After a long stay in South-America, an engineer returns to his native England. He is surprised when his sister Alice does not show up in order to welcome him home. Upon travelling to her apartment, he gets an even worse shock : he finds another woman, a stranger, who tells him that his sister is dead and buried. It looks as though Alice stepped in front of a lorry, either by accident or by design. With an iron determination, the engineer sets out to discover the exact circumstances of the incident...
"Der Tod läuft hinterher" is a crime/thriller series in three parts from West-Germany. The series is notable for the intricacy and elegance of its plotting. Much of the viewer's pleasure derives from following the protagonist around while he interviews neighbors, sifts through clues and looks for witnesses. As the story unfolds in cunning arabesques, the protagonist gets to hear so many lies and half-truths that he hardly knows what to believe anymore. Yet he continues on his dogged quest, travelling all over England and France in search of a sister who might be dead or alive, imprisoned or free, threatened or safe. Ultimately he will uncover the full truth about Alice, but it will not be a happy occasion.
The series is also notable for its interesting characters, including interesting female characters. "Der Tod" abounds in women and girls : chirpily naive teens hoping to make it big as dancers, seasoned procuresses, beaten-down addicts living from fix to fix. At one point the protagonist meets with an unexpected ally, to wit a young woman who will prove to be just as tenacious and resourceful as he is.
Many of the locations are memorable, such as a seedy hotel/nightclub in Boulogne where past jollity meets current vice. It's a place where one can cut the nastiness with a knife. Peeling paint and fading wallpaper have rarely looked so oppressive.
By way of final note I'd like to add that the cast is impressive and the acting remarkable. In other words : a most watchable series.
"Der Tod läuft hinterher" is a crime/thriller series in three parts from West-Germany. The series is notable for the intricacy and elegance of its plotting. Much of the viewer's pleasure derives from following the protagonist around while he interviews neighbors, sifts through clues and looks for witnesses. As the story unfolds in cunning arabesques, the protagonist gets to hear so many lies and half-truths that he hardly knows what to believe anymore. Yet he continues on his dogged quest, travelling all over England and France in search of a sister who might be dead or alive, imprisoned or free, threatened or safe. Ultimately he will uncover the full truth about Alice, but it will not be a happy occasion.
The series is also notable for its interesting characters, including interesting female characters. "Der Tod" abounds in women and girls : chirpily naive teens hoping to make it big as dancers, seasoned procuresses, beaten-down addicts living from fix to fix. At one point the protagonist meets with an unexpected ally, to wit a young woman who will prove to be just as tenacious and resourceful as he is.
Many of the locations are memorable, such as a seedy hotel/nightclub in Boulogne where past jollity meets current vice. It's a place where one can cut the nastiness with a knife. Peeling paint and fading wallpaper have rarely looked so oppressive.
By way of final note I'd like to add that the cast is impressive and the acting remarkable. In other words : a most watchable series.
