Maigret (TV Series) Maigret à l'école (2002) User Reviews

"Not a lead, just a scent."

[garywhalen · 7/10 · 13 February 2024]

I agree with wjspears's excellent review that Maigret working outside of Paris, whether in the country, on the Riviera, or even in another country often provides an excellent story-a story distinct, as it should be, from the congestion of the city of Paris. Here we have Maigret investigating the death of the local post mistress, a woman unliked by the townspeople. He decides to take on the case after receiving a letter from the young son-a child-of the man accused of the murder.

The townspeople may not have cared for the murder victim, but they are even more distant towards the accused (a teacher) and his wife and child. This family is not from there and have never seen to fit in, and the mother has a "past." Maigret doesn't think the man accused to be guilty. And he sets out to prove it. It's his interviews with some of the children that make this episode worth seeing. It's what they witness, what they admit to, what they are asked to do by the adults that eventually leads Maigret to see fully what really happened.

My complaint about this episode is the conclusion. As Simenon's novel ends it is very clear why things happened as they did, the driving motive for the murder, and the series of mis-directions that followed after the murder. In the film some of this is glossed over or ignored. I think it weakens the story and most important weakens the motives of why various townspeople said what they said. Still, this is a nice film and certainly worth seeing.

Who'd murder a horrible old woman that everyone hated?!

[Tony-Holmes · 7/10 · 20 March 2024]

Saw this on the Talking Pictures channel (UK, old films and TV). They had previously shown the 1960s series (50+ episodes, BBC, B&W) featuring Rupert Davies, a generally acclaimed Maigret.

We've also seen the excellent 12 episodes (2 series) that ITV did (90s) with Michael Gambon as Maigret (terrific portrayal) and the less successful later efforts with Rowan Atkinson in the lead.

This Cremer version is of course French, with subtitles, but they are not too wordy, so fairly easy to follow. Also very French, lots of atmosphere, meaningful looks, thoughtful silences.

I see some reviews refer to how faithful this Maigret is to the books, a ludicrous statement in one respect, as Lucas, his main assistant in all the books I've seen, has almost completely disappeared!

I haven't liked all the episodes so far of this Cremer version, but some have been WONDERFUL, this one is OK, well acted, but was also done in the old BBC series, and the later Gambon episodes. I'd say both of them were superior to this one -- and they tell the story perfectly well in far less time.

The other present reviews (inc Spears and Whalen) have outlined the story, and the assorted characters, very well (though La Rochelle isn't a "village" - sorry Spears! - and this story is NOT set there, just nearby).

Maigret gradually finds out why the victim was detested by everyone, a crabby old woman who opened or stole mail, spread rumours and openly insulted almost everyone. She'd even disinherited her daughter, didn't like the husband or child. How did she last so long?!

He senses that the 'outsider' teacher has been framed as a handy scapegoat, but was the 'murder' actually an accident? Who ACTUALLY saw something, and what has been invented.

As Whalen recalls, he comes out with a great line, after the local policeman (who IS from nearby La Rochelle!) asks if he knew what happened, does he have a "lead"? Well, "not a lead, but a scent" - and likens such cases to being near the sea, you can smell wen you're getting close. Great line -- and sums up how Maigret operates, by talking, or at least prodding others to talk, and listening and watching very carefully.

This version differs from the previous we've seen, in that the teacher was never shown, stayed in custody (a salary saved I suppose?!). It also didn't make very much of the sub-plot, a dodgy insurance claim after a boy had been injured in the street, that boy not being in school and so could he be a witness - he can walk to his window - or is he actually the culprit?

Atmospheric Maigret

[wjspears · 9/10 · 26 September 2021]

Many of the best Maigret novels and episodes of this series with Bruno Cremer, take place in the countryside and small villages of France. This episode takes place in a small village, La Rochelle, which is near the sea.

Maigret enters the small inn where he will be staying. The owner/bartender smiles, "I won't ask you to sign the forms, Superintendent Maigret." Maigret corrects, "Chief Superintendent."

Puzzled, the owner asks, "What's the difference?" Maigret replies, "I can investigate all over the country." Another patron derisively remarks, "Even the death of an old lady." Maigret shrugs, "Or an old man."

The citizens of La Rochelle are tight knit, united in their hostility toward strangers, particularly if they are from Paris. The teacher being held over for the murder of the elderly village post mistress, is from Paris.

But the citizens of La Rochelle are also scornful of one another. The elderly post mistress, for instance, was a spiteful woman who routinely held back some mail and never let it be distributed. When questioned, the now current post master shrugs and replies, "Everyone steals at their job, no?"

Different from other Maigret stories that take place in small villages, here Maigret spends much of his time interviewing village children--9 and 10 year's old. Like their parents, they are leery, suspicious, and not always truthful. But their innocence can't help showing through, making for a nice contrast to most of the sullen adults.