Think of Sicily and the images that are conjured up may be of a harsh arid land where organised crime rules without impunity and corruption is rife. "Il ladro di merendine" or "The Snack Thief" as it is called in Australia, is the first of the Inspector Montalbano series of TV movies and it shows that there is much more to Sicily than what is seen in American Mafia movies. Luca Zingaretti plays Salvo Montalbano, a police inspector (Commissario) in a Sicilian town with a cynicism and world-weariness similar his British counterparts Morse and Frost. He is assisted by a band of devoted agents with varying degrees of competence (Angelo Russo gives wonderfully comic moments as the bumbling Catarella) as well as his girlfriend Livia (Katharina Bohm). The Snack Thief begins with Montalbano investigating the stabbing murder of a wealthy businessman in the elevator of the block of flats where he lived. However, things are never straightforward for Montalbano and his investigation leads him into a world of blackmail and conspiracy. In the middle of all this, is a young Tunisan boy, Fahrid, who Montalbano takes into his home while searching for the boy's mother. This is a wonderful production with superb cinematography showing the best of the Sicilian countryside. Sure the violence and corruption is shown (it is, after all, a police drama) but it merely forms part of the background for the far more interesting human drama. Kudos to SBS Australia for bringing this wonderful series to the wider, English-speaking audience.
4 Reviews
'Inspector Montalbano' is born
TheLittleSongbird9 October 2017
Love detective mystery dramas, particularly those from the UK and US ('Inspector Morse', 'A Touch of Frost', 'Foyle's War', 'Inspector George Gently', 'Midsomer Murders', 'Law and Order', 'Criminal Minds', 'Monk' and 'Murder She Wrote' for examples,, and non-English/American ones (i.e. The Swedish 'Wallander' and the Danish 'The Killing') also fascinate me.
'Inspector Montalbano' is one of the best and most entertaining examples. It is not easy breathing freshness into a well-worn genre but 'Inspector Montalbano' manages to do so with aplomb. Watching 'Inspector Montalbano' is like eating a delicious Italian meal that immensely satisfies and leaves you wanting more. There may be very familiar tropes, but in a way it's inevitable and doesn't detract from the enjoyment at all.
"The Sandwich Thief" is an excellent start. Understandably, seeing as it is the first episode, there is the feeling at times of not quite feeling settled (like a fair number of shows when they first start) and not everything is cooked all the way through (the reasoning for the witnesses killings could have been a little clearer for example).
As always with 'Inspector Montalbano', "The Sandwich Thief" is beautifully shot and the scenery is stunning, making those who've never been to Italy want to book a holiday there as soon as possible and is a treat for anybody who loves all things Italian. The music is never over-bearing or low-key with a nice atmosphere and flavour.
Writing is mostly very taut, if occasionally lost, and infused with beautifully balanced and hilarious humour and relatable human drama. The subtitles are not hard to follow and the story is compelling and atmospheric, suitably challenging the viewer while still being logical and not being convoluted.
The characters may be stereotypes but well-written ones, especially one of the most fascinating foreign detective mystery dramas titular characters there is to me and the scene-stealing Catarella (hilarious comic relief but more than that). The direction is tight yet controlled.
Acting is terrific, especially from Luca Zigaretti who is a treasure in the title role. Angelo Russo's comic timing is a refreshing and always perfectly timed joy and there is terrific support from Guia Jelo and Katharina Bohm.
In conclusion, excellent start. 9/10 Bethany Cox
'Inspector Montalbano' is one of the best and most entertaining examples. It is not easy breathing freshness into a well-worn genre but 'Inspector Montalbano' manages to do so with aplomb. Watching 'Inspector Montalbano' is like eating a delicious Italian meal that immensely satisfies and leaves you wanting more. There may be very familiar tropes, but in a way it's inevitable and doesn't detract from the enjoyment at all.
