"Maigret" Les scrupules de Maigret (2004)

Note Générale:

6,3/10   

Réalisateur:

Pierre Joassin

Scénaristes:

Pierre Granier-Deferre (adaptation)
Michel Grisolia (adaptation)

Série TV:

"Maigret" (1991)

Date de diffusion originale:

11 février 2004 (Saison 1, Episode 46)

Genre:

Crime

Intrigue:

While in Brussels where he is being rewarded with the Order of Leopold, Maigret is asked for by a man...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Character Name In Title | Detective | One Word Title | Pipe

Avis des utilisateurs:

Maigret in Belgium

Ensemble

Bruno Cremer	...	Commissaire Jules Maigret
Georges Siatidis	...	Xavier Marton
Pascale Arbillot	...	Gisèle Marton
Florence Hebbelynck	...	Jany
Olivier Darimont	...	L'inspecteur Lambert
Renaud Rutten	...	L'inspecteur Vandermeulen
Michel Guillou	...	Le commissaire Marcel Deruyter
Jean-Michel Vovk	...	Harris Schwob
reste de la distribution par ordre alphabétique:
Anne Carpriau	...	La concierge de l'hôtel
André Debaar	...	Le ministre
Félicien de Heusch	...	Le gamin
Elsa Erroyaux	...	La vendeuse de Chez Schwob
Philippe Gouders	...	L'huissier du ministère
Michael Hirsch	...	Le médecin légiste
Thomas Leruth	...	Le marchand de jouets

Pays:

France

Langue:

Français

Lieux de tournage:

Galerie de la Reine, Brussels, Brussels-Capital, Belgium

Société:

Dune

Maigret in Belgium

*** Ce commentaire peut contenir des spoilers ***

A satisfactory installment in the long Maigret series, with enough mystery, enough suspense to keep the crime story fan satisfied, and, as usual, emphasis laid on the "naked human being", as Simenon put it. Part of the interest lies in the originality of the initial situation : not only is "Les scrupules de Maigret" a whodunit but also what I would call a "whowilldoit?". Xavier's death seems indeed inevitable and the viewer -just like Maigret and the two inspectors- keeps wondering WHEN it will happen. And when it does happen WHO killed him : his wife, his wife's sister or himself?

Bruno Cremer carries on imperturbably with the Maigret part but, growing older with each episode, does it slowly, taking care of himself. Joassin adopts this leisurely manner and turns what could be a defect into a quality. This way, we are made to feel Maigret's weariness : the man has seen everything and nothing in keeping with human nature surprises him any more. On the other hand this lassitude is combined with determination, with the will to go to the end of an investigation, to prevent a culprit from evading justice of course but mainly to discover what motivated them. So, tired as he is, on he goes his plodding way to the climax and invariably sad ending of his undertaking.

The mid-fifties as well as the Belgian environment add extra value to the detective story. I loved the beautiful old cars and was amused at the allusion to a typical Belgian dish, the "shtoemp", I had never heard of before my Belgian wife made me discover it (for the recipe contact me at my email address!) and I would never have dreamed of ever seeing mentioned in a movie.

Another pleasure was the performance of Pascale Arbillot, a great actress,who manages to be both haughty and fragile.

Recommended.