les petis meurtres d’Agatha Christie. First airing in France on April 15, 2011, this episode loosely adapting Agatha Christie’s 1948 Hercule Poirot novel, Taken at the Flood, is entitled “Le Flux et le Reflux” (aka “The Ebb and the Flow”). Produced by Escazal Films, Eric Woreth directed this installment.
Set in 1930’s Northern France (in proximity to Lille), Police Superintendent Larosière (Duléry) is overjoyed at an unexpected post-war reunion with his former commander (and beloved mentor), Captain Delarive (Pignot). Athis country estate, the Delarive family is far less so upon their elderly patriarch’s admission that that he has secretly married a far younger woman while overseas. For the time being, the squabbling Delarive family will have to wait to meet their new relative, as she is on a shopping spree in Paris.
Legal repercussions from a tragic fire soon afterwards leave Delarive’s demure widow, Albertine (Bellavoir), and her ultra-abrasive brother, Gabriel (Zambeaux), in control of her late husband’s evident wealth and chateau. With Larosière emotionally devastated and his professional judgment badly compromised, his immediate subordinate, the bumbling Inspector Émile Lampion (Colucci) assume command of the investigation.
Two subsequent homicides (including of an enigmatic blackmailer) prompt the savvy Superintendent to circle back to his original suspects: the spiteful and greedy Delarives.
The episode’s language is French with easy-to-follow English subtitles.
Superintendent Jean Larosière: Antoine Duléry
Inspector Émile Lampion: Marius Colucci
Ménard: Serge Dubois
Dr. Verdure: Olivier Carré
Célie: Marie Denarnaud
Albertine: Blandine Bellavoir
Gabriel: Alexandre Zambeaux
Capt. Delarive: Yves Pignot
Ferdinand: Nicky Marbot
Léonce: Pascal Ternisien
Gìsèle: Luce Mouchel
Emilienne: Dominique Labourier
Lavallière: David Gabison
Madame Laurier: Marielle Duroule
Ulysse Argos: Francois Siener
Fire Captain: Eric Beluzé
Firemen: Uncredited
Club Members: Uncredited
Other Cast Members: Mickaél Wiame & Charles Antoine Decroix
Note: Bellavoir was subsequently recast as one of three new co-leads headlining Season 2 retitled “Agatha Christie’s Criminal Games.”
REVIEW:
With excellent production values and macabre wit, this incarnation of “Taken at the Flood” is well-played. The primary cast’s spot-on chemistry with this group of guest stars provides a consistent asset. More so, the scripting’s plot twists and relatable bits of humor add some welcome unpredictability to Christie’s somewhat bland source material.
In terms of a comparison, the plot’s contents (including a few grisly post-mortem scenes) is more reminiscent of glossy stylistic changes occurring in later seasons of Agatha Christie’s Poirot. If anything, this whodunnit concocts an entertaining gift for Christie’s international fanbase.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
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