"The Sandwich Thief" is an excellent start. Understandably, seeing as it is the first episode, there is the feeling at times of not quite feeling settled (like a fair number of shows when they first start) and not everything is cooked all the way through (the reasoning for the witnesses killings could have been a little clearer for example).
As always with 'Inspector Montalbano', "The Sandwich Thief" is beautifully shot and the scenery is stunning, making those who've never been to Italy want to book a holiday there as soon as possible and is a treat for anybody who loves all things Italian. The music is never over-bearing or low-key with a nice atmosphere and flavour.
Writing is mostly very taut, if occasionally lost, and infused with beautifully balanced and hilarious humour and relatable human drama. The subtitles are not hard to follow and the story is compelling and atmospheric, suitably challenging the viewer while still being logical and not being convoluted.
The characters may be stereotypes but well-written ones, especially one of the most fascinating foreign detective mystery dramas titular characters there is to me and the scene-stealing Catarella (hilarious comic relief but more than that). The direction is tight yet controlled.
Acting is terrific, especially from Luca Zigaretti who is a treasure in the title role. Angelo Russo's comic timing is a refreshing and always perfectly timed joy and there is terrific support from Guia Jelo and Katharina Bohm.
In conclusion, excellent start. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Policing Sicilian style
Tweekums12 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Having seen and enjoyed a couple of later episodes I was pleased to learn that BBC4 would be showing more; this time starting with the first episode. This may be the first episode but it doesn't waste time introducing each of the characters; instead we are thrown in at the deep end and figure out who is who as the story progresses; not that that is hard. The story opens with the eponymous Inspector receiving a call about a Tunisian being shot while on an Italian fishing boat in international waters
he wants a lie in so lets his deputy take the case! He soon has a case of his own when an elderly businessman is found stabbed to death in the lift in his apartment. It turns out that he had a Tunisian mistress but at this point nobody links the two cases. It isn't until he finds the woman's son that he learns that the two killings could possibly be linked. It looks as if the son could be in danger so Montalbano and his girlfriend Livia look after him until even that seems too dangerous as it emerges the case has connections to terrorists and the security services.
This episode was a lot of fun to watch; a good mystery, a sense of danger and quite a few laughs; nearly always provided by Montalbano. Luca Zingaretti is great in the lead role managing to be both believable as a character as well as being quite funny. He is ably supported by Katharina Böhm who plays Livia; his beautiful blonde girlfriend who would prefer to be his wife. The story was easy to follow and engrossing enough that I soon forgot I was reading subtitles. Having enjoyed this opening episode I look forward to seeing more over the coming weeks.
This episode was a lot of fun to watch; a good mystery, a sense of danger and quite a few laughs; nearly always provided by Montalbano. Luca Zingaretti is great in the lead role managing to be both believable as a character as well as being quite funny. He is ably supported by Katharina Böhm who plays Livia; his beautiful blonde girlfriend who would prefer to be his wife. The story was easy to follow and engrossing enough that I soon forgot I was reading subtitles. Having enjoyed this opening episode I look forward to seeing more over the coming weeks.
Is there a flaw?
albertk131 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I did not see any reason for the so-called witnesses to be murdered. Fahrid was not involved directly with the murder at sea, and, anyway, he could always - and eventually did - make it back to Tunisia.
Reviewer 2 made a some minor mistakes: Salvo only learned of the murder at sea by watching television because he had kept his phone off the hook, and that's why his deputy was given the case either by a higher authority than Salvo, or just volunteering.
Kudos to Guia Jelo for some of the best acting there has ever been, and to all the rest of the cast and crew for putting together a masterpiece.
Reviewer 2 made a some minor mistakes: Salvo only learned of the murder at sea by watching television because he had kept his phone off the hook, and that's why his deputy was given the case either by a higher authority than Salvo, or just volunteering.
Kudos to Guia Jelo for some of the best acting there has ever been, and to all the rest of the cast and crew for putting together a masterpiece.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
