Inspector Montalbano
The latest series of this classic (subtitled) Italian detective series is currently showing on BBC 4 on Saturday evenings, with all episodes on BBC Iplayer. All the old cast, locations, food and fun. As brilliant as ever. Next week shows the very last episode, a must for fans of the Inspector and Sicily👍
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Yep, got it to watch! Always love it
Even though I speak Italian fluently (with a Florentine accent we don't pronounce our 'c's - they sort of become 'h's ) I cannot understand some of the Sicilian accents, the main characters are OK but with the real locals I have to read the subtitles!
I remarked on this to my 'real' Italian relativities and to my surprise the said the same except they don't have subtitles! That's what makes it so popular over there, a bit like when Auf Wiedersehen, Pet was first on. Also some of the translation isn't entirely accurate as they tend to make some of the rather more 'offensive expressions' into something nicer.
Only been that far south a few times and a great place but boy is it hot!
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This has slipped by us which is a shame. Must try to catch up on iPlayer before they disappear. I used to read the books but found that towards the end the same story line could be predicted. Camilleri wrote a huge amount of books, not just Montalbano ones.
Talking of accents we were speaking to a German on a campsite in Holland recently. He lives near Bremen in the north and we were talking of accents. We recounted the tale of us visiting the Spreewald area of Germany, just south of Berlin and of speaking in German to some locals there. They said to OH that we must be from Bavaria. Why asked OH? Because we can't understand a word that they say either they replied, proving that Germans really do have a sense of humour! Our German friend said it was true. Most of the rest of Germany find it hard to understand Bavarians.
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We love Montalbano, and have got the books as well. Enjoyed the Young Montalbano spin offs as well.
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I'm a big fan of Montalbano as well. I love the scenery and the regular, quirky cast. Sometimes funny then quickly serious when there is a murder or other serious crime with a dash of Salvo's love of food and his erratic love life, thrown in. It is so different to the overhyped, overdramatic and poliically correct cops shows which we seem to get these days where the women are all supposed to be "superwomen" types, who can supposedly overpower a criminal with a hand behind their backs. I hope that they repeat the Cormoran Strike TV series as well as I only caught one of the episodes, really enjoyed it and am reading the novels as well.
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I thought they were all repeats? Am I right in thinking that the last series only had a couple of stories? The BBC don't seem to promote this excellent series and I have found I have to go online to check whether In have seen the episode. For those interested there are quite a few videos on YouTube with interviews of the cast.
David
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Possibly DK, although Beeb are advertising the last episode as one not to miss. They finished filming in 2020, so it’s possible this is the UK premiere of these last three episodes, might have aired already in Europe/ cable TV. They are a bit different to the last ones we saw.
Every episode is on Iplayer, right from the very first episode.
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We have friends here who love the programme and on that watching they were going to Sicily March 2020 and course had to cancel due to Covid her OH was really upset about that and have not gone yet as she says not flying anymore, so they will record this last series. Afraid we are not fans watched about 10 minutes and turned over.
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I have a friend who went to Sicily, she loved it. She found Salvo’s beautiful beach house, I think it’s a holiday let, or it was.
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Margaret still buys a weekly TV guide and in the latest one they say that this Saturday the final episode will be shown.
As an aside I have to say that I also enjoyed the Young Montalbano series. It did strike me that there is a bit of a similarity with Endeavour?
David
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Well, as a last ever episode, I was not convinced it lived up to last episode status? OK it was a complicated story line. I suppose it did settle one thing, Salvo's on off relationship with Livia but perhaps that had been on the cards since episode 1?
David
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It certainly was a strange one. Lots of fun with Mimi and Fazio, but definitely not sure about the ending.
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Unlike the other main characters I think we may have had 3 Livia's? I was never convinced the final Livia was as good as the previous incarnations. I have not read the books by Andrea Camilleri so I don't know how true it was to the books.
David
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It was a very weird ending. As a programme, too rushed over that particular relationship. I have read most of the books, but not this one, so not sure how it related to the book.
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I just wanted to flag up to those that perhaps have not heard that the BBC plan to move BBC4 online. For some I am sure that won't be a problem but we prefer record and watch at our leisure. I know the same can be sort of achieved online but far better in my view to get it through the aerial. If anyone doesn't like the idea of it going online you can provide feedback here mailto:feedback.england@bbc.co.uk
David
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Blistering E Mail sent.
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I don't know if this will be of interest to anyone but I came across this discussion which has an analysis of the story and characters which took place at a University in California. Apparently the last three episodes were directed by the lead actor as the original director (of all the other episodes) had died.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVEyY2xhE6s
David
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Yes, I knew Luca Zingaretti took on the directing. It was the very last episode that left us speechless to be honest, totally unexpected ending. But I think it was based on the last book written by Andrea Camillari, so can only presume the storyline was his?
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