Pascal Légitimus

(On TV, January 2022) One underappreciated strength of the murder-mystery genre is how it’s ideally suited to exploring an unusual setting. Beyond the expected elements of a murder, a criminal and an investigator, authors are free to tailor the plot to the specifics of the setting in which they’re telling the story, whether it’s a high-finance corporation, a space station or, in the case of Meurtres à Marie-Galante, a picturesque island near Guadeloupe. Under French administration, it’s a good and unusual “local” destination for French filmmakers to use in order to present an exotic location without travelling to another country. They certainly make the most out of the gorgeous setting—despite what feels like a low production budget, the film benefits from the natural landscapes and an opportunity to present a murder mystery in the Caribbean. This leads to some great casting choices, perhaps the best being Pascal Légitimus as a mainland policeman going back to his native island to write a book, but is immediately swept up by a mysterious murder. His most immediate colleague on the island has reasons to dislike him, and local politics and history soon inform the investigation. Meurtres à Marie-Galante is not that slick of a film, but it’s rather wonderful to watch in the middle of January: unusual faces, great accents, terrific local details, gorgeous sunny beaches and a decent-enough story have all it takes to make this a pleasant watch, especially if you go in with low expectations.